FUTURES ANALYST/EDITOR

About the role

The FOE Futures writer and analyst will develop and complete original analytic papers on the Space Future Operating Environment and serve as an editor and ensure quality control for team products.

Responsibilities

• Author original analytic papers on future operating environment topics, emerging technologies, strategic competition, and operational implications.
• Edit and refine papers produced by team members to ensure clarity, rigor, logic, and decision relevance.
• Translate complex technical, statistical, and operational findings into clear, concise, persuasive narratives.
• Query authors to constructively resolve ambiguity, strengthen arguments, and eliminate unsupported assertions.
• Prepare papers suitable for publication, formal briefing, and integration into the Future Operating Environment.
• Research and apply advanced analytical techniques to complex problems in the space domain.
• Provide database consultation, graphical data visualization, and recommendations for quantitative data selection and integration.
• Develop analytic strategies to meet customer requirements and resolve knowledge gaps.
• Collaborate with analysts, mission partners, and FOE stakeholders to enhance analytic products and integration.
• Facilitate analytic discussions, red team events, or scenario-based brainstorming as required.

Requirements

• Strategic Writing & Editorial Expertise: Expertise in drafting, rewriting, and editing complex technical and strategic manuscripts into publication-ready copy. Strong proficiency in English grammar, syntax, style, and editorial standards. Ability to ensure continuity, lucidity, and precision in complex subject matter. Strong editorial judgment and ability to query authors for clarity and rigor. Strong grasp of at least one or more areas of expertise, such as U.S. Joint Doctrine, Technological Transformation, Threat Assessment, Red Teaming, Economic and Trade Analysis, Supply Chain analysis, or core scientific understanding of a related field such as astrophysics, optics, complexity, or systems theory.
• Analytic & Methodological Expertise: Ability to identify, retrieve, manipulate, and exploit multiple datasets. Expertise in applying analytic tools to build models, visualize data, and perform systems or comparative analysis. Ability to break down and analyze complex, ambiguous problems.
• Operational & Leadership Competencies: Ability to work independently or as part of a team. Ability to lead discussions using influence rather than positional authority. Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• PACE and CDASA certification, or similar certifications (desired)
• Experience with formal Futures Analysis methodologies such as Manoa Futures, foresight, scenario planning, horizon scanning, or backcasting (desired)
• Experience with military operations in the space domain (desired)
• Experience evaluating emerging technologies for use in military force design acquisition (desired)
• Experience integrating advanced analytics and AI/ML outputs into reports and papers (desired)
• Experience leading Red Teams or Analysis of Alternatives (desired)
• Research experience in international affairs and/or military history (desired)
• Experience with statistical analysis and visualization tools (desired)
• Experience working across national-level defense organizations (USSF, Military Services, CCMDs, JCS) (desired)
• Knowledge of Chinese military, culture and language (desired)
• Prior experience in commercial news or editorial environments (desired)