About the Author

Mel Deaile is an Associate Professor at the Air Command and Staff College. Dr. Deaile is a retired Air Force Colonel who flew the B-52 Stratofortress and the B-2 Spirit. He has flown combat operations as part of Operations DESERT STORM and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, including a record setting 44.3 hour combat mission. Dr. Deaile is the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and a distinguished graduate of the USAF Weapon School.

Reviews

"This is perhaps an overdue and welcome book on the Strategic Air Command (SAC) through its formative years to apparent success in 1962 during the Cuba Missile crisis." — The Navy Magazine

"The author of Always at War does a creditable job of explaining how SAC came into existence and its philosophy of always being prepared to go to war…. This book should appeal military historians, political scientists, sociologists, and business managers." — The Journal of America’s Military Past

"“Deaile’s book makes a significant contribution to this growing subfield of Cold War military history. His use of organizational culture theory is illuminating without being overly dense. He clearly demonstrates the strong connections between the experience of World War II and choices made in the early Cold War, a link too often ignored. The historical and bureaucratic context during which SAC came into existence exerted powerful influences on the new command. As a well-written account of his important Air Force organization, Always at War is recommended for general readers interested in aviation history as well as specialist scholars.” — Air and Space Power Journal