Developing Aerospace Leaders for the Twenty-First Century

Sound leadership within a dynamic, ever-changing environment is at the heart of the Air Force's institutional character. It is key to bonding airmen and is the foundation for successful Air Force achievements in peace and in war. Of the many skills and abilities used in the profession of arms, none is prized more highly. As we transform to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, leadership can strengthen the foundation of mutual trust and respect among the ranks and the organization as a whole. Most people who equate leadership with good management model their leadership practices based on readings and research published in the industrial era of the twentieth century. This understanding of leadership has dominated military organizations in the past but will not serve the mature Expeditionary Aerospace Force of tomorrow. This paper explores the advantages to adapting emerging leadership philosophies into the Air Force culture to meet the growing challenges of the twenty-first century work force. Leadership doctrine, leadership development programs, and the human resource management system should be aligned to support these changes in leadership philosophy and practice.