John A. Warden III
Encyclopedia
John Ashley Warden III is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force
. Warden is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy
. His Air Force career spanned 30 years, from 1965 to 1995, and included tours in Vietnam, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Korea, as well as many assignments within the continental United States. Warden completed a number of assignments in the Pentagon
, was a Special Assistant for Policy Studies and National Security Affairs to the Vice President of the United States, and was Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College
.
John Warden has been called “the leading air power theorist in the U.S. Air Force in the second half of the twentieth century". He has also been called “one of the most creative airmen of our times. John Warden is not just a creative airman; he is one of America’s premier strategic thinkers”.
“Warden’s career was marked with brilliance and controversy, and to this day his name inspires both warm affection and cold contempt in the defense establishment. He was, and still is a controversial and influential figure in the defense establishment in general, and the U.S. Air Force in particular”.
His impact on the future of air power in the United States Air Force is still being assessed, but “several distinguished military historians, officers, and other experts have concluded that Warden defined the very terms of reference for the 1991 Desert Storm
military strategy
and thereby introduced a new approach to the conduct of war”.
in 1943 and was the fourth in his family to pursue a military career. He earned his Bachelor of Science
degree with a major in National Security Affairs in 1965 from the Air Force Academy and his Master’s degree from Texas Tech University
in 1975, with his thesis focused exclusively on decision-making at the Grand Strategic
level.
In 1965 (on his twenty second birthday), he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie “Margie” Ann Clarke, and on December 5, 1966 became the father of twins, Elizabeth Kathleen, and John Warden IV.
.
It was at that moment in his career that he was “introduced” to the military theorist, Major General J.F.C. Fuller
, through his book, The Generalship of Alexander The Great. General Fuller quickly became Warden’s “intellectual mentor” and was instrumental in forming his lifelong interest in history and strategy, and what has come to be called the “science” of war.
In April 1967, Warden was a member of the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, flying the F4 Phantom II, when he was first deployed overseas to South Korea
in response to the Pueblo
incident.
In 1969, then Captain Warden, volunteered for duty
in the of Republic of Vietnam
. His assignment was to fly the OV-10 Bronco
as a Forward Air Control
ler. Captain Warden participated in 266 combat missions by the time his tour ended. On several occasions, his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire, once very seriously. The North American Aviation newsletter in 1969 reported that it was the most seriously damaged OV-10 that had managed to land safely.
Like many other young officers who came of age during that conflict, Warden was very much affected by the sometimes conflicting rules of engagement
and the lack of an overarching strategy to guide the conduct of that war. That experience was to serve as the foundation for his emerging theories on the use of air power and the importance of strategy.
Just as it did for another young officer, Colin Powell
, as enunciated in the “Powell Doctrine
”, Vietnam taught Warden some important lessons about warfare: you need a consistent strategic approach; overwhelming force; clear objectives; an exit strategy, and integration of the political and military dimensions. For Captain Warden, good tactics simply could not overcome a flawed strategy.
. Warden was assigned duties in the Middle East
Section, and began his familiarity with that region of the world. This was to culminate in his contributions to the conduct of the First Gulf War
.
It was also at this point in his career that he began to attract attention from senior officers and members of the Intelligence Community, both for his ability to think strategically and conceptually, and for his ideas about force structure, concepts, and doctrine, that normally did not interest fighter pilots.
Warden had also begun to become something of a lightning rod, in that he was not afraid to forcefully express his views, even to senior officers, and was somewhat impatient with those who disagreed with him, as well as with the structure and the chain of command. Warden was at this point, and would remain throughout his career, the “quintessential air power advocate”, and a very controversial figure.
Warden has been compared to famed aviator Billy Mitchell: “a thinker on a grand scale; a rebel who constantly sought ways to improve himself and his organization without having the patience to explain his reasoning or seek consensus; a revolutionary who refused to take political and personal sensitivities into account in his eagerness to change things fast, and a gentleman of unfailing integrity”.
Warden was promoted to Colonel at the age of thirty nine and selected for the National War College. Colonel Warden’s first book, The Air Campaign: Planning for Combat was published from his National War College research in 1988. In it, he defined his theories of airpower. Many of the concepts in the book became the framework for the air campaign in the First Gulf War, and formed the bases for what is now known as the Prometheus Strategic Planning System.
