About the Author

COL. JOHN ANDREAS OLSEN is currently assigned to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence and is a visiting professor of operational art and tactics at the Swedish National Defence College. His previous publications with Potomac Books include John Warden and the Renaissance of American Air Power,A History of Air Warfare,Global Air Power, and Air Commanders.

Reviews

"Every air power historian as well as those involved in the deciding the future of air power acquisitions will gather incredible insights from the difficult decisions these medium and small air power nations have made and will need to make in the future."—Mel Deaile, Journal of Strategic Security

“Col. Professor John Olsen has done a great service to all serious students of air power by bringing together the thoughts, perspectives, and opinions of air force leaders and other air power experts of the early twenty-first century. Whether we agree with the different positions or not, we need to understand the arguments as we make our own decisions going forward.”—Gen. Joseph Ralston (Ret.), USAF, former supreme allied commander Europe, NATO

“An interesting and provocative exploration of the roots, the present, and the future of European air forces. . . . John Andreas Olsen brilliantly manages to bring together expert analysis and diverse views that provide stimulating food for thought about how we might learn from the past and shape our air forces for the future. A great read.”—Gen. Denis Mercier, chief of staff, French Air Force

“With the geo-political shift of the United States’ interest towards Asia-Pacific, John Olsen presents a timely analysis of the implications for European air forces which seek to understand their contributions to national defence and security objectives, often in the context of alliances and partnerships. His deliberate emphasis on the need to cultivate the intellectual acumen of airmen is well made and lies at the heart of developing and delivering relevant air power for the Royal Air Force and, indeed, for all air forces. I commend it to you.”—Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, chief of staff, Royal Air Force