Erik Skaggs has cultivated relationships within government and military circles as a dedicated product engineer dedicated to supporting downrange missions in the areas of information operations and mission support.

"I first realized the seriousness of the erosion is U.S. strategic communications and information operations capabilities while serving in 2010 on the ISAF J2X staff as a strategic advisor and then-Minister of Interior, Mohammad Hanif Atmar. Minister Atmar expressed concerns that an overemphasis on kinetic strikes against the Taliban would result in escalating civilian casualties and undermine long term stability in Afghanistan.  He also recognized, as did I, that direct messaging of US-developed and approved themes was at best ineffective and at worst counterproductive. He was not interested in pursuing the standard U.S. information operations doctrine.  We needed a new approach, and I had one, which led to the development of the BESM™ methodology."

The BESM™ methodology is based on the standard deviation or bell-shaped curve that users use to observe trends in polling on broad political and social issues. The bell-shaped curve allows a framework for segmenting key populations within an operational context: Enemy Base, who are unalterably opposed to our policy objectives and will resort to any effort to achieve their objectives; Enemy Enablers, who are willing to help assist the Enemy Base and are a primary pool for recruiting and organizing operational networks; Unengaged, who are largely focused on immediate needs and show little interest in operational priorities; and the Friendly Base (and Enablers), who may or may not “like” the West or the priorities of the U.S. government but support our policy objectives at a values level.