Operational Command and Control for Stability Operations: A Civilian Deputy to the Military Operational Commander

摘要

Achieving unity of effort across the whole of government for stability operations is a complex problem that must be solved to avoid repeating the failures of the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). While National Security Presidential Directive - 44 (NSPD-44) effectively addressed interagency coordination at the national level and set the course to solve the lack of civilian resources necessary for stability operations, it failed to establish a baseline command and control model at the operational level for stability operations in a hostile environment. Instead, NSPD 44 stated that 'supported/supporting relationships will be determined'. This paper analyzes historical case studies of U.S. stability operations during World War II, Vietnam, and OIF and critiques possible operational level command and control models to identify the most effective. It concludes that unity of effort across government institutions is required at the operational level to plan and execute the transition from combat to post-combat operations and can best be achieved with a civilian deputy to the military operational commander. The civilian deputy should lead a hybrid civilian-military organization in the planning and execution of stability operations and synchronize efforts with combat forces. Finally, recommendations are made on how to institute this operational command and control model as U.S. policy.