Document created: 20 August 02
Air & Space Power Journal - Fall 2002

Prelaunch Notes

LT COL SCOTT G. WIERSCHKE, SENIOR EDITOR

BRINGING DECISIVE FORCE force to bear quickly on any point of the globe by integrating the very different operating environments of air and space has been—and will continue to be—the US Air Force’s primary function. Similarly, as General Jumper stated, bringing hearty debate and innovative thought to bear on the challenges facing the Air Force as it incorporates new missions, technologies, and strategies into that function has been—and will continue to be—the primary role of the Air Force’s flagship professional journal.

The Journal now embarks upon a new era of leading the air and space power discourse under a new name that highlights the two unique environments and the integration challenges airmen must conquer. Our readers can expect to get their usual fill of lively debate and stimulating articles from the renamed Aerospace Power Journal. The ASPJ editorial staff will continue to push hard to provide an open forum for controversial topics, dissenting opinions, and new ideas that are so important to the evolution of our profession of arms. In order to better emphasize that forum for debate, beginning with this edition, we have moved the “Vortices” (opinion/commentary) section to the front of the Journal. We hope that all of our readership, especially Air Force members, will find this change a useful facilitation of their professional reading and an inspiration to contribute to ASPJ.

Some of the articles in this first edition of ASPJ underscore the unique characteristics that divide air and space into distinct operational environments; others debate important topics about the joint fight. Lt Col Tony Wolusky and Dr. James Corum both use historical precedents to glean relevant lessons for today’s air warriors in their pieces on the air campaign planning process and the Falklands War, respectively. In a provocative analysis, Dr. Mark Clodfelter builds a new framework for assessing the effectiveness of airpower in warfare, which depends upon measuring the fulfillment of positive and negative political objectives. Col John Hyten and Maj John Grenier unearth problems with US space policy and Air Force counterspace doctrine, respectively. Both authors offer several recommendations for remedying the situation. Finally, we discover new ways of conducting joint operations in three outstanding commentaries: Lt Col Mick Quintrall’s examination of fire-support coordination boxes; an article on organic versus joint operations by Lt Col Bob Poynor, USAF, retired; and a discussion of the Navy’s role in the global strike task force by Capt Floyd D. Kennedy Jr., USNR, retired.

As always, the ASPJ staff looks forward to your feedback and contributions to the professional dialogue on air and space power.

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.

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