A Predictable Problem
type: NewsArticle

A US Air Force war game shows what the service needs to hold off — or win against — China in 2030
type: NewsArticle

Adapt or Die: Big Air Force Changes Demand Buy-In from Within
abstract: Commentary on the Air Force's Re-optimization for Great Power Competition review's 24 decisions announced at AFA Warfare Symposium; compares the Air Force's challenge to Kodak, Pan Am, and Blockbuster—organizations that failed to adapt.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-02-15
description: Commentary on the Air Force's Re-optimization for Great Power Competition review's 24 decisions announced at AFA Warfare Symposium; compares the Air Force's challenge to Kodak, Pan Am, and Blockbuster—organizations that failed to adapt.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Air & Space Forces Magazine
type: Article

After Defeat: A Time to Rebuild
abstract: Fictional/speculative strategy article set in the future about rebuilding after strategic failure; published in the inaugural issue of Air University's Æther journal.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-01-01
description: Fictional/speculative strategy article set in the future about rebuilding after strategic failure; published in the inaugural issue of Air University's Æther journal.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-air-university-æther-journal
type: Article

Air Force Weaponizing Cargo Planes For All-Domain Ops: Bomb Bay In A Box
type: NewsArticle

Airpower After Ukraine: The Future of Air Warfare (Today in DoD listing)
type: NewsArticle

Can four big commands prepare the Air Force to win wars?
type: NewsArticle

Centralized Control and Decentralized Execution
abstract: The Air Force's master tenet of centralized control, decentralized execution is in danger of becoming dogma. Airmen have difficulty communicating the meaning of this phrase in a joint setting. This is partially due to our limited understanding of its history and the imprecise meaning of the words involved.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2012-07-23
description: The Air Force's master tenet of centralized control, decentralized execution is in danger of becoming dogma. Airmen have difficulty communicating the meaning of this phrase in a joint setting. This is partially due to our limited understanding of its history and the imprecise meaning of the words involved.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-createspace-independent-publishing-platform
type: Article

Col. Clint Hinote — Author/Contributor Page
type: NewsArticle

Cutting Off the Head of the Snake
abstract: This study examines a compelling phenomenon in modern conflict. Leaders are being attacked and their leadership is being disrupted at what appears to be an unprecedented rate. Because of this, military decision makers and planners need to know if attacking leadership is an effective strategy. The study differentiates between attacking leadership and the killing or capturing of enemy leaders, commonly called decapitation. Leadership attack is broader than decapitation, as it encompasses additional actions that disrupt the process of leadership within the adversary organization.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2013-06-01
description: This study examines a compelling phenomenon in modern conflict. Leaders are being attacked and their leadership is being disrupted at what appears to be an unprecedented rate. Because of this, military decision makers and planners need to know if attacking leadership is an effective strategy. The study differentiates between attacking leadership and the killing or capturing of enemy leaders, commonly called decapitation. Leadership attack is broader than decapitation, as it encompasses additional actions that disrupt the process of leadership within the adversary organization.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-air-university-school-of-advanced-air-and-space-studies
type: Article

Days from Retirement Hinote Warns That Air Force Modernization Could Come Off the Rails
type: NewsArticle

Ebola and Counterinsurgency—A Struggle for Legitimacy
abstract: Original publication of his argument that counterinsurgency concepts apply to the Ebola crisis; the struggle is about legitimacy and the people.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-10-01
description: Original publication of his argument that counterinsurgency concepts apply to the Ebola crisis; the struggle is about legitimacy and the people.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-council-on-foreign-relations-blog
type: Article

Uncrewed Systems and the Transformation of U.S. Warfighting Capacity
abstract: New technologies often require updating old ideas, old strategies, and old ways of preparing humans for war. The influx of new technologies into military institutions is continuous, occurring since the dawn of war, albeit with increased frequency since the First Industrial Revolution. Every now and then, however, a new technology forces a disruptive shift in how wars are started, fought and ended. Uncrewed systems—which are now undergoing a form of Cambrian Explosion in capability, quality and quantity—appear to be such a technology. These systems are disrupting how combatants are considering risk, cost and authority on the modern battlefield.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
description: New technologies often require updating old ideas, old strategies, and old ways of preparing humans for war. The influx of new technologies into military institutions is continuous, occurring since the dawn of war, albeit with increased frequency since the First Industrial Revolution. Every now and then, however, a new technology forces a disruptive shift in how wars are started, fought and ended. Uncrewed systems—which are now undergoing a form of Cambrian Explosion in capability, quality and quantity—appear to be such a technology. These systems are disrupting how combatants are considering risk, cost and authority on the modern battlefield.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
name: Empowering the Edge
publisher: org-special-competitive-studies-project
type: Article

