Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower will introduce readers to contemporary strategy and the operational level of war, particularly as it relates to airpower.

This intermediate textbook was developed as required reading for all US Air Force Academy cadets, and is designed to close the gap between military theory and military practice. It asks readers to reconceive of the military as a “profession of effects” rather than as a profession of arms because much of the military's work and impact no longer involves kinetic warfare.

The book covers strategic foundations; operational design and joint-service operations; the air, space, and cyber capabilities that make up modern airpower; and contemporary challenges in the application of strategy. The contributing authors include both military practitioners and scholars of security studies, political science, and history.

In addition to being required reading for Air Force Academy cadets, the book will provide an essential overview of strategy and practice for anyone interested in modern airpower and the joint operating environment.

Ryan Burke is an associate professor in the Department of Military & Strategic Studies at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) and was formerly a captain in the US Marine Corps.

Lt. Col. Mike Fowler is an associate professor in the Department of Military & Strategic Studies at USAFA.

Lt. Col. Kevin McCaskey is an assistant professor in the Department of Military & Strategic Studies at USAFA.

"Provocative, even controversial, Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower is a competing departure from seminal concepts in military strategy and doctrinal norms that seeks to establish new paradigms in the way we conceive of the military instrument of power. A thought-provoking read for anyone interested in strategic studies. There is particularly excellent work in the sections on Operational Design, the roles of Intelligence and ISR, and Global Mobility and Agility. This work will stimulate critical thinking for anyone interested in modern war and the Joint Force."

List of IllustrationsForeword by Lt. Gen. Christopher D. Miller (USAF, Ret.)PrefaceAcknowledgments

Part I. An Introduction to Contemporary Strategy

Introduction Kevin McCaskey

1. Defining Contemporary Military Strategy Thomas Drohan

2. Strategic Foundations John T. Farquhar

3. Operational Design: One Method of Reconciling Ends, Ways, and Means Ryan Burke

4. The Ways of War: Constructing a Compellence Strategy Michael Fowler

5. Capabilities That Generate EffectsKevin McCaskey

Part II. Airpower Strategy and Levels of EffectsIntroductionThomas Swaim

6. Airpower for Strategic Effect: Classic to Contemporary Airpower TheoryJohn T. Farquhar 7. Multidomain Airpower Strategy: Integrating Air, Space, and Cyber AssetsJahara W. Matisek

8. Intelligence, ISR, and StrategyMichael Fowler

Part III. Air, Space, and Cyber EffectsIntroductionMichael Martindale 9. Global Precision EngagementDan Hoadley

10. Rapid Global Mobility and Agile Combat SupportKevin McCaskey

11. Airpower and Irregular Warfare: A Battle of IdeasJohn T. Farquhar

12. Space PowerMichael Martindale

13. Offense and Defense in CyberspaceEvan Perkoski and Michael Poznansky

Part IV. Defense Organization and the Joint Operating EnvironmentIntroductionRyan Burke

14. Goldwater-Nichols and the Evolution of the Joint ForceBrent J. Talbot

15. Roles and Missions of the Armed ServicesBrian Drohan

16. Special OperationsMichael Golembesky

Part V. Contemporary Challenges in the Application Of StrategyIntroductionMichael Fowler

17. Flawed Reasoning and Bias in Decision-MakingLaura Resnick-Samotin

18. Unmanned Aerial SystemsKevin McCaskey

19. Expanding DoD Missions and Mission CreepRyan Burke

20. Constructing Effects: A Strategic Theory of Security CooperationMichael Fowler

21. Hybrid Warfare: The End of Conventional Wars in the Twenty-First Century?William Reno

22. Innovation and Organizational PoliticsJustin Key Canfil

23. Analyzing ISIS in the Contemporary Environment Iris Malone

ConclusionRyan Burke

List of ContributorsIndex