FOUR-STAR TRIGGER PULLERS: The Trend for, and Consequences of, Centralized Execution

Abstract

Modern technology has conferred upon the U.S. military's strategic-level commanders an unprecedented capacity to scrutinize and personally control events at the tactical level from halfway around the globe. Notwithstanding military tradition and joint service doctrine aligned with the principles of centralized direction and decentralized execution, there is a surreptitious move underway towards a more highly centralized control structure. The consequences of greater centralized control are the sacrifice of the military's speed advantage and the disruption of operational tempo for the forces in the field. A return to doctrinal command and control orientation is necessary if the U.S. military is to maintain the lead and realize the promises of defense transformation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 14, 2005
Accession Number
ADA464222

Entities

People

  • Glenn R. Jamison

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Control Systems
  • Doctrine
  • Information Systems
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Network Centric Warfare
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • United States
  • United States Central Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control