Everything You Need To Know About No-Fly Zones
abstract: Comprehensive guide to no-fly zones, drawing on personal experience enforcing no-fly zones over Iraq and expertise from the USAF Weapons School. Also republished at The National Interest and from CFR's Defense in Depth blog.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-05-05
description: Comprehensive guide to no-fly zones, drawing on personal experience enforcing no-fly zones over Iraq and expertise from the USAF Weapons School. Also republished at The National Interest and from CFR's Defense in Depth blog.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Defense One
type: Article

Future warfare depends on agile, measurable software development
abstract: Op-ed arguing DoD's acquisition model is a relic of the past; discusses the SECDEF mandate for the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP); proposes data-driven metrics for software development based on Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare recommendations.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2025-05-02
description: Op-ed arguing DoD's acquisition model is a relic of the past; discusses the SECDEF mandate for the Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP); proposes data-driven metrics for software development based on Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare recommendations.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Breaking Defense
type: Article

Guest Post: The ISIS Video and Military Strategy in Iraq
abstract: Analysis of the Islamic State's A Message to America execution video; discusses IS's strategic messaging, implications for U.S. military strategy, and the risk of mission creep.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-08-01
description: Analysis of the Islamic State's A Message to America execution video; discusses IS's strategic messaging, implications for U.S. military strategy, and the risk of mission creep.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-council-on-foreign-relations-blog
type: Article

Hegseth says Iran showing 'sheer desperation' in Strait of Hormuz as oil tankers remain stuck
type: NewsArticle

Hinote Urges Defense Innovation Board to Find Incentives for Faster Technology Development
type: NewsArticle

How AI is changing warfare
type: NewsArticle

How To Determine the Success of Air Strikes in Syria
abstract: Outlines five categories of an enemy's system that can determine the success or failure of the U.S.-led air campaign in Syria.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-10-01
description: Outlines five categories of an enemy's system that can determine the success or failure of the U.S.-led air campaign in Syria.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Defense One
type: Article

Deterrence in Cyberspace
abstract: Analyzes the Sony hack and argues for establishing deterrence in cyberspace; proposes a framework combining cyber defense, offensive capability, and shifting competition to domains where the U.S. has advantages; draws on Thomas Schelling's deterrence theory.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-01-04
description: Analyzes the Sony hack and argues for establishing deterrence in cyberspace; proposes a framework combining cyber defense, offensive capability, and shifting competition to domains where the U.S. has advantages; draws on Thomas Schelling's deterrence theory.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
name: How to Stop the Next Hack
publisher: org-foreign-affairs-council-on-foreign-relations
type: Article

If Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Is Dead: Could This Be the End of ISIS?
abstract: Discusses reports that the coalition may have injured or killed al-Baghdadi; argues this will not end the movement—only repudiation by the local population can defeat ISIS.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-10-01
description: Discusses reports that the coalition may have injured or killed al-Baghdadi; argues this will not end the movement—only repudiation by the local population can defeat ISIS.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: The National Interest
type: Article

If we don't change we're going to lose — Air Force strategy chief Hinote
type: NewsArticle

In Brief: The National Defense Industrial Strategy
abstract: Part of War on the Rocks' In Brief series. Hinote argues the NDIS makes important statements—consolidation went too far, sub-tier contractors need attention, barriers to entry must be lowered—but the implementation plan should be unclassified because industrial policy is public policy.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-01-31
description: Part of War on the Rocks' In Brief series. Hinote argues the NDIS makes important statements—consolidation went too far, sub-tier contractors need attention, barriers to entry must be lowered—but the implementation plan should be unclassified because industrial policy is public policy.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: War on the Rocks
type: Article

