Command in Air War: Centralized versus Decentralized Control of Combat Airpower - Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom

This work develops a more complete picture of the various ways airpower is controlled in combat, and their subsequent consequences, by presenting airpower as a system, placing theories in their proper context within that system, and accounting for the interaction among them. While using primarily historical concepts to illustrate types of control, this study attempts to add to the body of knowledge on human-technology systems and about the airpower system in particular. The questions it will answer along the way are:

1. How has the information age affected C2 of combat airpower?

2. Have technological changes impacted the military's adherence to the doctrinal tenet of centralized control and decentralized execution

3. Is there a general formula that better characterizes the system's C2?

4. Where are these changes heading?

Contents * CHAPTER 1 * INTRODUCTION * Notes * CHAPTER 2 * HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF AIRPOWER CONTROL ISSUES * The Levels of War * Technology's Role * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 3 * THE COMBAT AIR OPERATIONS SYSTEM * Combat Air Operations * Effects-Based Operations * Command and Control * Command Relationships * Leveraging and Depth of Command * Relationships * Constraints on Specific Actions and Time-Sensitive Targets * The CAOS as a System * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 4 * THE STRATEGIC LEVEL AND CONTROL IN THE INFORMATION AGE * From Vietnam to Desert Storm * Lessons from Desert Storm * Integrating with the Clinton Administration * Intervention with Caution—Somalia and Bosnia * Institutionalizing Command and Control * Kosovo * Ascendance of the AOC * A New Administration and the War on Terror * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 5 * COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CAOS * Organizations and Command Relationships * Desert Storm * Allied Force * Enduring Freedom * Iraqi Freedom * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 6 * THE CENTER OF THE CAOS * Desert Storm * Allied Force * Enduring Freedom * Iraqi Freedom * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 7 * DECISION MAKING INSIDE THE LOOP * Desert Storm * Allied Force * Enduring Freedom * Iraqi Freedom * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 8 * DISTRIBUTED COGNITION IN THE CAOS * Desert Storm * Allied Force * Enduring Freedom * Iraqi Freedom * Conclusions * Notes * CHAPTER 9 * SYSTEM ACCIDENTS IN THE CAOS * Notes * CHAPTER 10 * CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS * How Has the Information Age Affected C2 of Combat Airpower? * Have Technological Changes Impacted the Military's Adherence to the Doctrinal Tenet of Centralized Control and Decentralized Execution? * Is There a General Formula That Better Characterizes the System's C2? * Where Are These Changes Heading? * Notes * ABBREVIATIONS * BIBLIOGRAPHY