The book focuses on the career and influence of Michael W. Wynne, former Secretary of the Air Force, and his perspectives on American military strategy and technological innovation. The book covers a wide range of topics related to national defense, military modernization, airpower, and global strategic competition. The book emphasizes the need for innovation, interoperability, and a forward-thinking approach to maintaining America’s military advantage in a rapidly changing global landscape.
The book champions innovation in various areas, including: fifth-generation air capabilities, hypersonics, UID and RFID innovations for logistics, cyber warfare, interoperability and partnerships in shaping coalition capabilities, the growing dynamics of change with the OODA loop and decision-making with the crafting of a military kill web, the struggle to overcome the legacy of the land wars, and many other areas of innovation.
The alternative title to the book could have been, Defense Innovation: Reflections on the Work of Michael W. Wynn.
A key driver for Wynne’s approach in government and out has been what we have referred to as the Wynne doctrine: ”If you are ever involved in a fair fight; it is the result of poor planning”
When Wynne and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Mosley were fired in 2008 by the then Secretary of Defense it was an historical turning point in American defense policy.
The significance of Wynne’s firing was underscored by the late retired Australian General and Senator Jim Molan in his 2022 book on the need for Australia to deal with the China challenge:
“The U.S. is surfacing from decades of war in the Middle East with worn-out equipment, understandably having allocated a lot of its funding to ‘today’s wars’ rather than investing in the future. During the Iraq War, for instance, Secretary of Defense Bob Gates wanted more drones to carry on the day-to-day fight in Iraq and found himself in conflict with the U.S. Air Force, which wanted to continue building the fighters and bombers that it thought would be needed in the future.
“Gates sacked the chief of the U.S. Air Force and restricted the production of aircraft such as the stealth F-22 fighter and the B-21 bomber, in order to build the drones and other aircraft he needed.
“The result was that only a limited number of the extraordinary F-22s were built and the B-21 is still not in production. The impact of diverted spending and focus will be felt for a long time to come.
“The likely war with China, if it is ever fought by weapons of this type, is going to be fought by a very small number of modern stealth fighters, but mainly by U.S. fighters and bombers that are 20 to 30 years old.
“The result of all this is that the U.S. will not be able to marshal sufficient military power to deter China in the Western Pacific, possibly for years.” (Jim Molan. Danger On Our Doorstep (pp. 106-107). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.)
In short, the firing of Mosely and Wynne was not just a personnel move, but the beginnings of a dramatic shift of the U.S. military away from strengthening its global naval and air power projection capabilities in favor of a focus on land operations which would drain the treasury and change the U.S. military for two decades.
When the U.S. woke up to the emergence of the multi-polar world labelled as the “great power competition” by President Trump it was late in the day to focus on what was needed. Many of the projects which Wynne had initiated or nurtured now became priorities. But twenty years had been wasted and the magnitude of what needed to be done needed a new strategy and policy elite.
But we are still in the process of doing so.
As Lt General (Retired) David Deptula wrote in his forward to the book: “Leadership is more than a title—it is a calling. Few have answered that call with the depth of dedication, intellect, and vision that Michael Wynne demonstrated as the 21st Secretary of the United States Air Force.
“Wynne led with an unwavering commitment to innovation, modernization, and the men and women in uniform who keep our nation safe. His tenure was marked by transformative efforts to ensure the Air Force remained at the forefront of global security, from advocating for advanced air, space and cyber capabilities to emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge technologies into military operations.”
The Honorable Edward Timperlake added: “To me, Mike Wynne was truly a man for all seasons. He always had the courage of his convictions, a true leader that did so much good for American National Security.”
And Lt General (Retired) Preziosa underscored: “This book is a testament to the enduring importance of leadership, vision, and adaptability in ensuring that the United States maintains its edge in global military competition.
“It is a must-read for anyone committed to understanding the future of warfare and the role of American power in a rapidly changing world.”
