Strategic Studies Quarterly. Volume 2, Number 2, Summer 2008
Abstract
UNDERSTANDING REQUIREMENTS OF FUTURE STRATEGY: As our founding fathers of American aerospace power have done over the past century, it is critical we continue to evolve our knowledge and understanding of aerospace power. Our greatest asset remains the minds of our people. More than any specific weapon system, investment in the minds of our people will result in the greatest payoff for any given outlay we might make. We must invest in the minds of our Airmen, advancing our understanding of aerospace power; or face decreasing relevance in future national security strategy. To do this we must understand our aerospace history, to include our core competencies. After mastering this understanding, we must integrate it with an awareness of how the global security environment is changing. Then, armed with both comprehension of our aerospace past and knowledge of the security environment, we must focus on developing four key aspects of maximizing air, space, and cyberspace power: (1) continuum ability -- effectiveness along a greater spectrum of operational engagement; (2) integration ability -- more effective integration with other actors, including military services, governmental departments, nations, and nonstate actors; (3) cyber ability -- improved mastery of the information realm; and (4) temporal ability -- the ability to function much faster. Airmen must evolve in these four areas so we can best and seamlessly integrate air, space, and cyberspace to optimize our global vigilance, reach, power, and partnering. While addressing these aspects as distinct areas of focus, in reality they overlap and affect one another. This is not a comprehensive list of areas to advance our understanding of the aerospace discipline -- many areas require continued development; however, these are high-priority aspects Airmen must nurture if we are to optimally exploit the incredibly capable weapon systems we are now fielding.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA482087
Entities
Organizations
- Air University