John Spencer is one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare and modern conflict environments. A retired U.S. Army Major with over 25 years of active-duty service, Spencer served in both combat and elite training roles, including as a Ranger Instructor and Infantry Company Commander in Iraq. His career includes high-level advisory positions such as Senior Strategic Planner to the U.S. Army Chief of Staff and the Pentagon. He is currently the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute and Co-Director of its Urban Warfare Project.
Spencer’s academic and operational expertise have positioned him at the forefront of both military doctrine and on-the-ground analysis. He has conducted field research in conflict zones including Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, and Nagorno-Karabakh, bringing real-time insights into the complexities of urban combat. He is the author of multiple books, including Understanding Urban Warfare and Connected Soldiers, and is widely recognized for The Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender, which was adopted by Ukrainian forces and translated into over sixteen languages.
In addition to his research, Spencer is a trusted voice in defense media, regularly contributing to outlets such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, MSNBC, and Foreign Policy. He holds a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown University and serves as a fellow at multiple think tanks focused on global security. His unique blend of academic rigor, combat experience, and strategic influence makes him a key advisor on military innovation and applied defense technology.