Interview with Clinton Hinote
abstract: Wide-ranging interview covering parity with China, obsolescence of the post–Cold War American way of warfare, Third Offset Strategy, JADC2, the Hellscape defense concept, multi-domain swarming, human-machine teaming, and uncrewed systems.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2025-11-21
description: Wide-ranging interview covering parity with China, obsolescence of the post–Cold War American way of warfare, Third Offset Strategy, JADC2, the Hellscape defense concept, multi-domain swarming, human-machine teaming, and uncrewed systems.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-small-wars-journal-arizona-state-university
type: Article

Iran Must Only Succeed Once to Trigger a Catastrophe
type: NewsArticle

Joint Chiefs Seek A New Warfighting Paradigm After Devastating Losses In Classified Wargames
type: NewsArticle

Lt. Gen. Clinton Hinote Outlines Ways to Facilitate Defense Innovation
type: NewsArticle

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Clinton Hinote Joins Pallas Advisors
type: NewsArticle

NFTF: Insights from Brig. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote USAF Deputy Chief Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq
type: NewsArticle

No-Fly Zones: The Ultimate Guide
abstract: Cross-posted version of his comprehensive guide to no-fly zones.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-01-01
description: Cross-posted version of his comprehensive guide to no-fly zones.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: The National Interest
type: Article

Not messing around: China's rapid military advances stoke fear catch Pentagon by surprise
type: NewsArticle

One Way To Combat The Ebola Virus: Use Counterinsurgency Tactics
abstract: Applies counterinsurgency concepts from Army FM 3-24 to the Ebola response effort, drawing parallels between fighting insurgencies and fighting infectious disease.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-10-01
description: Applies counterinsurgency concepts from Army FM 3-24 to the Ebola response effort, drawing parallels between fighting insurgencies and fighting infectious disease.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: The National Interest
type: Article

Replicator: An inside look at the Pentagon's ambitious drone program
type: NewsArticle

Russia's S-300 Sale to Iran: 3 Things You Need to Know
abstract: Analyzes Putin's decision to sell the S-300 missile system to Iran after the UN hold was lifted; discusses implications for regional military balance.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-04-01
description: Analyzes Putin's decision to sell the S-300 missile system to Iran after the UN hold was lifted; discusses implications for regional military balance.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: The National Interest
type: Article

Russia's Sale of the S-300 to Iran Will Shift Military Balance
abstract: Analyzes the strategic implications of Russia's S-300 sale to Iran; argues it represents a fundamental shift in Middle East military balance regarding air operations.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-04-01
description: Analyzes the strategic implications of Russia's S-300 sale to Iran; argues it represents a fundamental shift in Middle East military balance regarding air operations.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-newsweek
type: Article

S. Clinton Hinote (Official Biography)
type: NewsArticle

The Air War Against ISIS: The Deciding Factor
abstract: Argues the continued participation of Middle Eastern states in anti-ISIS operations is crucial for long-term success and U.S. leadership worldwide.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-09-01
description: Argues the continued participation of Middle Eastern states in anti-ISIS operations is crucial for long-term success and U.S. leadership worldwide.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: The National Interest
type: Article

The Islamic State May Have Hit the Point of Diminishing Returns
abstract: Argues that as Iraqi security forces regain their footing, ISIS's use of terror is not enough to relieve battlefield pressure; expansion has slowed and some territorial gains rolled back.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-09-01
description: Argues that as Iraqi security forces regain their footing, ISIS's use of terror is not enough to relieve battlefield pressure; expansion has slowed and some territorial gains rolled back.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Defense One
type: Article

The risk in targeting the head of the Islamic State
abstract: Written after execution of journalist James Foley; discusses U.S. strategy against ISIS leadership, drawing parallels to the 2006 killing of Zarqawi; argues that targeting individual leaders requires intense intelligence and often doesn't end a movement.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2014-08-26
description: Written after execution of journalist James Foley; discusses U.S. strategy against ISIS leadership, drawing parallels to the 2006 killing of Zarqawi; argues that targeting individual leaders requires intense intelligence and often doesn't end a movement.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: org-the-washington-post-opinions
type: Article