The Air Campaign further cemented Warden’s reputation as a brilliant, but controversial strategist. In this complex book, he focused on the concept of air power as a determinant factor in modern warfare. He directly challenged the prevailing doctrine entitled AirLand Battle
, which held that air power must always play a subordinate role to ground operations, and was not strategic in and of itself.
Air Force historian Richard P. Hallion noted that:
Colonel Warden was acknowledged as a “catalyst and provocateur” by Air Force Secretary Donald Rice
and Lieutenant General Michael Dugan during the significant intellectual and conceptual changes undertaken by the U.S. Air Force in the period 1988-90.
Warden was widely acknowledged at the time to be the Pentagon’s premier authority on air power strategy. Warden instructed Checkmate, which had merged with the Mission Area Analysis Division to become the Force Assessment Division (XOXWF) under his command, to look beyond traditional AirLand Battle
doctrine and to focus on potential trouble spots, paying special attention to the Persian Gulf
.
Sarah Baxter of The Times (UK) said of Checkmate:
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saddam Hussein’s move took nearly everyone by surprise. General Norman Schwarzkopf, who was in charge of the CENTCOM (Central Command) area telephoned the Pentagon on August 8 and asked that the Air Force "put planners to work on a strategic bombing campaign aimed at Iraq's military, which would provide the retaliatory options we needed." Schwarzkopf needed two things: a way to defend Saudi Arabia, and the ability to strike Iraq if Saddam made a crazy move.
The model that came to mind was Operation El Dorado Canyon
, the 1986 American air raid on Libya
, in which USAF and Navy aircraft struck Libyan sites in retaliation for Muammar Qaddafi's
terrorism. The Commander-in-Chief (CINC) needed something like the Libya raid, on a larger scale”.
The planning to liberate Kuwait
originated with Warden’s group of air power advocates in the Air Staff. Warden and his team at Checkmate had reacted quickly to the task laid out by Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf, and had laid out a strategic and offense-oriented plan, that, while it underwent vigorous review and revision, put the initiative in coalition hands and resulted in the overwhelming victory of Desert Storm. Colin Powell
stated, “His original concept remained at the heart of the Desert Storm Air Campaign
”
Norman Schwarzkopf declared that “together we mapped out the strategic concept that ultimately led to our country’s great victory in Desert Storm”. Warden's "Five Rings Model" was a central element in the presentation to General Schwarzkopf of the general outline for the Air Campaign in late August, 1990.
David Halberstam
asserted in War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clinton, and the Generals (2002):
Warden’s view of the enemy as a ‘system’ and of the primary importance of the command, control, and communications apparatus within that system, combined with his belief in bombing for functional disruption, strategic paralysis, and systemic effect, was at the heart of the Instant Thunder
air campaign in the first Gulf War, and has played an important role in changing the United States view of Warfighting at both the strategic and operational levels.
His theories on effects-based planning, and his radical ideas about air power’s purposes and applications, have made him probably the most influential air power theorist since the Second World War
.
In 1991, at the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force, Donald B. Rice, Colonel Warden became the Special Assistant for Policy Studies and National Security Affairs
to the Vice President of the United States
, Dan Quayle
. Warden represented the Office of the Vice President on numerous interagency policy coordinating committees and focused on American productivity and competitiveness. Quayle credited Warden with having finalized the Manufacturing Technology Initiative, a plan announced in 1992 that provided for American company representatives to study Japanese manufacturing processes in Japan. a bilateral agreement that enabled American enterprises to become increasingly familiar with Japanese production technology. Quayle also credited Warden with introducing senior government officials to the Six Sigma
concept of business management and quality control, and with strengthening National Security through the enhancement of industrial competitiveness.
Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC):
As Commandant of the ACSC for three years, Colonel Warden completely changed the entire structure and curriculum from a focus on the tactics and techniques of war, to a focus on the real objectives of war. During his time in command of the college, he intended to make it a world class educational institution for mid-career officers. Warden and his team transformed what had been an isolated academic institution into one that attracted the notice of the Pentagon, the Department of Defense
, and various research communities.
During his tenure, the school received several official honors, such as the General Muir S. Fairchild
Educational Achievement Award in 1994 and 1995. Colonel Warden’s impact will be felt for years to come as the more than eighteen hundred Majors who graduated during his time as Commandant, some of whom have already reached General Officer rank, continue their careers in the Air Force.
