AUSA 2025: Why Every Strategist is Focused on the Urban Fight

Written By John P. Sullivan

The Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting (#AUSA2025) in Washington, D.C., was, as always, a crucial gathering point for discussing the future of military affairs. While the displays and technology were impressive, the most pressing conversations centered on a single, inescapable topic: the urban environment.

The Unavoidable Challenge of Urban Operations

Cities are growing exponentially, and with them, the complexity of conflict. The days of fighting on open battlefields are fading; future missions will increasingly involve navigating crowded, hyper-connected, and often hostile metropolitan landscapes.

This challenge formed the core of the debate at AUSA, driving demand for scholarly, yet actionable, analysis. This is why we featured the definitive edited volume: Urban Operations: War, Crime, and Conflict.

➡️ Why This Book is Essential Post-AUSA:

  • Convergence of Threats: The book meticulously details how military operations now blend with crime, political instability, and humanitarian crisis in urban areas.

  • Expert Contributors: It brings together top scholars and seasoned military practitioners, providing a 360-degree view that addresses planning, execution, and post-conflict stabilization.

If your professional reading list needs to catch up to the realities discussed at AUSA2025, this volume is the essential next step. Get your copy at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDZPD5PG.

John P. Sullivan

Dr. John P. Sullivan retired as a lieutenant with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. He is an Instructor in the Safe Communities Institute, University of Southern California. He has a PhD from the Open University of Catalonia, an MA from the New School for Social Research, and a BA from the College of William and Mary. He received a lifetime achievement award from the National Fusion Center Association in November 2018 for his contributions to the national network of fusion centers. He is an instructor in the 40th Infantry Division Urban Warfare Planners Course and a Member of the Urban Violence Research Network (UVRN) and the Network of Experts at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sullivan-1523641/
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Why Every Military Leader Needs to Read "Urban Operations: War, Crime, and Conflict"