WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Air Force leaders directed the implementation of a new approach to planning to better meet future threats. The team focused on this effort will be led by Maj. Gen. Clinton Crosier.
“The Air Force needs to plan across stove pipes to prepare for warfare of the future,” Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson said. “This will change the way we develop Air Force programs and budgets to face threats from high-end adversaries.”
In today’s technologically competitive, multi-polar world, the Air Force must be able to innovate and operate faster and more effectively than its potential adversaries. However, under the current force design model, planning and development are sub-divided into 12 core functions, such as rapid global mobility and air superiority, managed across seven major commands.
In October, Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein initiated an interim effort to move forward an Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability.
Wilson and Goldfein charged Crosier with leading a 70-person team to develop the AFWIC way forward. The team is made up of Airmen from across the Air Force.
“Warfighting in the 21st century is all about multi-domain integration, agility in decision-making, and speed of action. We must consistently innovate, integrate and field capabilities more effectively than our adversaries,” Goldfein said. “AFWIC will help us evolve and transform our processes and organizations to meet the challenges of future warfighting.”
AFWIC will explore and wargame innovative solutions, develop an integrated family of concepts, and direct capability development efforts across the Air Force.
This organization will also develop a single, multi-domain strategy that will identify, guide, and prioritize future force development. That will improve Air Force agility, readiness, and lethality in the joint fight, Goldfein said.
By Tech. Sgt. Robert Barnett, Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
70 person team? Maybe to grind out the supporting research, to “wargame”, and to validate. But I’m thinking there’s about 69 people too many on that committee. I hope there is ONE experienced, super-smart Operations dude with a singular vision he has been nurturing for years.
Or, the entire effort might be a good project for the next class at Air War College.
I look forward to seeing the end product and very very much hope it is a great success, and…implementable.
Multiple projects ongoing. They are re-engineering the future of the Air Force.
Is “Plan across stove pipes” some kind of Air Force ’ism that us dirtier branches are not aware of? Sounds like disconnected Washington nonsense that I’m sure sounds great to out of touch generals and civil servants.
Stove pipes or silos are a very common term when discussing communication and organizational infrastructure. It means that systems are developed in a vacuum, incapable of working with other systems.
I hate to sound skeptical and highly cynical, but it sounds to me like someone has truly drunk the Kool-Aid from private-sector consulting firms selling to the DoD, and in this case, I fear that there is cause for much concern.
I really hope that the leadership in charge of implementing these buzzwords asks for clear definitions, and has enough integrity to speak openly and truthfully about the many growing pains (and probably a few major issues) that will inevitably arise from deep, sweeping changes. My hope is that decision-makers will listen to these leaders and pursue this institutional change at a sustainable rate; if such a project is pursued by much any other strategy, it’s going to be a very bumpy ride, to say the least…
I wish all involved the greatest of success.
It’s not a buzzword to those involved.