The Russian Weapon That Could Tip The Balance in the Middle East
abstract: Analyzes Russia's decision to sell the S-300 missile defense system to Iran; explains three key reasons why this is significant: mobility and lethality, regional balance-of-power shifts, and arms-race risk.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-04-20
description: Analyzes Russia's decision to sell the S-300 missile defense system to Iran; explains three key reasons why this is significant: mobility and lethality, regional balance-of-power shifts, and arms-race risk.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Defense One
type: Article

The U.S. Is Not Yet Ready for the Era of 'Great Power' Conflict
type: NewsArticle

The US Missile System Driving a Wedge Between China, South Korea
abstract: Analyzes the U.S. decision to install a THAAD missile interceptor system in South Korea and how it could force Seoul to choose between its Washington alliance and its Beijing relationship.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-03-26
description: Analyzes the U.S. decision to install a THAAD missile interceptor system in South Korea and how it could force Seoul to choose between its Washington alliance and its Beijing relationship.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: Defense One
type: Article

Today's F-35As Not Worth Including In High-End War Games According To Air Force General
type: NewsArticle

Uncrewed Systems and the Transformation of U.S. Warfighting Capacity
abstract: Companion article to SCSP report; argues uncrewed systems alone are not transforming war—the combination of drones with democratized digitized C2 systems and meshed sensor networks (a transformative trinity) is what drives transformation. Draws lessons from Ukraine.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-02-09
description: Companion article to SCSP report; argues uncrewed systems alone are not transforming war—the combination of drones with democratized digitized C2 systems and meshed sensor networks (a transformative trinity) is what drives transformation. Draws lessons from Ukraine.
is part of: S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
publisher: War on the Rocks
type: Article

US Air Force to start new experiments with Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone
type: NewsArticle

Wargame Ends Better With Trans-Domain Moves Hinote Says
type: NewsArticle

Weakened by War, Iran Hits Back by Strangling a Vital Waterway
type: NewsArticle

B.S. in Space Physics (Bachelor of Science)
credential category: degree
date created: 1992
recognized by: United States Air Force Academy
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

Certificate in F-16 Training
credential category: degree
date created: 1994
recognized by: Luke Air Force Base
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

Certificate in Undergraduate Pilot Training
credential category: degree
date created: 1994
recognized by: Columbus Air Force Base
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

Graduate in Fighter Weapons and Tactics (Professional Military Education)
credential category: degree
date created: 2003
recognized by: USAF Weapons School
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

Graduate in Military Strategy and Doctrine (Professional Military Education)
credential category: degree
date created: 2004
recognized by: Air Command and Staff College
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

M.P.P. in Public Policy (Master of Public Policy)
credential category: degree
date created: 1994
recognized by: Harvard Kennedy School of Government
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

Ph.D. in Military Strategy
credential category: degree
date created: 2013
recognized by: Air University (School of Advanced Air and Space Studies)
type: EducationalOccupationalCredential

China Military Competition Strategy
description: Specialized in assessing and countering Chinese military capabilities, particularly A2/AD (anti-access/area denial) systems and integrated air defense networks. Developed strategies to restore U.S. competitive advantage as China achieved parity in precision-guided munitions and theater-level battle networks. Recognized that China's offset strategy in their near abroad fundamentally changed the strategic balance. Worked on concepts to counter Chinese capabilities including multi-domain swarming defense (Hellscape) for Taiwan scenarios.
term code: expert, 12 years
type: DefinedTerm

Defense Innovation and Emerging Technology Integration
description: Founded Hinote Strategy LLC (2023) to match emerging technology and concepts to U.S. defense needs. Principal at Pallas Advisors, strategic advisory firm specializing in defense innovation. Advocates for disruptive innovation to maintain U.S. competitive advantage. Works with defense technology companies and startups to accelerate adoption of breakthrough capabilities. Emphasizes need for 'disruptive strategy' to transform national security ecosystem and leverage America's innovation advantage against adversaries.
term code: expert, 8 years
type: DefinedTerm

Fighter Pilot Operations
description: Command pilot with over 2,000 flight hours including 240 combat hours in Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch. Flew F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter (Bandit 567), A/T-38, and T-37 aircraft. Served as USAF Weapons School instructor, demonstrating mastery of tactical employment. Commanded at squadron, wing vice commander, and wing commander levels including 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. One of only 558 pilots ever selected to fly the F-117 stealth fighter in the highly classified program.
term code: expert, 30 years
type: DefinedTerm

