Interested in contributing to future Strategic Horizons-related outreach efforts (e.g., webinars, podcasts, or virtual panels)? Please contact Dr. Achala Gunasekara-Rockwell at achala.rockwell@au.af.edu.
When Submitting:
• Stay within the required word count
• Include a brief biography (2–3 sentences)
• Confirm that your piece is original and not under consideration elsewhere
• Attach any visual aids separately, with proper permissions or licenses
All submissions must comply with applicable executive orders and Department of War directives.
Strategic Horizons does not accept work that centers on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or climate change activism. Submissions must focus on mission-relevant content aligned with warfighting, deterrence, strategy, and U.S. national security objectives across regional or cross-regional contexts.
⚠️ Note on Visual Content:
If your charts, graphics, or images come from outside sources and are not public domain or your own work, you must obtain written permission. Simply citing the source is insufficient. Graphics fall under a different copyright regime than written material—please understand the distinction.
Acceptance (Peer-Review) Process
Submit an abstract of no more than 150 words. Your abstract must clearly state:
• The article’s thesis (1–2 sentences)
• The research approach or methodology
• What makes your contribution unique
• Why this matters to the operational force or security community
Example Abstract:
Iran’s evolving military partnerships and proxy networks across the CENTCOM AOR are reshaping regional deterrence dynamics. This article examines Tehran’s strategy through a hybrid lens—conventional force posturing, irregular warfare, and information operations. Unlike previous studies, this piece provides an operational-level analysis of Iranian influence activities and offers doctrinal implications for joint force planning. The article aims to support military professionals preparing for future contingency operations in a volatile strategic environment.
Review Process
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The Editor-in-Chief reviews each abstract and manuscript (with possible assistance from AI tools).
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Based on initial review, the editor will decline the submission or advance it for peer review.
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Submissions that advance are reviewed under a double-blind peer review process.
Based on peer review, the editorial team will determine one of four outcomes:
• Reject
• Revise and resubmit
• Accept with revisions
• Accept as written
If you receive a “revise and resubmit,” your updated manuscript will be reviewed by the Assistant Editor-in-Chief. If your revisions address reviewer concerns, the article may proceed to publication or undergo an additional round of review.
The Editor-in-Chief makes all final publication decisions, considering both peer reviews and editorial alignment.
Post-Acceptance Workflow
Once accepted, your article will enter a multi-stage editorial pipeline:
• Security review
• Mechanical editing
• Fact-checking
• Developmental/substantive editing
Edits will be returned to you with clear deadlines. After your review, the article will undergo final copyediting to resolve any remaining grammar, punctuation, or style issues. No content changes are permitted after this stage.
⏱️ Timeline:
Due to the depth of editorial review and required DoD security screening, publication may take six months or longer. While Strategic Horizons manages all security reviews, interagency authors must secure internal clearance prior to submission.
In the event of prolonged delays, authors will have the opportunity to update references or make minor revisions.
Strategic Horizons reserves the right to assign accepted articles to specific issues based on editorial priorities and publication cadence.