Episode 10 - John Bicknell: Securing Minds and Missions in the Information Age
John Bicknell: USMC Veteran Securing Minds and Missions in the Information Age
In this episode of Tipping Spears with Hannah Becker, we welcome we sit down with John Bicknell—CEO and Founder of More Cowbell Unlimited, Vice President of Information Professionals Association, national security thought leader, and host of The Cognitive Crucible podcast. A retired U.S. Marine Corps Officer and analytics visionary, John is a driving force behind some of the most forward-thinking strategies in information warfare, cognitive security, and national resilience.
From leading global military operations to architecting enterprise-level analytics solutions in the corporate world, John’s journey reflects a deep commitment to securing not just borders, but minds. His current work focuses on the future of information power—at the intersection of national defense, technology, and human behavior.
In this episode, John Bicknell shares:
What inspired him to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps
How he successfully transitioned from the military into business
What "cognitive security" really means—and why it’s vital to national defense
The important mission and work of the Information Professionals Association
How information warfare is impacting our nation, our society, and our world
The impact of weaponized information on democracies
Career advice for aspiring professionals in national security, defense, and cyber
John brings clarity to complex topics and urgency to conversations about protecting our country in the digital age. Whether you’re in uniform, in tech, or somewhere in between, this episode is packed with insights on mission-driven leadership, future-focused security, and staying ahead in an era of rapidly evolving threats.
Don’t miss this insightful conversation!
Catch the podcast episode on the following streaming channels:
YouTube - click here to listen
Spotify - click here to listen
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive email updates on new Tipping Spears Podcast episodes!
About the Guest:
John is the CEO and Founder of More Cowbell Unlimited. A national security thought leader and passionate analytics visionary, he has written extensively on national security matters related to information warfare, critical infrastructure defense, and space situational awareness. Before retiring from the United States Marine Corps in 2010 as a Lieutenant Colonel, John served worldwide, most notably in Afghanistan and at the Pentagon. He led enterprise-level process intensive human resources supply chain projects designed to discover inefficiencies, architect solutions, and re-purpose manpower savings. In his corporate career, he operationalized an Analytics Center of Excellence for a large EdTech firm, among other accomplishments. He is also Vice President for the Information Professionals Association and host of The Cognitive Crucible podcast. His Master’s degree from the Naval Postgraduate School emphasizes econometrics and operations research. John lives with his family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.