International Military Cooperation and Diplomacy
description: Extensive diplomatic experience serving as commander in NATO (Germany) and U.S. Forces Korea. Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Baghdad. Led Air Forces Central Strategy Division. Deputy Executive Director of Security Cooperation at Department of State. Managed complex alliance relationships and coordinated multi-national military operations. Experienced in connecting military capabilities with diplomatic objectives across diverse cultural and political contexts.
term code: expert, 15 years
type: DefinedTerm

Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2)
description: Key architect and champion of JADC2 concept - the integration of sensors, command and control, and weapons systems across all military domains (air, land, sea, space, cyber). Advocated for democratization of military data and decentralized command structures to enable mission command. Led implementation of concepts designed to prevent adversaries from disrupting U.S. command and control by distributing decision-making authority. Emphasized that JADC2 would make it 'almost impossible to cut the head off the snake' by enabling command from any platform.
term code: expert, 7 years
type: DefinedTerm

Leadership Coaching and Executive Development
description: Coaches C-suite leaders in navigating uncertain futures and leading disruptive change. Assists organizations with structural management for adapting to China challenge. Teaches graduate-level courses on national security at RAND's Pardee School of Public Policy. Speaks on leadership principles and practice through media appearances and conferences. Focuses on growing leaders who can navigate disruption and execute transformational strategies in both government and private sector.
term code: advanced, 3 years
type: DefinedTerm

Military Strategic Planning
description: Served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and Requirements (Air Force Futures) at USAF Headquarters. Responsible for developing Air Force strategy and multi-domain operating concepts, integrating through centralized design, and validating operational capabilities-based requirements. Led 400-person organization focused on planning and integration for the future Air Force. Conducted strategic assessments of the operating environment through wargames and workshops to manifest integrated future force design.
term code: expert, 32 years
type: DefinedTerm

Multi-Domain Operations and Integration
description: Led Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability (AFWIC) as Deputy Director, developing advanced efforts for design, integration and capability development across Total Force for multi-domain concepts. Pioneered thinking that moved beyond domain-specific warfare (air war, ground war, maritime war) to integrated all-domain operations. Developed concepts connecting air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains into unified operational frameworks. Emphasized that multi-domain operations are essential for future conflict success.
term code: expert, 10 years
type: DefinedTerm

Organizational Leadership and Transformation
description: Led transformative change in military organizations, converting traditional Air Staff directorate into forward-looking 'Air Force Futures' organization. Commanded fighter wings in NATO (Germany) and Korea, managed complex international military relationships. Served as Deputy Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Baghdad when tapped by Ambassador. Deputy Executive Director of Security Cooperation at Department of State, ensuring partnership between U.S. Military and Iraq's Security Forces. Demonstrated ability to disrupt dated doctrine and reinvent organizations for future conflicts.
term code: expert, 25 years
type: DefinedTerm

Public Policy and National Security
description: Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. Ph.D. in Military Strategy from Air University. Graduated first in class at both U.S. Air Force Academy (B.S. in Space Physics) and Air Command and Staff College. Graduate of USAF Weapons School and School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. Currently Professor of Policy Analysis at RAND School of Public Policy. Senior Advisor to Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP). Extensive experience connecting military power to political objectives and national security strategy.
term code: expert, 20 years
type: DefinedTerm

Third Offset Strategy Development
description: Served as Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense during the Third Offset Strategy (3OS) initiative. Contributed to development of strategies leveraging emerging technologies to restore U.S. military advantage over near-peer competitors. Focused on multi-domain operational concepts, anti-access/area denial countermeasures, and human-machine teaming. Recognized the Third Offset as intellectual foundation for current multi-domain defense concepts including the Hellscape defense strategy for Taiwan.
term code: expert, 8 years
type: DefinedTerm

Wargaming and Strategic Assessment
description: Designed and led classified wargaming efforts that revealed critical U.S. military vulnerabilities against peer adversaries, particularly China. His wargaming in 2018 demonstrated that U.S. forces were losing 18 straight competitions with peer adversaries, with outcomes worsening in each iteration. These findings led to fundamental reconsideration of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and multi-domain operations concepts. Developed operational concepts through iterative wargaming to test future force designs.
term code: expert, 15 years
type: DefinedTerm

