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From the CSAF: Memo to Airmen

Airmen,

I am excited to announce the launch of our new CSAF Leadership Library, a dynamic and diverse resource designed to expand your perspective as you tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. This modern-day library marks an evolution in the DAF’s dedication to your professional growth and the strengthening of our Air Force culture.

My vision for this library is to serve as a platform to inform discussions by providing material that draws lessons from the past, while addressing pressing emerging topics such as leadership, resiliency, technology, geopolitics, and national security. I am committed to ensuring that you are well-informed on DAF priorities and the strategies shaping the future of our Air Force, and I eagerly anticipate hearing your thoughts. The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey; we are never truly done learning as every experience and interaction offers an opportunity to expand our understanding of the world.

This library is not merely a collection of books, podcasts, and documentaries; it's a vibrant platform for dialogue. I encourage discussions, debates, and the sharing of insights among Airmen of all ranks—fostering a culture of open communication and mutual learning. These resources are tailored to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives essential for effective leadership in the 21st century. Included, you will find a rich blend of both traditional and nontraditional recommendations; all designed to sharpen critical analytical skills and develop the leaders essential for meeting the challenges of the future.

I value your input in shaping our Leadership Library. Your opinions matter and are vital in defining what we value as an organization and what is essential for your leadership journey. I invite you to actively participate and share your thoughts. I will be introducing a series of initiatives to gather feedback and engagement from you. This process will be iterative, guided by your evolving needs and interests. Your active involvement will be pivotal in shaping a vibrant knowledge hub tailored to our service. Together, let's make our CSAF Leadership Library a thriving center of learning and growth.

CSAF #23

 

CSAF INAUGURAL GUIDANCE RELEASE MEMO

 

 

From the CSAF: January 2024

Airmen,

Amidst an ever-complex security landscape where our competitors are advancing at an alarming rate, our role goes beyond mere observation—we must lead. The Air Force is actively undertaking a transformative journey to address evolving security needs. Fueled by our unwavering commitment for Airmen to reach their full potential, it brings me great excitement to introduce my inaugural additions to the CSAF #23 Leadership Library. Centering on transformative leadership, teamwork, military innovation, and the advancement of technology, these sources are designed to inform and inspire.

In One Mission, Chris Fussell presents a dynamic guide that offers takeaways from real-world examples of successful organizational changes. By applying these battle-tested strategies, readers actively gain insights in revolutionizing large organizations, instilling adaptability, and the collaboration necessary to adapt into the service we must become to face the current and future security environment.

Yuen Khong’s, Analogies at War, provides an astute examination of how historical analogies influence political decision-making. Supported by insights from senior officials and declassified documents, Khong's book not only unveils the cognitive processes shaping policy choices but also serves as a resource for challenging assumptions and avoiding cognitive traps in contemporary decision-making.

Unlock the secrets to excelling in a world of constant change with Brad Stulberg How to Excel When Everything Is Changing. Dive into the transformative "4 Ps" approach—Pause, Process, Plan, Proceed—shaping a mindset of thoughtful response over impulsive reaction. From embracing uncertainty to fostering mental resilience, Stulberg's insights will guide those seeking adaptability and well-being.

Explore the urgent call for international cooperation on uncontrolled artificial intelligence (AI) in Kissinger and Allison's thought-provoking article in Foreign Affairs—The Path to AI Arms Control: America and China Must Work Together to Avert Catastrophe. This read underscores the importance of swift action and collaboration to address the potential consequences of unregulated AI development.

This combination of diverse resources offers a multifaceted approach to service, leadership, and resilience. These themes emphasize the importance of informed decision-making, adaptability, and understanding of the environment in which we serve. My desire is that each and every one of you is always prepared to meet the challenges we will continue to face daily. These titles can be accessed and tracked through the E-Learning CSAF Library Journey, available via your web browsers and phone applications. These are extraordinary times, and I am committed to the success of the team.

CSAF #23

 

 

"The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey; we are never truly done learning as every experience and interaction offers an opportunity to expand our understanding of the world."

~ Chief of Staff of the Air Force
Gen. David W. Allvin

 

CSAF Leadership Library History

Gen. Ronald Fogleman created the CSAF Professional Reading Program in 1996 to develop a common frame of reference among Air Force members -- officers, enlisted, and civilians -- to help each of us become better, more effective advocates of air and space power. Each CSAF since then has enhanced and continued the Professional Reading Program.

In 2021, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., revised the program by renaming it as the CSAF Leadership Library and adding new media sources including podcasts and documentaries.

Today, the CSAF Leadership Library continues with selections from the 23rd Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. David W. Allvin.

 

CSAF Leadership Library Feedback

The CSAF wants to hear from you – Please click on the link to leave feedback.

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CSAF Leadership Library Books

  • One Mission

     

    One Mission

     

    In Team of Teams, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal and former Navy SEAL Chris Fussell made the case for a new organizational model combining the agility, adaptability, and cohesion of a small team with the power and resources of a giant organization. Now, in One Mission, Fussell channels all his experiences, both military and corpo-rate, into powerful strategies for unifying isolated and distrustful teams. This practical guide will help leaders in any field implement the Team of Teams approach to tear down their silos improve collaboration, and avoid turf wars. By committing to one higher mission, organizations develop an overall capability that far exceeds the sum of their parts.

CSAF Leadership Library Podcasts

  • Master of Change

     

    Master of Change: Episode #542: How To Excel When Everything Is Changing (Including You)

     

    Brad Stulberg researches, writes, and coaches on mental health, well-being, and sustainable excellence. He is the bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness and Master of Change. He regularly contributes to the New York Times and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the Atlantic, among other outlets. He is on the faculty at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health.

CSAF Leadership Library Articles

  • FOREIGN AFFAIRS

     

    Foreign Affairs: The Path to AI Arms Control America and China Must Work Together to Avert Catastrophe

     

    This year marks the 78th anniversary of the end of the deadliest war in history and the beginning of the longest period in modern times without great-power war. Because World War I had been followed just two decades later by World War II, the specter of World War III, fought with weapons that had become so destructive they could theoretically threaten all of humankind, hung over the decades of the Cold War that followed. When the United States’ atomic destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki compelled Japan’s immediate unconditional surrender, no one thought it conceivable that the world would see..

 
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