Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction

An essential introduction to contemporary strategy at the operational level of war, now in its second edition

Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower introduces contemporary strategy at the operational level of war, particularly as it relates to airpower. Developed as foundational reading for all US Air Force Academy cadets, Air Force ROTC students, and Officer Training School candidates, this intermediate textbook is designed to close the gap between military theory and practice. It covers strategic foundations; operational design and joint-service operations; the air, space, and cyber capabilities that comprise modern airpower; and contemporary challenges in the application of strategy.

In this second edition, each chapter has been updated and revised, and several sections have been expanded. Part 2, “Military Forces and the Joint Fight,” now features separate chapters about each service. Similarly, operational design is expanded from one to four chapters to provide a more thorough step-by-step guide through the process. New chapters in this second edition include “Integrating the Instruments of Power,” “The Spectrum of Conflict and Range of Military Operations,” and “The Nuclear Weapons Triad and Missile Defense.”

Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower’s contributing authors and editors include both military practitioners and scholars of security studies, political science, and history. In addition to being required reading for US Air Force cadets, the book provides an essential overview of strategy and practice for anyone interested in modern airpower.

Ryan Burke is a professor in the Department of Military and Strategic Studies at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) and a veteran US Marine Corps officer. He earned his PhD at the University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and teaches courses on military strategy, international security, and military power projection.

Lt. Col. Michael Fowler is an associate professor in the Department of Military and Strategic Studies at USAFA. He earned his PhD at the Naval Postgraduate School, and now teaches courses in military strategy, international security, targeting, and intelligence collection.

Lt. Col. Jahara Matisek is an associate professor of military and strategic studies and research director at the Strategy and Warfare Center at USAFA. He earned his PhD in political science at Northwestern University. In 2020 he deployed as an E-11 instructor pilot, earning a Bronze Star Medal as director of operations for the 451st Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.