Tip of the Spear, Edge of the Mind: Neurotechnology’s Roles in the Future of Special Operations
By Anna M. Gielas, PhD
JSOU Report 25-12
May 28, 2025
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in this work are entirely those of the author and
do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of the U.S. Government,
Department of Defense, United States Special Operations Command, or the Joint
Special Operations University.
Rapid advancements in neurotechnology, including brain-computer interfaces, could revolutionize cognitive and physical
enhancements for Special Operations Forces. These technologies aim to amplify operator strengths, enhance mission
capabilities, and redefine the future of warfare through precise, adaptive, and deniable operations. Source: Author-supplied
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Rapid technological advancements are revolutionizing human augmentation, making
cognitive and physical enhancements for military personnel not only feasible but also a
priority for global superpowers such as the United States and China. As technology
advances and global competition intensifies, military scholars explore ways to enhance
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) through emerging technologies such as brain-
computer interfaces (BCIs). However, current debates on cognitive and physical
enhancement tend to focus on mitigating perceived operator limitations, rather than
exploring the full potential of both the human and the technologies.
Instead of merely compensating for weaknesses, enhancement technologies should be
leveraged to amplify operator strengths. BCI technologies offer the potential to harness
operators’ inherent resources, such as tacit knowledge, and unlock latent human
capabilities while reinforcing the SOF ethos that humans are more important than
hardware. Additionally, to fully realize the technological potential, it is important to
distinguish between enhancing the operator and augmenting the mission—two closely
interrelated yet distinct goals that demand tailored strategies. This dual focus is
explored through a series of practical examples, illustrating the transformative and
nuanced applications of emerging BCI technologies. Ultimately, these capabilities
could enable more precise, adaptive, and deniable special operations within the
evolving context of strategic competition and integrated deterrence.
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