1. AFSOC Research Interests
Lt Col Jared Harris, USAF
Vice Commandant
US Air Force Special Operations School

2. Overview Framing the AFSOC Vision and Direction
Strategic Priority Alignment w/ Spectrum of Conflict
Vision – Mission – Priorities
Innovation Principles
AFSOC Research Interests
Research Use
Points of Contact

3. Strategic Priority Alignment
Compete, Deter, Win in a Long-Term, Strategic Competition
Expand Competitive Space
Build More Lethal Force
Strengthen Allies and Partners
Greater Performance and Affordability
Restore Readiness
Modernize for Lethality
Innovate
Develop Joint Leaders
Strengthen Alliances
Win
Transform
People
BLUF: The message from our leaders at AFA was clear. I think Secretary Mattis said it best: “what we DO NOT want is to be dominant and at the same time irrelevant to our nation’s defense.” To remain LETHAL and RELEVANT in the future, AFSOC must be balanced across the spectrum.
ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS:
Addresses Secretary Mattis’ vision for the joint force:
A more lethal and resilient force in contested environments
New capabilities to disrupt adversaries
Efficient and Effective Irregular Warfare and Counter‐Terrorism
Lower cost of Persistent ISR and reduce resource burden on PED
More efficient/cost effective strike in permissive environment
During AFA Sec Mattis discussed the problem facing us today:
“How do we maintain a nuclear deterrent & decisive conventional force while maintaining IW as a core competency? Because paradox of war is adversary will move against your perceived weakness.”
“I talked about retaining IW as a Core Competency, because we need it to safeguard America.  What we do not want is to be dominant and at the same time irrelevant to our nation’s defense.”
Our ability to balance across both ends of spectrum creates “cascading problems for the enemy”.
SecAF has recently released her 5 priorities for the Air Force. “Restore Readiness, Cost-Effectively Modernize, Drive Innovation, Develop Exceptional Leaders, and Strengthen our Alliances”
DoD, Air Force, & SOCOM have also released strategy guidance. “National Military Strategy” establishes how the DoD will address emerging threats. This guidance in turn influences the AF & SOCOM.
The Air Force aims to be a “Full‐Spectrum Capable Force Focused on the High‐End.”
SOCOM has established a strategy of “Persistent, Networked, and Distributed” operations.
To align w/ these strategies, AFSOC poses that we deliver Strategic Value to nation via 4 Operational Ways: Global Access, Persistent Engagement, Special Operations Strike & Worldwide Crisis Response.
COMPETE BELOW THE
THRESHOLD OF TRADITIONAL ARMED CONFLICT
ACHIEVE STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES IN CRISIS & CONFLICT
COUNTER AND DEFEAT
NON-STATE THREATS
Low-End
AFSOF SPECTRUM OF CONFLICT
High-End
Strategic guidance requires AFSOC to be A balanced force

4. Air Commandos…Ready Today, Relevant Tomorrow, Resilient Always
VISION
Air Commandos…Ready Today, Relevant Tomorrow, Resilient Always
MISSION
Provide our Nation’s specialized airpower, capable across the spectrum of conflict…Any Place, Any Time, Anywhere
PRIORITIES
Ensure READINESS to execute global special operations today
Transform our force and fleet to maintain RELEVANCE tomorrow
Invest in the RESILIENCY of our force, family, and relationships
READINESS
Accelerate Hyper-Enabled Special Operations with Space and Cyber Integration
Ensure Air Commandos are Full-Spectrum Ready to Fight Tonight…No Regrets
Strengthen Air Commando and Joint Leader Development
RELEVANCE
Balance Capabilities Across the Spectrum
Cost Effectively Modernize the Force to Enhance Lethality
Invest in Future Global Requirements Seeking Multi-Domain Solutions
RESILIENCY
Advance Comprehensive Airman Fitness and POTFF Initiatives
Revitalize Our Squadrons
Strengthen Relationships, Values, and Air Commando Culture
BLUF: AFSOC’s 3 priorities align nicely within the priorities established by the DoD, AF, and SOCOM.
ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS:
By being “Ready Today” we IMPROVE our READINESS to ensure we can WIN any fight, any time. Our people, facilities, equipment, and aircraft must be ready to answer the nation’s call at a moment’s notice, and respond to a threat anywhere on Earth.
Our priority to be “Relevant Tomorrow” strives to TRANSFORM the force and achieve PROGRAM BALANCE via COST-EFFECTIVE MODERNIZATION FOR LETHALITY. We want to DRIVE INNOVATION & unleash creative ways to impose asymmetric costs against the enemy while buying time for Joint & Coalition forces.
A force that is “Resilient Always” takes care of its PEOPLE by enriching the lives of its warriors, and BUILDS a cadre of JOINT LEADERS capable of STRENGTHENING ALLIANCES. We are developing Air Commandos who can present complex problems to the enemy and make decisions at an unmatched speed.
USAF
SOCOM

5. AFSOC 2030 There is a Way … We Find It TODAY TODAY
Every Air Commando An Innovator
TODAY
TODAY
Specialized Airpower
COUNTER
AND DEFEAT
NON- STATE THREATS
Balanced Force Across the
Spectrum of Conflict
Hide In Plain Sight
Buy Time for the Joint Force
Go More Austere And Distributed
Build Partnerships and Access Options
Leverage & Operate in Multiple Domains
Create Multiple Dilemmas for our Adversaries
COMPETE BELOW THE THRESHOLD OF
TRADITIONAL ARMED CONFLICT
ACHIEVE STRATEGIC & OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES IN CRISIS & CONFLICT
There is a Way … We Find It

6. AFSOC Research Interests
How austere can we go in our operations as a command?
How can we create multiple dilemmas for our enemies?
How can we hide in plain sight?
How can we buy time for conventional forces?
How do we address ethics within our formation in a meaningful way?

7. AFSOC Research Use Traditional Approach:
Contracted studies inform leadership decision-making / programming
Advanced Academic Degree (AAD) Students managed via personnel directorate
New—AAD Graduate Research Forum:
Co-hosted at Hurlburt Field, Florida by Alison Group, USAFSOS, and 492d SOACS
Maintain repository of research & provide forum for presentations
GOAL: Identify 2019 timeframe and potential presenters

8. Points of Contact AFSOC Alison Group AFSOC Cochran Group
Lt Col Patrick Dierig
DSN:
Comm:
AFSOC Cochran Group
Maj Matthew Slack, PhD
DSN:
Comm:
US Air Force Special Operations School
Ms. Susan R. Alaniz
DSN:
Comm:
492d Spec Ops Advanced Capabilities Sqdn
Lt Col Jacoby Baker
DSN:
Comm: