This course examines the history of the Sea, Air, and Space Domains in the 20th
Century through exploring how US military and political leaders conceived of their utility and how each influenced the conduct and outcome of armed conflict. The course proceeds chronologically beginning with the introduction of Mahanian thought in the US Navy in the 1890s, adding in the development of military aircraft in the 1910s, and first uses of space during the Second World War. It traces the evolving role of each domain through the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, late Cold War and immediate post-Cold War conflicts. Cadets will study the interactions between the three domains and how they shaped the contemporary operating environment. Cadets will be able to understand and appreciate the context of the modern joint force and how each domain is inherently interconnected and needed to find tactical, operational, and strategic success in war and peace.
