We are proud to announce the book release of one of our very own students: “Never Leave an Airman Behind: How the Air Force Faltered and Failed in the Wake of the Lackland Sex Scandal” written by Craig Perry.
Craig did his undergraduate studies in History at Brown University, and while on active duty in the Air Force, completed a graduate degree in European Studies at St. Petersburg State University in Russia as an Olmsted Scholar. He is currently doing his Masters in Foresight here in Houston focusing on the future of international relations and the military.
The book not only deals with the future of the Air Force, but includes Craig’s personal accounts and interpretation of them – and that is what makes it so interesting! Craig was one of half a dozen Air Force officers who were specially chosen to take command of Air Force Basic Military Training squadrons in 2013 after several instructors were implicated in crimes of a sexual nature the previous year. It soon became clear to the team that many of the reforms implemented in the wake of the scandal were producing unintended consequences. However, the chain of command wasn’t interested in constructive feedback. Craig shares the story of his last years in uniform, and the implications of what the media called his “curious case” for the future of the Air Force.
In ou
r Foresight course Craig previously focused his attention on the Future of NATO and more recently on the European Union. He has also published a paper entitled “The New Space Race: Competition for Lunar Resources.“
As he now adds foresight to his background in history, politics, international relations and European Studies, Craig is an example of someone who integrated foresight with other disciplines and by so doing demonstrates the value of futures thinking.
Craig will soon head off to a new job in the UK and continue to pursue his Foresight studies online. We wish him all the best both on the reception of his book and his work in the future.
