That would be John Boyd, fighter pilot and military strategist. Most of his theoretical work was done in off hours and usually without permission of his superiors.
He was a superb fighter pilot. He is often called "40 Second Boyd" because of a challenge he made to any fighter pilot. He would put the challenger on his tail and reverse position within 40 seconds or pay the challenger $40. He never lost.
He was the first to codify the principles of air combat still used to train pilots. Fighter airplanes are designed based on theories (energy maneuverability) he developed, almost always in opposition to the military heirarchy. The famous Desert Storm "Left Hook" was based on his war fighting theories. His OODA Loop decisionmaking process developed for fighter pilots has found it way into the business world.
Air Force brass hated him but could not live without him. He once stole over $1M of computer time from the Air Force to develop his energy maneuverability theory. The Air Force wanted to court martial him, but the theory was too good for that to happen. He had a habit of accosting generals in the Pentagon hallways and lecturing them while poking them in the chest. He once burned a hole in a general's tie with his cigar that way. He said that if life you can either "do" or "be." He held generals in contempt because all they wanted was to achieve status and not accomplish anything in life.
Many consider him in the same league as a military theories as Sun Tzu and Clausewitz.
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He was a superb fighter pilot. He is often called "40 Second Boyd" because of a challenge he made to any fighter pilot. He would put the challenger on his tail and reverse position within 40 seconds or pay the challenger $40. He never lost.
He was the first to codify the principles of air combat still used to train pilots. Fighter airplanes are designed based on theories (energy maneuverability) he developed, almost always in opposition to the military heirarchy. The famous Desert Storm "Left Hook" was based on his war fighting theories. His OODA Loop decisionmaking process developed for fighter pilots has found it way into the business world.
Air Force brass hated him but could not live without him. He once stole over $1M of computer time from the Air Force to develop his energy maneuverability theory. The Air Force wanted to court martial him, but the theory was too good for that to happen. He had a habit of accosting generals in the Pentagon hallways and lecturing them while poking them in the chest. He once burned a hole in a general's tie with his cigar that way. He said that if life you can either "do" or "be." He held generals in contempt because all they wanted was to achieve status and not accomplish anything in life.
Many consider him in the same league as a military theories as Sun Tzu and Clausewitz.
Video Link
Book Link
