David Galula was a French military officer and theorist known for his work on counterinsurgency. Born in 1919, he served in the French Army during the Algerian War, where he developed strategies to combat guerrilla warfare. His experiences led him to write influential texts on the subject, emphasizing the importance of winning the support of the local population. Galula's most notable work, "Counterinsurgency Warfare: Theory and Practice," outlines his principles for effective counterinsurgency operations. He argued that success depends on understanding the political and social dynamics of the conflict, as well as the need for a coordinated military and civilian effort to stabilize affected regions.