Effectiveness Through Control: Centralized Execution in Air Mobility Operations

Abstract

To achieve effectiveness and efficiency in mobility operations, Air Force leaders have employed a command and control structure that many airmen view as centralized execution. This paper examines the Air Force supreme tenet of centralized control and decentralized execution as it relates to these operations, and proposes the Air Operations Center as the appropriate level of control and execution. Recent examples prove this concept and demonstrate how decentralization to no lower than the AOC-level enables four of the other tenets of airpower listed in Air Force doctrine: flexibility, synergistic effects, concentration, and priority. This level of command and control poses potential risks to the concept of decentralized execution, but training and a better understanding of the supreme tenet will mitigate these risks and preserve the benefits of decentralized execution.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA589404

Entities

People

  • Barry A. Dickey

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aeromedical Evacuation
  • Air Force
  • Air Mobility Operations
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Airlift Operations
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Education
  • Military Force Levels
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies

Technology Areas

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