CSAF Leadership Library

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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: July 2025

Airmen,

In an increasingly contested global environment, success depends not only on cutting-edge technology and strategic foresight, but on the character, resilience, and adaptability of our people. These Leadership Library selections offer Airmen tools to cultivate perseverance, deepen understanding of strategic competition, and think critically about protecting the foundation of U.S. airpower.  

Angela Duckworth’s "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance" provides a framework for cultivating resilience. Duckworth proposes that success hinges on passion and persistence – what she calls “grit.” Individuals with high levels of grit demonstrate unwavering commitment to goals, resilience in the face of setbacks, and sustained effort over time to maximize their potential. For Airmen, developing grit means embracing challenges as opportunities, committing to excellence, and embodying the warrior mindset in our professional endeavors.

China Power’s "Rethinking Strategic Competition with China: A Conversation with Mr. Elbridge Colby"  podcast offers a focused, unvarnished look at  U.S.-China strategic competition. The Honorable Elbridge Colby, current Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, posits that economic measures alone are insufficient to deter Chinese aggression and instead advocates for a credible military deterrent built on alliance cooperation, regional force posture, and precise planning. His assessment highlights the need for a disciplined focus on Indo-Pacific planning and the prioritization of military strength. Airmen will benefit from Mr. Colby’s perspective as we continually refine how we compete, deter, and prevail against our pacing threat.

The Hudson Institute’s "Concrete Sky: Air Base Hardening in the Western Pacific" outlines a critical vulnerability in America’s ability to project airpower: the exposure of U.S. air bases to precision strikes from Chinese missile and air forces. The authors call for hardening airfields, investing in active and passive defenses, and developing runway-independent platforms. For our Airmen, the key takeaway is that winning the fight requires defending the infrastructure that makes the fight possible. Survivability of airpower assets is central to deterrence and mission success.   

By engaging with these selections, Airmen will be better equipped to build personal and professional resilience, confront strategic challenges with clarity, and contribute meaningfully to the modernization and defense of our Air Force. These titles are available through the E-Learning CSAF Library Journey. Thank you for your grit, focus, and dedication to our Air Force and to our nation!

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.

Leadership Library Feedback Link

 

 
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CSAF Leadership Library Books

  • CSAF Leadership Library

     

    Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
    In this must-read book for anyone striving to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth shows parents, educators, students, and business people both seasoned and new that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent but a focused persistence called grit.

CSAF Leadership Library Podcasts

  • CSAF Leadership Library

     

    ChinaPower: Rethinking Strategic Competition with China: A Conversation with Mr. Elbridge Colby
    In this episode of the ChinaPower Podcast, Elbridge Colby discusses the U.S.-China strategic competition, emphasizing the military threat from the PRC, the importance of focusing on Taiwan, the need for military over economic deterrence, bipartisan views on China, and prioritizing the PRC in U.S. defense strategy and regional alliances.

CSAF Leadership Library Articles

  • CSAF Leadership Library

     

    Concrete Sky: Air Base Hardening in the Western Pacific
    U.S. airfields face a severe and growing threat from Chinese military strikes, yet while China has heavily invested in fortifying and expanding its airbase network, the U.S. has neglected airfield resilience—creating a dangerous imbalance that could incentivize Chinese aggression and undermine American airpower in a conflict.

 

 
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