Survival of the Fittest: The Evolution of U.S. Military Command and Control Structures During and After the Cold War

Abstract

Military command-and-control structures must adapt to the security environment in which they operate. Following World War II, U.S. command and control evolved to meet the conditions of the postwar era, with mixed results. Sixty years later, the international system has again changed significantly. Military command-and-control structures must evolve accordingly, placing particular emphasis on establishing a less centralized, task-oriented approach to operational leadership and decision making.