John Warden retired from the Air Force in June 1995, and shortly thereafter started his own consulting company to pursue the application of strategy in the business world. He co-authored, with Leland A. Russell, Winning in FastTime, in which he encapsulates his ideas and theory about strategy and effects-based planning into a process they call “Prometheus”.
documents how Warden managed to “define the debate on the military strategy for 1991 through his presentations to Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf”.
The U.S. Air Force History Office, after extensive research, concludes that Warden introduced a new approach to the conduct of war; an air- and leadership-centric paradigm diametrically opposed to the AirLand Battle doctrine that relegated air power to a supporting role. Scholars such as Robert A. Pape, Edward N. Luttwak, Alan Stephens, Richard P. Hallion, and Phillip S. Meilinger all agree that Warden is one of the most influential strategists since the Second World War.
The historian David R. Mets wonders in The Air Campaign: John Warden and the Classical Airpower Theorists whether John Warden belongs in the pantheon of such great airpower thinkers as Giulio Douhet
; Hugh Trenchard
; and Billy Mitchell.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. Warden is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. His Air Force career spanned 30 years, from 1965 to 1995, and included tours in Vietnam, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Korea, as well as many assignments within the continental United States. Warden completed a number of assignments in the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, was a Special Assistant for Policy Studies and National Security Affairs to the Vice President of the United States, and was Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
.
John Warden has been called “the leading air power theorist in the U.S. Air Force in the second half of the twentieth century". He has also been called “one of the most creative airmen of our times. John Warden is not just a creative airman; he is one of America’s premier strategic thinkers”.
“Warden’s career was marked with brilliance and controversy, and to this day his name inspires both warm affection and cold contempt in the defense establishment. He was, and still is a controversial and influential figure in the defense establishment in general, and the U.S. Air Force in particular”.
His impact on the future of air power in the United States Air Force is still being assessed, but “several distinguished military historians, officers, and other experts have concluded that Warden defined the very terms of reference for the 1991 Desert Storm
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
military strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
and thereby introduced a new approach to the conduct of war”.
Personal background
John A. Warden III was born in McKinney, TexasMcKinney, Texas
McKinney is a city in and the county seat of Collin County, Texas, United States, and the second in population to Plano. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 131,117 The Census Bureau listed McKinney as the nation's fastest growing city from 2000 to 2003 and again in...
in 1943 and was the fourth in his family to pursue a military career. He earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree with a major in National Security Affairs in 1965 from the Air Force Academy and his Master’s degree from Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
in 1975, with his thesis focused exclusively on decision-making at the Grand Strategic
Grand strategy
Grand strategy comprises the "purposeful employment of all instruments of power available to a security community". Military historian B. H. Liddell Hart says about grand strategy:...
level.
In 1965 (on his twenty second birthday), he married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie “Margie” Ann Clarke, and on December 5, 1966 became the father of twins, Elizabeth Kathleen, and John Warden IV.
Early military career
While still at the Air Force Academy, Warden started to become disillusioned with the future of the Air Force. He was concerned that air power would play a secondary role to the Army and briefly considered transferring to that service and enrolling in West PointUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
.
It was at that moment in his career that he was “introduced” to the military theorist, Major General J.F.C. Fuller
J.F.C. Fuller
Major-General John Frederick Charles Fuller, CB, CBE, DSO was a British Army officer, military historian and strategist, notable as an early theorist of modern armoured warfare, including categorising principles of warfare...
, through his book, The Generalship of Alexander The Great. General Fuller quickly became Warden’s “intellectual mentor” and was instrumental in forming his lifelong interest in history and strategy, and what has come to be called the “science” of war.
In April 1967, Warden was a member of the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, flying the F4 Phantom II, when he was first deployed overseas to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
in response to the Pueblo
USS Pueblo (AGER-2)
USS Pueblo is an American ELINT and SIGINT Banner-class technical research ship which was boarded and captured by North Korean forces on January 23, 1968, in what is known as the Pueblo incident or alternatively as the Pueblo crisis or the Pueblo affair. Occurring less than a week after President...
incident.
