This disclosure describes a cognitive network management system (CNMS) for managing a communication node including a radio platform. The system includes an engines layer including at least one sensor engine configured to collect sensor information relating to a location of the communication node and also includes a CNMS core including at least a database storing system settings and policies. The CNMS core is configured to communicate with the engines layer, receive the sensor information and store it in the database, and control the operations of engines layer and the radio platform based on the policies. The system further includes a cognition/learning based analysis module configured to receive the sensor information from the CNMS core, to analyze the effects of the policies based on the sensor information, and to modify the policies and store them in the database to improve system performance.