Unveiling the Power of Serious Gaming (04 DEC 2024)
In today’s complex and fast-evolving operational landscape, wargaming has emerged as an essential tool for strategic planning. This immersive approach empowers participants to explore diverse scenarios, test strategies, and develop refined decision-making skills in realistic, simulated environments. For Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC), wargaming holds particular significance: it enables the examination of multifaceted challenges, the practice of integrated responses, and the valuable synthesis of military and civilian perspectives. Recognising these benefits, CIMIC is committed to incorporating wargaming as a key component in our planning and preparedness toolkit.
Recent years have highlighted the importance of wargaming through the pioneering efforts of entities such as the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) and OTH Regensburg. The MCWL leverages wargaming to shape advanced operational strategies, while OTH Regensburg emphasises wargaming’s analytical power in addressing interconnected global challenges. These organisations not only illustrate the practical benefits of wargaming but also demonstrate how it bridges theoretical knowledge with field application—a methodology that aligns well with CIMIC’s goals of enhancing coordination between military and civilian actors.
In this upcoming webinar on wargaming, we’ll showcase the groundbreaking work of these entities, offering participants an inside view of their techniques, objectives, and the invaluable insights they’ve gathered. Additionally, CCOE will introduce the CIMIC Wargame ANALYSIA, an initiative designed to deepen understanding of the civil environment within joint missions—a vital factor for success in today’s multifaceted operations.
CIMIC is committed to integrating wargaming not only to boost our internal capabilities but also to build and strengthen collaborations with leading academic and military institutions. Through partnerships like those with Leiden University and OTH Regensburg, we are eager to advance scenario-based planning, crisis coordination, and effective collaboration under high-stakes conditions. Together, we aim to equip CIMIC for the challenges of tomorrow.
Meet Our Experts:
- Mr. Tom Noel – Wargame Manager, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab
- Prof. Markus Bresinsky – Dept. of International Politics and Social Sciences, OTH Regensburg
- Mr. Diederik Stolk – Wargame Expert, CCOE
We invite you to join this webinar to learn firsthand how wargaming prepares us for the complex landscape of civil-military operations, offering tools to stay adaptable, resilient, and ready to tackle evolving global demands.
Mr. Tom Noel & Ms. Julia Miller
Mr. Thomas Noel retired after 27 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He has served in command and staff billets from platoon through Division and United States Central Command. Currently, he serves as the Wargame Manager with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. In this function, he directs planning, coordination, and execution of the Warfighting Laboratory’s wargaming efforts, and scoping of future wargames. He also serves as the Division’s representative to other agencies and service wargaming organisations on operational planning, support requirements and capabilities for wargaming.
Ms. Julia Miller has experience in managing small and large-scale, multi-service wargames and collaborating with senior military and defense industry executives. As a Game Director with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory’s Wargaming Division, Julia acts as the primary interface with game sponsors to discern and articulate wargame objectives. She oversees all aspects of wargame production, from start to finish. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College.
Dr. Markus Bresinsky
Professor Dr. Markus Bresinsky has been teaching at the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Germany, for over ten years, covering topics in International Politics and Social Sciences. In addition to his teaching role, he also serves as the foreign representative and study advisor for the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Management, acts as spokesman for the study program commission and is a member of the faculty council. His research projects focus on a broad range of interdisciplinary questions, ranging from international crisis management to national disaster protection. Central findings of his work emphasise the importance of networking societal and institutional actors before a crisis strikes, as this is a crucial factor for effective crisis management. Another key factor for success is the ability to draw lessons from past crises to avoid the repetition of mistakes – a process that often necessitates thoroughly changing structures and processes, which he identifies as the hallmark of resilience.
Mr. Diederik Stolk
Diederik Stolk is a leading expert in artificial intelligence, serious gaming, and crisis simulation, with a rich background in military and governmental consultancy. He is the co-founder of ‘AI-Advies & Training’, the fastest-growing AI-training and consultancy firm in the Netherlands, and the director of ‘Goldsworthy, Stolk & Associates Ltd.’ With his company, Diederik plays a crucial role in developing and facilitating sophisticated games and military exercises for European governments and armed forces, with a focus on contemporary European conflicts, responsible AI in military applications, and Command & Control strategies. In addition, Diederik is a modelling and simulation expert with the NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence in The Hague. His work extends into academia, where he regularly lectures on serious gaming at esteemed institutions including Utrecht University, the University of St. Gallen, and North-eastern University. With a specialization in crafting high-impact, rapid-turnaround wargames and simulations, Diederik’s work supports senior decision-makers in critical domains like crisis response, strategic foresight, and security planning. His innovative approach has made him a trusted advisor and service provider for organizations including NATO, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, and major corporations. As an entrepreneur, he has successfully brought various decision-making and learning solutions to market, enhancing strategic capabilities for clients across sectors.
