By Jack Lambert, IPA Intern
In a symbolic ceremony at Fort Belvoir on May 8, the U.S. Army officially deactivated its only active-duty information operations unit, 1st Information Operations Command (1st IO). Founded in 2002, 1st IO played a central role in red teaming, synchronizing non-kinetic capabilities, and preparing units to resist adversary influence in the information environment. Its deactivation marks not a loss of mission, but a strategic evolution. In its place, the Army is standing up three Theater Information Advantage Detachments (TIADs)—65-person teams aligned to the Pacific, Europe, and transregional threats—to operationalize information advantage at the theater level (DefenseScoop, 2025).
This reorganization is part of a broader Army transformation effort driven by the Secretary of Defense’s April 2025 guidance to restructure headquarters, divest outdated formations, and integrate cyber, AI-driven command and control, and electronic warfare capabilities across the force. According to the Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform memo, the goal is to “move further, faster, and fight harder” by aligning kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities within streamlined, modern formations (DOD Memo, 2025).
Still, the decision has raised concern. Members of Congress and senior commanders have questioned the broader personnel cuts across Army Special Operations, including psychological operations and civil affairs—functions seen as essential to influence and decision-shaping in contested environments. Yet Army leadership maintains that information operations (IO) are not being sidelined but more deeply embedded. As Col. Willie Rodney remarked at the inactivation ceremony, “The need for IO is not going away… the Army is forcing it to be integrated throughout the service.” Lt. Gen. Maria Barrett further emphasized the importance of ensuring these capabilities remain agile, scalable, and central to Multi-Domain Operations.
For the IPA community, this shift reinforces a long-standing principle: influence, narrative dominance, and decision advantage are no longer specialized functions—they are mission-critical across the entire operational spectrum. The retirement of 1st IO’s colors signals not a conclusion, but a call to rethink how we cultivate expertise in cognitive security, synchronize influence operations, and adapt to the velocity of modern information warfare.