Frank Sochak, a recognized figure.
Col. (Ret.) Frank Sobchak is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel with a distinguished career and a specialisation in irregular warfare studies. Currently, he serves as the Chair of Irregular Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, New York[2].
Sobchak's impressive body of work includes extensive research on Special Forces and advisory operations, as demonstrated in his book Training for Victory. This comprehensive study involved 114 interviews with Special Forces veterans, providing deep insights into partner force development and advisory challenges[2]. The book underscores the complexity and long-term nature of irregular warfare and advisory missions, emphasising their strategic importance to the U.S. Army.
In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Sobchak has also been involved in high-level irregular warfare considerations. For instance, he revealed in an interview that U.S. Special Forces had planned to capture Iranian General Qasem Soleimani around 2007, reflecting his operational knowledge and involvement in significant events[4].
Throughout his career, Sobchak has shared his expertise and opinions in various media platforms. He has been published in notable publications such as Newsweek, Time, The Wall Street Journal, the Jerusalem Post, Defense One, The Hill, and the Small Wars Journal. His Twitter handle is @abujeshua[8].
Sobchak's academic journey includes a BS in military history from West Point, a MA in Arab studies from Georgetown University, and a PhD in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy[6]. He has taught at prestigious institutions like the US Military Academy at West Point, the Joint Special Operations University, Tufts University, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology[3].
During his twenty-six-year career in the US Army, Sobchak also served in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and combat in Iraq. He led teams and companies in 5th Special Forces Group, advising foreign militaries[11]. His final assignments included garrison command[10].
Notably, Sobchak led the Army effort to publish an official history of the Iraq War, titled "The U.S. Army in the Iraq War," and oversaw the declassification of over 30,000 pages of documents and several hundred interviews for a five-year project that culminated in the publication of a 1,500-page two-volume set[7].
In summary, Col. Frank Sobchak is a recognised expert and scholar in irregular warfare. His combination of practical special operations experience, scholarly analysis, and leadership in military academic institutions focused on irregular conflict makes him a valuable asset in understanding and navigating the complexities of irregular warfare.
- Col. Frank Sobchak, with expertise in military intelligence and special operations, serves as the Chair of Irregular Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, demonstrating his deep engagement in military history and defense-related discussions.
- His book, 'Training for Victory', provides valuable insights into the complexities and long-term aspects of irregular warfare and advisory missions, a subject he also addresses in high-level politics and general news platforms.
- Sobchak's contributions extend beyond academia; he was involved in planning significant operations, such as the potential capture of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani around 2007.
- Through teaching at prestigious institutions like West Point, Joint Special Operations University, and MIT, Sobchak has shared his knowledge in the realms of education-and-self-development, imparting his wisdom to the future generals and strategic thinkers.
- In addition to his role in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and combat in Iraq, Sobchak led the Army effort to publish an official history of the Iraq War, ensuring that military history and security are documents and archived for future reference and study.
