The Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education (LeMay Center)
History
In August 1996, the Air Force Chief of Staff consolidated all Air Force doctrine development under a single authority, the Headquarters Air Force Doctrine Center (HQAFDC). To emphasize the importance of doctrine, General Ronald E. Fogleman established HQ AFDC as a direct reporting unit reporting directly to him to better increase the Air Force's understanding of airpower doctrine by having a single and very clear voice for the Air Force on all doctrine matters. Major General Ronald E. Keys, the first HQ AFDC commander, set up the new center at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in 1997.
HQ AFDC was a Direct Reporting Unit (DRU) to the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. HQ AFDC was merged in 2007 with the College for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education Center. The new organization was initially known as the Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center, but was shortly renamed as the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education the LeMay Center under Air University in honor of late Air Force Chief of Staff Curtis E. LeMay. News
Operations
The center researches, develops, and produces Air Force basic and operational doctrine, as well as joint and multinational doctrine. It coordinates with the major commands on their development of tactical doctrine, and assists other Services' doctrinal development efforts. The LeMay Center is responsible for reviewing the application of doctrine education in the continuum of education for all Air Force personnel, and is an advocate for the doctrinally correct representation of air, space, and cyberspace power in key Air Force, other Service, and joint exercises and experiments. The center participates in Air Force and other Services' joint wargames and key exercises to ensure scenarios provide a realistic depiction of the uses and impact of airpower.
Lineage and honors
The center has a staff of over 300 active-duty members, reservists, military civilians, and contractors. The organization consists of five directorates at the headquarters; an air staff liaison at the Pentagon; and the Joint Integration Directorate located at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
List of commanders
The commander reports directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force for matters pertaining to doctrine. The officeholder also serves as the vice commander of the Air University.
Maj Gen Bentley B. Rayburn, July 2004
Maj Gen Stephen J. Miller, June 2008
Maj Gen David S. Fadok, July 2010
Maj Gen Thomas K. Andersen, July 2011
Maj Gen Walter D. Givhan, 4 January 2013
Maj Gen Steven L. Kwast, February 2014
Col Jill E. Singleton, August 2014 (acting) Maj Gen Timothy J. Leahy, June 2015 Maj Gen Michael D. Rothstein, August 2017 Maj Gen Brad M. Sullivan, 15 July 2019–January 2021 Maj Gen William G. Holt, 24 May 2021
Directorates and Operating Locations
The Doctrine Development Directorate researches, develops and produces Air Force basic and operational doctrine, as well as joint and multinational doctrine, spanning the full range of military operations. The directorate coordinates with the major commands on their development of tactical doctrine, and assists other Services' doctrinal development efforts. It conducts historical research to support doctrine development and service positions, and participates in developing and investigating future operational concepts, technologies, and strategies. The directorate also maintains awareness of future Air Force planning and establishes policy for executing the development of Air Force doctrine. The directorate consists of two subdirectorates: one that researches, produces, and disseminates Air Force doctrine, and one that represents the center and provides Air Force doctrinal advocacy in the joint arena. The latter also provides interface and liaison with other services' doctrine development activities and the Joint Warfighting Center, and participates in joint doctrine development.