OODA Loop

The OODA loop is the cycle observe–orient–decide–act, developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd.

Notes on A Discourse on Winning and Losing

“”
To flourish and grow in a many-sided, uncertain and
ever-changing world that surrounds us, suggests that
we have to make intuitive within ourselves those many
practices we need to meet the exigencies of that world.
The contents, hence the five sections that comprise this
Discourse, unfold observations and ideas that contribute
toward achieving or thwarting such an aim or purpose.
Specifically:
• “Patterns of Conflict” represents a compendium of
ideas and actions for winning and losing in a
highly competitive world;
• “Organic Design for Command and Control” surfaces the implicit arrangements that permit cooperation in complex, competitive, fast moving situations;
• “The Strategic Game of ? and ?” emphasizes the
mental twists and turns we undertake to surface
schemes or designs for realizing our aims or purposes;
• “Destruction and Creation” lays out in abstract
but graphic fashion the ways by which we evolve
mental concepts to comprehend and cope with
our environment;
• “Revelation” makes visible the metaphorical message that flows from this Discourse.
””
– From the abstract of A Discourse on Winning and Losing

Warfighting: Tactics Tuesday

Below is a link to my warfighting discussion series I gave to ACE 2021. It went by a few names; Warfighting Wednesday, Tactics Tuesday, and Fighting Friday. The idea was ACE excelled at teaching technical, leadership, and tactical/operational planning but was missing the warfighting aspect. It is comprised of 6 different lectures. The first 4… Continue reading Warfighting: Tactics Tuesday

Notes on The Pentagon Wars

Dr. Jack Martin (Left), USAF Assistant Secretary for R&D presenting Col Jim Burton (Right) with the Legion of Merit

industrial complex in the 70s and 80s. A lot of the events and lessons in this book are applicable today. I used this book to create my “To Be or To Do” leadership lesson for the ACE course and as part of my continued study into the work of Col John Boyd. Below are the notes and key points I took from the book to help me create the lesson and case study.