#114 Rubens Portugal on Brazilian Information Operations

The Cognitive Crucible

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association.

During this episode, Brazilian Army Capt Rubens Portugal discusses governmental structure and various information operations policies including operational integration and talent management.

Research Question: How dangerous to a country like Brazil or any country for that matter is it to build an information warfare and political warfare capability? For some countries, this is very dangerous. What kind of informational structure is most ideal for countries where the state (permanent, non-political) and government (temporary politics) are not separate in practice?

Resources:

• Anatomia da Propaganda podcast
• Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras
• The War in Informational Era
• Demons: A Novel in Three Parts by Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis
• Psychological Warfare By Paul Linebarger

Link to full show notes and resources

https://information-professionals.org/episode/cognitive-crucible-episode-114

Guest Bio:

After receiving a Bachelors of Military Science, in the Military Academy (Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras), Captain Rubens Portugal was commissioned an Aspirant Officer in November 2013. Upon completion of initial training, he reported to 6th Signal Battalion, 6th Army Division. His assignments included Radio Platoon Commander and Command Center Officer.

As a signal officer, in 2014, he worked in the Brazilian World Cup Regional Security Operation, as a Command and Control officer

In 2016, as a lieutenant, he graduated in the Brazilian Army Psychological Operations Course and reported to the Brazilian Battalion (MINUSTAH, UN Peacekeeping Mission) for training and deployment.

In 2017, he was a PsyOp Officer in the PsyOp Detachment, Brazilian Battalion, in UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti - Mission des Nations Unies pour la Stabilization en Haïti (MINUSTAH).

After MINUSTAH, in 2018, Captain Rubens Portugal worked in the PsyOp Company, 1st PsyOps Battalion, on missions all over the Brazilian territory, specially in border operations and Rio de Janeiro Federal Intervention.

In 2019 he was selected to be instructor in the PsyOp course, and remained there for 3 years.

In 2022, he current function is Operation Center Officer, in the 1st PsyOp Battalion, Special Operations Command.

About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

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