A Century of Air Power Leadership: Past, Present, and Future

Orville and Wilbur Wright first flew from the sands of Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903. In 1999, to mark the first century of manned, powered flight, Congress created the Centennial of Flight Commission to coordinate national commemoration activities and to act as an international information resource. To manage its own participation in commemorative events around the world, the United States Air Force established a Centennial of Flight Office in 2001. The Air Force History and Museums Program, through its own activities, played a significant part in those events. The symposium explored aspects of military leadership over the past 100 years, highlighting factors that encouraged success or inhibited innovation. Among the crucial issues discussed were problems in doctrinal, technological, and weapons innovation and differences among air power leaders. Although focusing on the past, the symposium proceeded from the proposition that air and space power leadership had revolutionary effects on strategy and security. This book is intended to help readers who are interested in the impact of lead. Taken together, the essays in this book constitute an introduction to the history of air and space power leadership, beginning with an exploration of the significance of Billy Mitchell. A session chaired by Dr. Roger G. Miller addressed issues that arose from Mitchell’s quest for air independence, and the roles played by his contemporaries—Mason M. Patrick and Benjamin D. Foulois. Dr. James J. Cooke, Dr. Robert P. White, and Maj. John Beaulieu provided texture and context for the Mitchell legend with new and dynamic historical interpretations. The symposium on which this book is based was a singular event.