Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

GPC Key Decisions

USAF Case for Change

Air Force FAQ for Reoptimizing Great Power Competition

“We need these changes now; we are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges in a time of great power competition.”

~ Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall

The United States faces a time of consequence marked by significant shifts in the strategic environment. To remain ready, the U.S. Air Force must change.

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

Today, the Air Force once again finds itself at a critical juncture—an era of Great Power Competition marked by a new security environment, a rapidly evolving character of war, and a formidable competitor. This new era requires understanding its challenges and the attributes needed to succeed.

Embracing change is not a choice; it is a necessity. The Air Force must “reoptimize” into an enterprise prepared for high-end conflicts and long-term strategic competition.

AFIT Graduate Engineering Management (GEM) Program

Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Director of Civil Engineers

Video by Mallory French

March 13, 2018 | 4:58

AFIT’s Graduate Engineering Management (GEM) Program is changing the way Air Force Civil Engineers approach complex problems. Hear from full-time students, leadership, and alumni on how this program is shaping the future of CE. For information on program requirements, click on the following link for AFIT’s GEM Program Overview: https://www.afit.edu/env/programs.cfm?p=36&a=pd

Interested in learning more? Check out the student spotlight videos on our HAF/A4C DVIDS channel to hear from our featured students as they provide further details about their thesis research and the GEM experience.

We would like to extend a special thank you to our speakers:
Col Don Ohlemacher, Lt Col Andrew Hoisington, Dr Diedrich Prigge, Maj Russell Gheesling, Maj Rebecca Ponder, Mr Brian Allen, Capt Bianca Boney, Capt Chris Edlund, and Capt Sean Stuntz.

We would also like to thank Mr Matthew Clouse, Mr Ryan Law, SSgt Nathan Tucker, and SrA Jean-Paul Arnaud-Marquez of the 88th ABW Public Affairs and TSgt Jake Barreiro of the 36 Wing Public Affairs. More