How to Institutionalize Space Superiority in the United States Air Force

Abstract

The Air Force talks about space superiority, but as a whole it has not institutionalized space superiority as it has other mission areas such as air superiority. Air superiority is at the heart of what the Air Force does. Everyday airmen%en go to work and think about, plan for, wargame, and practice air superiority. It is not assumed; it is won. It is woven into the fabric of the Air Force and understood as essential at every level. That is what the Air Force must do to institutionalize space superiority weave it into the fabric of the Air Force and make it a top priority mission to be won rather than assumed. Institutionalizing space superiority would require making space superiority an established, clearly identifiable mission with formal, discernible organizational structures that standardize practices and approaches, and codify officially sanctioned beliefs. The result of institutionalization would be to take space superiority and make it a mainstream mission of the Air Force. All air professionals should understand the basic concepts and requirements, and why space superiority is important. All space professionals should do their everyday jobs with the knowledge that space superiority is essential, that it must be taken in to account at every level, at every step, and that without it, all other space missions are vulnerable.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA420527

Entities

People

  • Richard M. Patenaude

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Military Force Levels
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Organizational Structure
  • Space Based
  • Space Operations
  • Space Systems
  • United States
  • United States Strategic Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space