Center of Gravity Analysis by LtCol Michael Bowman

The center of gravity is defined as the foundation of capability – what Clausewitz called the “hub of all power and movement, on which everything depends … the point at which all our energies should be directed.” This Strategic Research Project uses knowledge engineering and artificial intelligence techniques to identify and describe the background knowledge, concepts, information, and scenarios that would be required to create intelligent agents that would conduct center of gravity analysis. The paper explores the possibility of intelligent agents being used by strategic decision makers to assist in the determination of the center of gravity for a force. If this can be done, it will be a significant step in achieving information superiority and will have a profound impact on joint operational capabilities.