In 1969, then Captain Warden, volunteered for duty
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in the of Republic of Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. His assignment was to fly the OV-10 Bronco
OV-10 Bronco
The North American Aviation Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control aircraft...
as a Forward Air Control
Forward air control
Forward air control is the provision of guidance to Close Air Support aircraft intended to ensure that their attack hits the intended target and does not injure friendly troops. This task is carried out by a forward air controller . For NATO forces the qualifications and experience required to be...
ler. Captain Warden participated in 266 combat missions by the time his tour ended. On several occasions, his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire, once very seriously. The North American Aviation newsletter in 1969 reported that it was the most seriously damaged OV-10 that had managed to land safely.
Like many other young officers who came of age during that conflict, Warden was very much affected by the sometimes conflicting rules of engagement
Rules of engagement
Rules of Engagement refers to those responses that are permitted in the employment of military personnel during operations or in the course of their duties. These rules of engagement are determined by the legal framework within which these duties are being carried out...
and the lack of an overarching strategy to guide the conduct of that war. That experience was to serve as the foundation for his emerging theories on the use of air power and the importance of strategy.
Just as it did for another young officer, Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
, as enunciated in the “Powell Doctrine
Powell Doctrine
The "Powell Doctrine" is a journalist-created term, named after General Colin Powell in the run-up to the 1990-1991 Gulf War. It is based in large part on the Weinberger Doctrine, devised by Caspar Weinberger, former Secretary of Defense and Powell's former boss.The Powell Doctrine states that a...
”, Vietnam taught Warden some important lessons about warfare: you need a consistent strategic approach; overwhelming force; clear objectives; an exit strategy, and integration of the political and military dimensions. For Captain Warden, good tactics simply could not overcome a flawed strategy.
The Pentagon
As a major, Warden arrived at the Pentagon in August 1975 and accepted a position in the Directorate of PlansNational Clandestine Service
The National Clandestine Service is one of the four main components of the Central Intelligence Agency...
. Warden was assigned duties in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
Section, and began his familiarity with that region of the world. This was to culminate in his contributions to the conduct of the First Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
.
It was also at this point in his career that he began to attract attention from senior officers and members of the Intelligence Community, both for his ability to think strategically and conceptually, and for his ideas about force structure, concepts, and doctrine, that normally did not interest fighter pilots.
Warden had also begun to become something of a lightning rod, in that he was not afraid to forcefully express his views, even to senior officers, and was somewhat impatient with those who disagreed with him, as well as with the structure and the chain of command. Warden was at this point, and would remain throughout his career, the “quintessential air power advocate”, and a very controversial figure.
Warden has been compared to famed aviator Billy Mitchell: “a thinker on a grand scale; a rebel who constantly sought ways to improve himself and his organization without having the patience to explain his reasoning or seek consensus; a revolutionary who refused to take political and personal sensitivities into account in his eagerness to change things fast, and a gentleman of unfailing integrity”.
Mid-career
As a Lieutenant Colonel, Warden began a series of operational assignments which were a necessary requirement for the command track, and an opportunity to reach General Officer status. Warden’s operational assignments:- Eglin Air Force BaseEglin Air Force BaseEglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
: Director of Wing Operations - Moody Air Force BaseMoody Air Force BaseMoody Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Lowndes County and Lanier County, about northeast of Valdosta, Georgia, United States.Moody Air Force Base is home to the 23d Wing...
: Deputy Commander for Operations - Decimomannu Air Force Base525th Fighter SquadronThe 525th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 3d Operations Group and stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.-Overview:...
: Commander of Detachment Four (4) - Thirty-Sixth Tactical Fighter Group36th WingThe United States Air Force's 36th Wing is the host wing for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is part of United States Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force...
, Wing Commander
Warden was promoted to Colonel at the age of thirty nine and selected for the National War College. Colonel Warden’s first book, The Air Campaign: Planning for Combat was published from his National War College research in 1988. In it, he defined his theories of airpower. Many of the concepts in the book became the framework for the air campaign in the First Gulf War, and formed the bases for what is now known as the Prometheus Strategic Planning System.
The Air Campaign further cemented Warden’s reputation as a brilliant, but controversial strategist. In this complex book, he focused on the concept of air power as a determinant factor in modern warfare. He directly challenged the prevailing doctrine entitled AirLand Battle
AirLand Battle
AirLand Battle was the overall conceptual framework that formed the basis of the US Army's European warfighting doctrine from 1982 into the late 1990s. AirLand Battle emphasized close coordination between land forces acting as an aggressively maneuvering defense, and air forces attacking...
