Analysis of Nonclassified Current and Pending Air Force Information Warfare and Information Operations Doctrine and Policy

Previous studies concerning information warfare doctrine and policy attempted to define and describe concepts, issues and develop ideas. From these studies and other sources, high level guidance has been mandated, published, and to a certain extent implemented. A logical next step is to study what has been done at the military service level to engage information warfare and the larger information operations. This study focused on determining if unclassified current and pending Air Force information warfare and information operations doctrine and policy is moving in the direction it should in terms of being complete, consistent and cohesive based on what has been mandated and studied about these two phenomena. Investigative questions were developed in reference to the current state of unclassified Air Force information warfare and information operations doctrine and policy. Secondary data analysis was conducted along two paths. The hierarchical path included an examination of unclassified information warfare and information operations doctrine, policy and regulatory guidance. The academic path included an examination of studies and commentary on information warfare and information operations focusing on doctrine and policy. A model of unclassified current and pending Air Force information warfare and information operations doctrine and policy was developed. Then the model was analyzed for congruence in terms of completeness, consistency, and cohesiveness using the hierarchical and academic secondary data analysis as a diagnostic tool. The model was found to be partially incongruent in all three areas.