Colonel John Richard Boyd

Colonel John Richard Boyd

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania January 23, 1927, John Richard Boyd lived at 514 Lincoln Avenue and attended Erie schools, graduating from Strong Vincent High School in 1945, where he had starred in water polo and swimming. He was a lifeguard under Frank Pettinato at Presque Isle Beaches. He went to the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in Economics. 

 

Boyd then went on to Georgia Institute of Technology and received a degree in Industrial Engineering. He served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and became an instructor at the fighter weapons school at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He became known as “40 second Boyd” in simulated combat; if he couldn’t down you in 40 seconds, he would give you $40.00. He never lost in thousands of attempts. Recognized as one of the greatest military theoreticians of all time, Colonel Boyd wrote the aerial attack study on his own time. The Air Force had never had such a document. In 1960, it became the official tactics manual of the U.S. Air Force. It is still in use and also used by many other countries. He formulated the energy maneuverability theory (E.M.), which was the dividing line between the old and the new…used to define all characteristics of a fighter plane and those of a foe, to aid a pilot to determine his position of advantage. This theory was also used to define a fighter for specific purposes- before the plane was designed, or built. He was the “Father” of the F-15 and then the F-16; light weight, highly agile planes with very many new features and concepts. Over 4000 of these were produced to date and used by a considerable number of countries throughout the world. Colonel John Richard Boyd retired from the Air Force in August 1975 as a very highly decorated officer after a career filled with accomplishments. It has been claimed that he changed the Air Force. Retirement did not slow his passion for military theory. He began to study the techniques of way, starting with the author of “The Art of War”, Sun Tzu, written 2400 years ago. He studied all major battles and military theorists. From his many years of study, he produced his major and monumental study: “A discourse on winning and losing” incorporating “Patterns of Conflict”. These works also incorporated the now famous “OODA Loop” (Observe Orient Decide Act). His theories on war tactics have changed the way wars are fought and have been adapted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army. Tactics were employed in the Gulf War, Iraq fighting and Grenada. His theories are studied and taught throughout the world. His papers are housed in the Marine Corps Research Center in Quantico, VA. Colonel John Richard Boyd died in March 1997. His obituary was in the New York Times. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.