, which held that air power must always play a subordinate role to ground operations, and was not strategic in and of itself.
Air Force historian Richard P. Hallion noted that:
the book had a profound effect on the American defense establishment.
Back at the Pentagon
In 1989, after a tour of duty as Wing Commander of the Thirty-Sixth Tactical Fighter Group in Bitburg, Germany, Colonel Warden was again assigned to the Pentagon. He was placed in charge of the Directorate of Warfighting Concepts, where he continued to conceive, develop, and promote his ideas surrounding air power, particularly that land-based air power now constituted the dominant form of national presence and power projection; as captured in the phrase he coined; “Global Reach – Global Power”Colonel Warden was acknowledged as a “catalyst and provocateur” by Air Force Secretary Donald Rice
Donald Rice
Donald Blessing Rice is a California businessman and senior government official. He has been president and chief executive officer of several large companies including RAND Corporation, and has sat on numerous boards of directors, including Wells Fargo & Company...
and Lieutenant General Michael Dugan during the significant intellectual and conceptual changes undertaken by the U.S. Air Force in the period 1988-90.
Checkmate and the First Gulf War
AirLand Battle
AirLand Battle was the overall conceptual framework that formed the basis of the US Army's European warfighting doctrine from 1982 into the late 1990s. AirLand Battle emphasized close coordination between land forces acting as an aggressively maneuvering defense, and air forces attacking...
doctrine and to focus on potential trouble spots, paying special attention to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
.
Sarah Baxter of The Times (UK) said of Checkmate:
Project Checkmate was formed in the 1970’s to counter Soviet threats, but fell into disuse in the 1980’s. It was revived under Colonel John Warden and was responsible for drawing up plans for the crushing air blitz against Saddam HusseinSaddam HusseinSaddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
at the opening of the first Gulf War in 1991.
When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Saddam Hussein’s move took nearly everyone by surprise. General Norman Schwarzkopf, who was in charge of the CENTCOM (Central Command) area telephoned the Pentagon on August 8 and asked that the Air Force "put planners to work on a strategic bombing campaign aimed at Iraq's military, which would provide the retaliatory options we needed." Schwarzkopf needed two things: a way to defend Saudi Arabia, and the ability to strike Iraq if Saddam made a crazy move.
The model that came to mind was Operation El Dorado Canyon
Operation El Dorado Canyon
The 1986 United States bombing of Libya, code-named Operation El Dorado Canyon, comprised the joint United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps air-strikes against Libya on April 15, 1986. The attack was carried out in response to the 1986 Berlin discotheque bombing.-Origins:Shortly after his...
, the 1986 American air raid on Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, in which USAF and Navy aircraft struck Libyan sites in retaliation for Muammar Qaddafi's
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
terrorism. The Commander-in-Chief (CINC) needed something like the Libya raid, on a larger scale”.
The planning to liberate Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
originated with Warden’s group of air power advocates in the Air Staff. Warden and his team at Checkmate had reacted quickly to the task laid out by Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf, and had laid out a strategic and offense-oriented plan, that, while it underwent vigorous review and revision, put the initiative in coalition hands and resulted in the overwhelming victory of Desert Storm. Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
stated, “His original concept remained at the heart of the Desert Storm Air Campaign
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
”
Norman Schwarzkopf declared that “together we mapped out the strategic concept that ultimately led to our country’s great victory in Desert Storm”. Warden's "Five Rings Model" was a central element in the presentation to General Schwarzkopf of the general outline for the Air Campaign in late August, 1990.
David Halberstam
David Halberstam
David Halberstam was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and historian, known for his early work on the Vietnam War, his work on politics, history, the Civil Rights Movement, business, media, American culture, and his later sports journalism.-Early life and education:Halberstam...
asserted in War in a Time of Peace: Bush, Clinton, and the Generals (2002):
...if one of the news magazines had wanted to run on its cover the photograph of the man who had played the most critical role in achieving victory, it might well have chosen Warden instead of Powell or Schwarzkopf..
