John Boyd and John Warden

de David S. Fadok

Colonels John Boyd and John Warden have contributed to the evolution of airpower theory through their respective works on strategic paralysis. Boyd's thoughts on strategic paralysis are process-oriented and aim at psychological incapacitation. He speaks of folding an opponent back inside himself by operating inside his observation-orientation-decision-action (OODA) loop. His theory of conflict is Clausewitzian, emphasizing the mental and moral spheres of conflict, and he considers it important to teach the genius of war. Major Fadok describes Warden₂s theory as form-oriented and aiming at physical paralysis. This theory is Jominian in the sense that it is important to teach warriors how to act--that is, to teach the principles of war. Major Fadok concludes that strategic paralysis theory has moved from an early emphasis on targeting war-supporting industry to a current emphasis on war-supporting command to a future emphasis on war-supporting information.