Inspiring Doctrinal Innovation (IDI)
Essay Contest

Prompt

Defending the homeland is a fundamental aspect of the Department of War’s mission to protect the United States and its interests. Recent events in Ukraine and Russia underscore the need to protect critical infrastructure, preserving not only the will of the populace to prevail, but also the military’s ability to project power.

The Joint Force relies heavily on a resilient national infrastructure. Considering likely vulnerabilities, historical precedents, doctrinal guidance, and emerging technologies, how should the USAF posture itself to minimize the impact of both kinetic and non-kinetic attacks on critical infrastructure within the homeland? Simultaneously, how can the USAF maintain its capability to deliver decisive airpower for the Joint Force Commander? Finally, what collaborative strategies should the USAF employ to provide the Joint Force and civil agencies capability to defend the homeland against multi-domain threats?

Background

The IDI essay contest is a cooperative effort between The LeMay Center and The Eagle Institute to accelerate innovation in Air Force doctrine by encouraging Airmen and Guardians of all ranks and AFSC’s to read, internalize, and debate Air Force doctrine in professional writing and discourse.

Spring 2026 Winners

Captain Jonathan Haggerty