John Spencer (military officer)

John W. Spencer is a retired United States Army officer, researcher of urban warfare, and author. He "currently serves as the chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute, codirector of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project Podcast," at West Point.[1]

John Spencer
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
California State Guard
RankMajor (USA)
Colonel (CSG)
Commands heldUrban Warfare Training, 40th Infantry Division
Battles/warsIraq War
Alma materGeorgetown University

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he started to give "how to resist the Russian invasions" through Twitter.[2][3][4][5][6] This culminated in him releasing "The Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender: A Guide to the Strategies and Tactics of Defending a City", which was translated in more than 10 languages.[7][8][9]

Military career

He enlisted in the United States Army as a private, immediately after graduating from high school at the age of 17,[10] eventually reaching the rank of Sergeant first class, until receiving commission; he retired from active service with the rank of major.[11]

During his military career, he was infantry platoon leader and company commander, including two combat tours during the Iraq War. In Iraq, he served during the initial invasion in 2003 and later in 2008 during the Surge and the Battle of Sadr City.[12][13] He was also assigned to Ranger School, Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc. Later he became a fellow with the chief of staff of the Strategic Studies Group, until he moved to Modern War Institute (MWI).[14]

Work

Currently he is a chair of urban warfare studies at the MWI and a colonel in the California State Guard, where he is assigned as the director of urban warfare training with the 40th Infantry Division.[15]

During the summer of 2022, while Russian invasion of Ukraine was still in progress, he visited Ukraine, "to study the battle of Kyiv."[16]

He is also a contributing editor at War on the Rocks.[17]

Personal life

He's married with three children, living in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[18]

Publications
  • Liam Collins and John Spencer, Understanding Urban Warfare (2022; ISBN 978-1912440351)
  • John Spenser, Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War (2022; ISBN 978-1640125124)

References
  1. MWI.USMA.edu - John Spencer
  2. OpenCulture.com - West Point Expert Gives Ukrainians Advice on Conducting Effective Urban Warfare Against Russian Troops
  3. Marketwatch.com - Advice on how to fend off Russian army from urban warfare expert hits Twitter as battle for Ukraine’s capital Kyiv rages
  4. WashingtonExaminer.com - John Spencer is a world-renowned expert on urban combat. Here’s how he thinks the war in Ukraine is going
  5. KyivPost.com - Leading US Scholar Publishes Book on Urban Warfare Free to Read in Ukrainian
  6. Sky News - Ukraine invasion: Urban war expert’s advice on how Ukrainian civilians can defend themselves against Russian forces
  7. JohnSpencerOnline.com - Urban Warfare
  8. WashingtonExaminer.com - John Spencer is a world-renowned expert on urban combat. Here’s how he thinks the war in Ukraine is going
  9. KyivPost.com - Leading US Scholar Publishes Book on Urban Warfare Free to Read in Ukrainian
  10. International Policy Digest - Conversation with Ret. Colonel John Spencer, Chair of Urban Warfare Studies
  11. MWI.USMA.edu - John Spencer
  12. JohnSpencerOnline.com - Urban Warfare
  13. MWI.USMA.edu - John Spencer
  14. MWI.USMA.edu - John Spencer
  15. MWI.USMA.edu - John Spencer
  16. WashingtonExaminer.com - John Spencer is a world-renowned expert on urban combat. Here’s how he thinks the war in Ukraine is going
  17. WarOnTheRocks.com - John Spencer
  18. MWI.USMA.edu - John Spencer
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