Naval Postgraduate School Foundation & Alumni Association’s Post

U.S. Army Maj. Scott Rowen discusses new ways to think about blockchain technologies as an enabling capability for Special Operations Forces (SOF) during the Chainalysis Trace DC conference held this past month. Since his graduation from NPS’ Applied Design for Innovation curriculum in 2022, Rowen has established himself as a leading thinker in SOF’s role with digital currency, for counter threat finance efforts as well as other enabling capabilities. “There is and was a general understanding from SOF leaders that it’s important to tackle the financing component of our enemy, but still just a bit unnatural to task SOF tactical guys against it,” Rowen said. “My research and experience diving into blockchain-based cryptocurrency offered another perspective to look at financing so it wasn’t as radical an idea – under the CTF umbrella.” “Rowen was already interested in digital currency and blockchain when he came to NPS,” said Dr. Leo Blanken, an associate professor in the defense analysis department and Rowen’s advisor. Most of the SOF discussion on these technologies focused on counter threat finance (CTF), but Rowen “was looking past this to the next ridgeline, as to how these technologies could enable global SOF efforts,” Blanken said. “Now that he is back in the force, he is being recognized as a real thought leader on a critical emerging tech issue and its implications for special operations forces,” Blanken added. “This is exactly what the Applied Design for Innovation curriculum was created to enable.” Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics company, invited Rowen to speak at its Trace DC event, a public-sector focused program that shares innovative concepts related to cryptocurrency with inter-agency partners and explores ways to modernize financial intelligence tools and payment platforms. • More about Defense Analysis at NPS: https://nps.edu/web/da • Explore NPS’ Applied Design for Innovation curriculum: https://lnkd.in/g9mDHYCn US Navy | United States Marine Corps | USSOCOM | US Army | Chainalysis #NPSalumni #innovation #blockchain #blockchaintechnology