The Interpretive Stack: A Command-and-Control Architecture for AI-Enabled Joint Operations

The Interpretive Stack proposes a command-and-control architecture for AI-enabled joint operations that makes explicit the layered interpretive processes through which data, model outputs, interfaces, and human judgment are transformed into operational decisions. Rather than treating AI as a discrete tool or decision aid, the paper frames AI-mediated command as a stacked system of interpretation - spanning sensing, modeling, presentation, cognition, and authority - where misalignment at any layer can propagate meaning distortion and erode command coherence. By formalizing the interpretive stack as an architectural construct, the paper provides a framework for diagnosing where and how AI introduces command risk, enabling commanders and planners to stabilize shared understanding, preserve intent, and maintain effective control in complex, multi-domain operations.