John Boyd

John Boyd

John Richard Boyd (January 23, 1927 – March 9, 1997) was a United States Air Force fighter pilot and Pentagon consultant of the late 20th century. His theories have been highly influential in the military, sports, business, and litigation fields.

Quotes

• People, ideas, hardware—in that order.
  • Quoted in "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War" by Robert Coram (2002)

• If your boss demands loyalty, give him integrity. But if he demands integrity, then give him loyalty.
  • Quoted in "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War" by Robert Coram (2002)

• To be somebody or to do something. In life there is often a roll call. That’s when you will have to make a decision. To be or to do? Which way will you go?
  • Quoted in "Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War" by Robert Coram (2002)

• Conflict can be viewed as repeated cycles of observing, orienting, deciding and acting by both sides, and also, I might add, at all levels. The adversary that can move through these cycles faster gains an inestimable advantage by disrupting his enemy's ability to respond effectively.
  • Testimony before the House Armed Services Committee

• He who can handle the quickest rate of change survives
  • "New Conception of Air to Air Combat" (1976)