Amos Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady challenge one of modern war’s most influential doctrines: Multidomain Operations. Is it the right framework for 21st-century conflict—or a concept rushed into service without sufficient grounding? Through the lenses of origin, field application, academic critique, and international perspectives, the authors examine MDO’s theoretical and practical shortcomings. They argue that MDO is a solution in search of a problem—strategically narrow, tactically vague, and ill-suited for America’s allies. This book calls for a doctrinal reset: one that addresses precision strike overreach, rising attrition warfare, and the enduring need for land forces. With rigorous policy and PME recommendations, Fox and Gady offer a vital roadmap for rethinking military doctrine. Essential reading for defense leaders, scholars, and warfighters alike, this book reshapes how we must think about future battlefields.
“Multidomain Operations is a must-read for military professionals and policy makers. Fox and Gady explore how warfare is evolving across land, air, sea, cyber, and space—challenging conventional doctrine and urging adaptation to today’s complex operational landscape.” — Lieutenant General Kevin Admiral, Commanding General, US III Armored Corps
“Amos Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady bring sharp analysis to MDO, challenging dominant narratives with expert insight. Essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and military professionals navigating the realities of modern warfare and the evolving concept of Multidomain Operations.” — Anthony King, PhD, Director, University of Exeter’s Strategy and Security Institute
c. 240 pages
Publication c. October 2025
9781912440801 paperback
9781922440818 hardback
9781912440825 EPUB
Multidomain Operations: The Pursuit of Battlefield Dominance in the 21st Century
Foreword: Frank Hoffman
Introduction: Amos C. Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady
Section 1: Origins, Evolution, and Mainstreaming
● Chapter 1: Dr. J.P. Clark, Col (Retired) USA, “The Development of The Army in Multidomain Operations: An Organizational Intellectual Journey
● Chapter 2: Jesse Skates, Lt Col, USA, “Multidomain Operations: A Bridge Between Industrial and Information Age Warfare?”
Section 2: Practical Considerations
● Chapter 3: Bill Murray, Lt Col, USA, “Who left Brigades out of Multi Domain Operations? Enhancing Brigade Combat Teams for Effective Multidomain Operations”
● Chapter 4: Bryan Quinn, Maj, USA, “Functional Shortcomings: Implementing MDO in a Shifting Security Environment”
● Chapter 5: Robert Rose, Maj, USA, “Without a Why there is No How: The Problems with a Doctrine Detached from Strategic Context”
Section 3: Tensions with Contemporary Conflict and Future Developments
● Chapter 6: Dr Heather Venable, Air Command and Staff College, “The Muddle of Multidomain Operations: Why the Concept Should be Reined In—and How to Do It.”
● Chapter 7: Dr Amos Fox, Arizona State University, “Addressing Flaws in Multidomain Operations: The Pursuit of Dominance in 21st Century Warfare”
● Chapter 8: Dr Jeff Meiser, University of Portland, "Multidomain Operations as Military Strategy"
● Chapter 9: Michael Kofman and Franz-Stefan Gady “Deep Battle: Attrition, Maneuver, and Lessons from Ukraine for Future Warfighting”
Section 4: International and Alliance Perspectives
● Chapter 10: Andre Luiz Viana Cruz de Carvalho and Sandro Teixeira Moita (Brazil), “The Expanding Role of Ground Forces in Multidomain Operations across East Asia and the Indo-Pacific”
● Chapter 11: Yuka Koshino and Rintaro Inoue, Japan, "Multidomain Operations with Japanese Characteristics”
● Chapter 12: Davis Ellison and Tim Sweigs, “Warfighting Concepts and the State of MDO Development: Does the Emperor have any Clothes?"
● Chapter 13: Dr Andrew Carr, Australia, Australian National University, “Multidomain by Design: The Australian Defence Force and MDO”
● Chapter 14: Dr Thomas Crosbie and Holger Lindhardtsen, Royal Danish Defense College, "Educating Officers for Joint and Multidomain Operations: Is There a Difference?"
● Chapter 15: William F. Owen, Israel, "More Cowbell: Is Multidomain Operations Just Another Concept?
Conclusion: Amos C. Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady
Dr Amos C. Fox is a Professor of Practice with Arizona State University's Future Security Initiative (FSI). Amos also works as a lecturer at the University of Houston in the School of Politics and International Relations. He hosts the Revolution in Military Affairs podcast. His latest book is Conflict Realism: Understanding the Causal Logic of Modern War and Warfare. He served 24-years in the U.S. Army retiring in 2024 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Franz-Stefan Gady has advised U.S. and European militaries on structural reform and the future of high-intensity warfare. An adjunct senior fellow with the Center for New American Security, Washington, D.C., he has conducted research in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine. His latest books are The Return of War and How the U.S. Would Fight China: The Risks of Pursuing a Rapid Victory.