Conference: Understanding Cognitive Superiority
An international conference hosted by the Section for Land Power Studies at the Norwegian Defence University College/Military Academy.
| Dato | Tid | Sted | Billetter |
|---|---|---|---|
|
15. sep. 2026
|
12:00
- 16:30
|
While "cognitive superiority" has emerged as a central concept in military academic discourse, research on it remains strategically fragmented. This conference seeks to develop the field by examining the operational and professional dimensions of cognition – specifically how learning, adaptation, and professional judgement create decision advantage in modern, technologically mediated battle.
Rather than focusing on how cognition is contested, the conference will develop the concept of cognitive superiority by asking how decision advantage, learning capacity, and professional judgement are produced and governed under conditions of speed, uncertainty, and technological mediation.
The discussion is organised around four core themes.
The four themes
Cognitive Superiority Examining conflict as a contest between adaptive systems, and how tempo, orientation, and coherence shape operational outcomes. Focus areas include command-and-control theory, OODA logic, and dynamic decision-making.
Learning and Adaptation Treating learning not as a post-hoc institutional function, but as a central operational mechanism. Focus areas include learning speed, feedback loops, and adaptation under pressure across individual, tactical, organisational, and institutional levels.
Professional Judgement Exploring how the officer's role is transformed – rather than diminished – by accelerated decision cycles and human–machine systems. Topics include trust, authority, responsibility, and ethical coherence within human–machine decision systems.
PME and Institutional Design Designing professional military education for cognitive manoeuvre rather than procedural compliance. Papers address educational design, experimentation, simulation, and the integration of emerging technologies in PME.
Registration deadline
Saturday 11 September 2026
Contact
Assoc. Prof. K. Enstad Section for Land Power Studies, Norwegian Military Academy
Email: kenstad@mil.no
Programme 15 September: Day 1 (also streamed)
12.00–12.10 Welcome and practical information Kjetil Enstad
12.10–12.30 Opening remarks Dean Saira Basit
12.30–12.50 Understanding Cognitive Superiority Roy Severeide Bendiksen
13.00–13.40 Block I: Professional Judgement
Gisela Bäcklander – From Compliance to Coup d'Œil
Exploring the distinction between adaptive and generative judgement, and what cognitive manoeuvre demands beyond recognition-based expertise.
Benjamin Knox – Human-Centric Decision-Making
Examining adaptive expertise and cognitive security as foundations for decision advantage in human-machine environments.
13.40–14.20 Block II: Learning and Adaptation
Christian Ytterbøl – Into Action: Adaptive Expertise as the Apex of Performance in PME
Presenting a performance-based educational model that develops adaptive expertise as the practical expression of cognitive superiority.
Elfsberg et al. – Before the Problem is Fixed
Investigating how problem framing and reframing under uncertainty can be cultivated through professional military education.
14.20–14.35 Coffee break
14.35–15.15 Block III: Cognitive Superiority and Organizational Learning
Imdad Ullah – Cognitive Superiority in a Transparent Battlefield
Using the Russian adaptation to drone warfare as a case study of organisational learning and accelerated decision cycles.
TBC
15.35–15.50 Coffee break
15.50–16.10 Block IV: Future Cognitive Battlespaces
Sara Russo – Simulating the Cognitive Battlespace
Exploring how narrative design and cognitive simulation can strengthen adaptive learning and professional judgement in exercises.
TBC
16.10–16.30 Conference Q&A and Concluding Reflections
16 September: Day 2 on stream
09.00–09.15 Welcome back
09.15–10.00 Lecture David Alberts
10.00–10.30 Discussion and reflections
Moderated discussion
- Reflections on day 1
- Responses to the Alberts lecture
- Areas of convergence and disagreement
- Questions for further exploration
In-person workshop
The rest of the day 2 workshop will be in-person participation only. To sign up, click on the workshop link below.
