Beyond the Wild Blue Yonder: Creating an "Air and Space" Culture in Today's Air Force
Abstract
For the Air Force, military space is now in the limelight following the release of Global Engagement: A Vision for the 21st Century Air Force. This pamphlet includes the most important Air Force statement ever concerning the role of space in the future of the Air Force: We are now transitioning from an air force into an air and space force on an evolutionary path to a space and air force. To make this transition, according to General Howell M. Estes III, Commander in Chief, United States Space Command, two major things must happen: One of them is a cultural change. We all grew up with the air part of the Air Force, and many of us look at the space piece as being a little bit of a threat to the kinds of things that air power does. That attitude has to change. How can the Air Force create the culture necessary to transition from an air force to an air and space force? Through research via the AU Library, I offer a definition of culture and discuss how culture develops and can be changed. I reviewed historical documentation at the Air University Historical Research Agency to gain historical insight into the formation of Air Force culture during the 1940s. I interviewed General Howell M. Estes III, Commander in Chief, United States Space Command, Major General Robert Dickman, DOD Space Architect, Major General (S) H. Marshal Ward, USAF/XOO, and Mr Brent Collins, PEO/Space, on their perspectives of the current Air Force culture and how to successfully transition to an air and space culture. Combining history with current thoughts, I have articulated how the AF can successfully transition culturally, beyond the wild blue yonder, to an air and space force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA398757
Entities
People
- Cynthia J. Grey
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College