Aligning the Stars: The Air Forces Best Leaders are Already Amongst Its Ranks
Abstract
In 2021, America's social and political landscapes are ones where diversity and inclusion are not asked for but demanded. The United States Air Force and the Air National Guard (ANG) has worked diligently to progress toward a diverse and inclusive service in the decade previous. While their efforts and progress are commendable, what exists is an organization where diversity and inclusion initiatives remain largely unapplied within the highest of ranks of the USAF and the ANG officer corps namely the General Officer corps. When it comes to the rank of Brigadier General and above in the ANG, 59 (30.9 percent) GOs are non-rated, whereas 132 (69.1 percent) are rated. A more significant disparity is apparent when looking at AFSC in that 69.1 percent of the entire ANG GO corps is derived from a mere 24 percent of the entire ANG officer corps. Given this metric, by largely placing rated officers in GO billets, the ANG eliminates potential candidates who are competently better, those who have the education, background, and likely a careers worth of experience regarding the AFSC the General Officer will command and lead. The inevitable conclusion is that the ANG's best leaders are already within its ranks only to be dismissed based largely on their AFSC. This thesis gives a perspective of how it came to pass that the fighter pilot commands most ANG leadership positions. The research provides a statistical analysis of the ANG's current 191 GOs and will show an embedded inequality between rated and non-rated officers. Finally, this thesis will show by flipping the paradigm of organizational culture will lead to a diverse and inclusive GO corps and why doing so is key to the greater organizational success of the ANG.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1178149
Entities
People
- Anthony M. Peplinski
Organizations
- Marine Corps University