John Boyd: Introduction (01:39)

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Boyd grew up in poverty and as an adult, lived in fear that his possession would own him. As a pilot, he advocated for controversial weapons systems and was embraced more by the Marines than the Air Force.

Boyd's Early Years (02:11)

Boyd was born in 1927 to an affluent family; his father died and the family struggled financially. A swimming coach and a lifeguard helped shape Boyd's future resolve. He rode in a plane as a teenager and wanted to become a military pilot.

Early Military Service (03:51)

After high school, Boyd enlisted in the Army and served in Japan. He attended Iowa University and took a flight aptitude test; his IQ was 90. He was assigned to the 51st fighter wing in Korea, and became tactics officer after the war; he was convinced fighter pilot training was inadequate.

Fighter Weapons School (03:25)

Boyd shared his opinions on training methods and demonstrated impressive flying skills. He became an instructor and codified air-to-air combat. Boyd finished the Aerial Attack Study in 1960.

Quantifying Combat Performance (03:11)

Boyd began formulating an energy maneuverability theory; EM Theory changed how pilots thought about combat and implied changes in aircraft design and tactics. Boyd's daughter reflects on his lifestyle. In 1965, Boyd won the Scientific Achievement Award; he took over the development of the FX fighter a year later.

Plane Development (04:30)

In 1966, Air Force bureaucracy was in crisis and money and resources were spent on the development on the FX fighter. Boyd modified the FX into the F-15, but was unhappy with the results; the YF-16 exemplified his beliefs. Pilot visibility was crucial to Boyd's theory OODA Loop.

Boyd's Later years (03:56)

Boyd published "Patterns of Warfare." Marines were appreciative of his theories and rebuilt their doctrine based on OODA Loop. Boyd developed the philosophical underpinnings of the Marine feint in Kuwait; he died in 1997.

Credits: Legends of Air Power: John Boyd (00:30)

Credits: Legends of Air Power: John Boyd