Warden’s view of the enemy as a ‘system’ and of the primary importance of the command, control, and communications apparatus within that system, combined with his belief in bombing for functional disruption, strategic paralysis, and systemic effect, was at the heart of the Instant Thunder
Operation Instant Thunder
Operation Instant Thunder was the preliminary name given to a planned air strike by the United States during the Gulf War. Designed by Colonel John A. Warden III, it was planned to be an overwhelming strike which would devastate the Iraqi military with a minimum loss of civilian as well as American...
air campaign in the first Gulf War, and has played an important role in changing the United States view of Warfighting at both the strategic and operational levels.
His theories on effects-based planning, and his radical ideas about air power’s purposes and applications, have made him probably the most influential air power theorist since the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Late career
Special Assistant to the Vice President:In 1991, at the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force, Donald B. Rice, Colonel Warden became the Special Assistant for Policy Studies and National Security Affairs
National Security Advisor (United States)
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
to the Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle
James Danforth "Dan" Quayle served as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving with President George H. W. Bush . He served as a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from the state of Indiana....
. Warden represented the Office of the Vice President on numerous interagency policy coordinating committees and focused on American productivity and competitiveness. Quayle credited Warden with having finalized the Manufacturing Technology Initiative, a plan announced in 1992 that provided for American company representatives to study Japanese manufacturing processes in Japan. a bilateral agreement that enabled American enterprises to become increasingly familiar with Japanese production technology. Quayle also credited Warden with introducing senior government officials to the Six Sigma
Six Sigma
Six Sigma is a business management strategy originally developed by Motorola, USA in 1986. , it is widely used in many sectors of industry.Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects and minimizing variability in manufacturing and...
concept of business management and quality control, and with strengthening National Security through the enhancement of industrial competitiveness.
Commandant of the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC):
As Commandant of the ACSC for three years, Colonel Warden completely changed the entire structure and curriculum from a focus on the tactics and techniques of war, to a focus on the real objectives of war. During his time in command of the college, he intended to make it a world class educational institution for mid-career officers. Warden and his team transformed what had been an isolated academic institution into one that attracted the notice of the Pentagon, the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, and various research communities.
During his tenure, the school received several official honors, such as the General Muir S. Fairchild
Muir S. Fairchild
General Muir Stephen Fairchild was former vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force. He was born September 2, 1894 at Bellingham, Washington, and died March 17, 1950 at Fort Myer, Virginia.-Early service:Muir S...
Educational Achievement Award in 1994 and 1995. Colonel Warden’s impact will be felt for years to come as the more than eighteen hundred Majors who graduated during his time as Commandant, some of whom have already reached General Officer rank, continue their careers in the Air Force.
John Warden retired from the Air Force in June 1995, and shortly thereafter started his own consulting company to pursue the application of strategy in the business world. He co-authored, with Leland A. Russell, Winning in FastTime, in which he encapsulates his ideas and theory about strategy and effects-based planning into a process they call “Prometheus”.
Legacy
The Gulf War Air Power SurveyGulf War Air Power Survey
The Gulf War Air Power Survey is a report commissioned by the United States Air Force in 1993 to document and analyze its performance during the 1991 Gulf War. It consists of five sections each averaging over 700 pages, and a 276 summary report. It was one of the most popular reports issued by...
documents how Warden managed to “define the debate on the military strategy for 1991 through his presentations to Generals Powell and Schwarzkopf”.
The U.S. Air Force History Office, after extensive research, concludes that Warden introduced a new approach to the conduct of war; an air- and leadership-centric paradigm diametrically opposed to the AirLand Battle doctrine that relegated air power to a supporting role. Scholars such as Robert A. Pape, Edward N. Luttwak, Alan Stephens, Richard P. Hallion, and Phillip S. Meilinger all agree that Warden is one of the most influential strategists since the Second World War.
The historian David R. Mets wonders in The Air Campaign: John Warden and the Classical Airpower Theorists whether John Warden belongs in the pantheon of such great airpower thinkers as Giulio Douhet
Giulio Douhet
General Giulio Douhet was an Italian general and air power theorist. He was a key proponent of strategic bombing in aerial warfare...
; Hugh Trenchard
Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Hugh Montague Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard GCB OM GCVO DSO was a British officer who was instrumental in establishing the Royal Air Force...
; and Billy Mitchell.