TOPIC SPONSOR: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy (SAF/IEN)
Assess the criticality (or lack thereof) of maintaining a competitive edge and posture of strength in technology areas related to operational energy. For example, the US has been a leader in advanced airframe development (e.g. blended wing body aircraft) for decades, yet the Air Force has not aggressively pursued the acquisition of next-generation tanker, mobility, and/or non-stealth bomber aircraft in lieu of sustaining legacy fleets (e.g. B-52) and procuring new aircraft designed in the 20th century (KC-46). Analyze the potential impact on competition China and Russia. Other operational energy areas of consideration in this analysis include superiority in aircraft propulsion, alternative propulsion (nuclear, liquid natural gas), and munitions range/volume per aircraft. (SAF/IEN)
- Abeling, Brogan, "Energy Efficient Future Fight Readiness," SOS AUAR 2024, 13 slides.
- Baker, Maj. Kyle W., "Examining the Emergence of the YU-20 Tanker: Countering China's Key to Global Airpower," GCPME thesis, 2024, 48 pgs.
- Carver, Maj. Matthew S., "US Grand Strategy and Nuclear Weapons," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 37 pgs.
- Curran, Joe, "Has China Abandoned its Policy of Minimum Nuclear Deterrence?" Air Force Fellows Paper, 2022, 6 pgs.
- Donoho, Rachel, "U.S. Nuclear Energy as an Instrument of National Power," SAASS thesis, 2025, 121 pgs.
- Donoho answers this by evaluating nuclear energy's superiority over carbon-based fossil fuels and analyzing the U.S. Navy's transition to nuclear propulsion. She asserts that nuclear power is uniquely suited as an instrument of national power because of its high efficiency, enormous yield, and relative safety compared to fossil fuels. By using the U.S. Navy as a case study, she demonstrates that nuclear propulsion grants a distinct operational advantage, allowing submarines to operate for decades without refueling, travel at faster speeds, and maintain greater stealth and operational flexibility. She concludes that maintaining a competitive edge in nuclear operational energy is critical, as it directly bolsters U.S. hard power by enabling global power projection, protecting critical sea lanes, and underpinning strategic coercion and deterrence.
- Gallucci, Michael L. "Grading the Air Force Efforts to Address Manpower Challenges within the Nuclear Security Ranks," Air Force Fellows paper, 2020, 25 pgs.
- Ingerslew, Major Margaret, "Crewdogs and Deterrence," ACSC paper, 2021, 12 pgs.
- Moore, Capt. Jacob, "Survivable and Adaptable Aerial Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance in Peer Conflict," SOS AUAR 2021, 12 pgs.