Air University (AU) > AUPress

April 7, 2022
Cyber Deterrence Revisited

Cyber Deterrence Revisited endeavors to disentangle the ongoing academic discussions regarding creating a deterrence theory applicable to cyberspace. It critically reflects on deterrence mechanism outcomes, shortfalls, and misconceptions and explains when cyber deterrence is and is not successful.
March 15, 2022
Iran, China, and the Future World Order: Unipolarity or Multipolarity?

The twenty-first century has seen a series of geopolitical and strategic shifts around the world, including in the Indo-Pacific, presenting major challenges to national leaders and military planners. Tectonic movements following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, paired with technological
March 2, 2022
Going Virtual: Evolution of the Student Experience Ecosystem (SEE) Model to the SEE Model 2.0 and the Virtual (vSEE) Model

The US Air Force Leadership Development Course (LDC), taught in a classroom environment from 2018 to 2020, pivoted to an entirely virtual teaching platform in early 2020. LDC faculty, wanting to retain the experience and outcomes of the interactive, in-person course while recasting the curriculum in
Feb. 23, 2022
Leader of Character: The Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Airfield at the U.S. Air Force Academy: A Commemoration, Colloquium, and Celebration

This work includes a text of the ceremony that formalized the renaming of the US Air Force Academy Airfield in honor of General Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Senior leaders from across the Air Force and prominent members of the community welcomed members of Gen Davis’s family for the occasion. Four
Nov. 8, 2021
After Thursday: Air Commandos Deliver a Killing Blow to Japanese Occupation in Burma

This work is a synopsis of the involvement of the 1st and 2nd Air Commando Groups alongside other Allied forces from May 1944 to May 1945 in the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Multiple lesser-known operations are included as well as minor assistance provided to friendly forces and novel uses of
Nov. 4, 2021
Contemporary Tactical Realignment: Preparing a Military Force to Work with Department of Justice Prosecutors to Fight Terrorism, Cyberhacking, and Other National Security Issues

This paper introduces military commanders to DOJ capabilities and the potential for military-DOJ collaboration. It proposes a five-part framework for working with federal prosecutors. First, military and DOJ authorities should agree upon the types of wrongdoing which warrant military authorities
Nov. 1, 2021
Alternative Airpower for Afghanistan: Unmanned Aircraft Systems

In this paper, the author argues that because of the issues in Afghanistan and the inability to transition to an air force that is manned independently, that they augment with Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The author cites that since small-UAS are already in use in country, expanding the program will
Sept. 14, 2021
Flexible Employment of Multi-Role Assets

This paper discusses how current doctrine is antiquated and does not align well with current mission requirements and equipment. The author argues that by combining assets into multirole platforms and updating doctrine and air operations, full utilization of assets can occur. [Trevor A. Gustafson /
Sept. 7, 2021
Establishing a Space Force Culture: Lessons on Artifacts and Organizational Identity

In this paper, the author argues for establishing a separate and complete organizational identity for the United States Space Force. Leaders must manage and incorporate new cultural artifacts to foster the desired identity of the Space Force through heraldry and other historical items. Through the
Aug. 25, 2021
America’s Strategic Baggage in the Middle East: Is it Necessary and Sustainable

Published amid the ongoing debate over the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, Air Force Col Dan Magruder provides an examination of the strategic rationale that underpins that decision. Magruder, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and a veteran of that conflict, argues that the