Tactical Tangents

Author: Tactical Tangents

Mike is a police SWAT team member, K9 handler, and tactical medic. Jim is an Air Force pilot with a background in close air support and combat search and rescue. Our goal is to elevate the conversation about all things tactical for public safety, military, and concerned citizens. Join us to hear lessons learned about decision making, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, and teamwork.
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Language: en

Genres: Education, Self-Improvement, Society & Culture

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Think Like an Architect: Systems Thinking for Warfighters & Cops
Episode 204
Sunday, 1 March, 2026

In complex environments, effort alone doesn't equal results. Whether you're in uniform or behind a badge, you face the same reality: limited resources, adaptive adversaries, and problems that refuse to stay solved. The difference between activity and impact often comes down to how you see the fight. Mike and Jim break down systems thinking for tacticians — a practical way to understand how outcomes actually emerge inside military and law enforcement environments. Using real-world examples, they explore how feedback loops, incentives, and hidden dependencies shape everything from crime trends to operational tempo. Links: https://sdm.mit.edu/a-systems-analysis-of-tactical-intelligence-in-the-us-army/ https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/warden-five-rings-great-strategists/ - John Warden's "The Enemy as a System" https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/ASPJ/journals/Volume-09_Issue-1-Se/1995_Vol9_No1.pdf https://amzn.to/4smTmEM0 - The Air Campaign: Planning For Combat by John Warden https://amzn.to/3OTgcVQ - Winning in FastTime: Harness the Competitive Advantage of Prometheus in Business and Life - by John Warden https://media.defense.gov/2017/Dec/27/2001861508/-1/-1/0/T_0029_FADOK_BOYD_AND_WARDEN.PDF - John Boyd and John Warden: Air Power's Quest for Strategic Paralysis https://warontherocks.com/2015/09/the-five-ring-circus-how-airpower-enthusiasts-forgot-about-interdiction/ - The Five-Ring Circus: How Airpower Enthusiasts Forgot About Interdiction by Mike Pietrucha Like what we're doing? Head over to Patreon and give us a buck for each new episode. You can also make a one-time contribution at GoFundMe. Intro music credit Bensound.com