Air Command and Staff College
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-air-command-and-staff-college-alumniof
alumni of: Air Command and Staff College
end date: 2004
role name: Graduate, Military Strategy and Doctrine (Professional Military Education)
type: OrganizationRole

Air University (School of Advanced Air and Space Studies)
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-air-university-school-of-advanced-air-and-space-studies-alumniof
alumni of: Air University (School of Advanced Air and Space Studies)
end date: 2013
role name: Ph.D., Military Strategy
type: OrganizationRole

Columbus Air Force Base
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-columbus-air-force-base-alumniof
alumni of: Columbus Air Force Base
end date: 1994
role name: Certificate, Undergraduate Pilot Training
type: OrganizationRole

Harvard Kennedy School of Government
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-harvard-kennedy-school-of-government-alumniof
alumni of: Harvard Kennedy School of Government
end date: 1994
role name: M.P.P., Public Policy (Master of Public Policy)
type: OrganizationRole

Luke Air Force Base
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-luke-air-force-base-alumniof
alumni of: Luke Air Force Base
end date: 1994
role name: Certificate, F-16 Training
type: OrganizationRole

United States Air Force Academy
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-united-states-air-force-academy-alumniof
alumni of: United States Air Force Academy
end date: 1992
role name: B.S., Space Physics (Bachelor of Science)
type: OrganizationRole

USAF Weapons School
type: CollegeOrUniversity

eduorg-usaf-weapons-school-alumniof
alumni of: USAF Weapons School
end date: 2003
role name: Graduate, Fighter Weapons and Tactics (Professional Military Education)
type: OrganizationRole

S Clinton Hinote Speaker Advisor Strategist Photo
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: All rights reserved.
copyright year: 2026
creator: Big House Enterprise
height: 1365
thumbnail: image-10463a03-thumbnail
width: 2048
type: ImageObject

S Clinton Hinote Speaker Advisor Strategist Photo
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: All rights reserved.
copyright year: 2026
creator: Big House Enterprise
height: 1365
thumbnail: image-1680d8de-thumbnail
width: 2048
type: ImageObject

S Clinton Hinote Forging Method Coaching And Speaking
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: All rights reserved.
copyright year: 2026
creator: Big House Enterprise
height: 2048
thumbnail: image-577f7159-thumbnail
width: 1366
type: ImageObject

S. Clinton Hinote is a world-renowned keynote speaker and strategic advisor who helps leaders overcome stagnation and drive organizational reinvention.
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: © 2025 S. Clinton Hinote
copyright year: 2025
creator: S. Clinton Hinote
height: 200
thumbnail: image-748a788d-thumbnail
width: 200
type: ImageObject

S Clinton Hinote Forged So Others Can Lead Headshot
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: All rights reserved.
copyright year: 2026
creator: Big House Enterprise
height: 2048
thumbnail: image-ccff1515-thumbnail
width: 1366
type: ImageObject

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Clinton Hinote - RAND Professor
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: © 2024 S. Clinton Hinote
copyright year: 2024
creator: S. Clinton Hinote
height: 308
thumbnail: image-e4706c42-thumbnail
width: 308
type: ImageObject

S Clinton Hinote Speaker Advisor Strategist Photo
about: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q'), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
caption: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD (“Clint” or “Q”), is a strategist and futurist who helps high-stakes leaders forge the judgment to act in the crucible of complexity.
copyright holder: S. Clinton Hinote
copyright notice: All rights reserved.
copyright year: 2026
creator: Big House Enterprise
height: 1365
thumbnail: image-e566c205-thumbnail
width: 2048
type: ImageObject

Student
type: Occupation

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role name: Student at Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB
start date: 2004-04-01
type: Role

Student
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has occupation: Student
role name: Student at Air Force Institute of Technology
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Commissioner
description: The Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare presents a software-defined warfare approach, offering recommendations for the DoD to adopt modern software practices and seamlessly integrate them into existing platforms to enhance and strengthen defense strategies.
type: Occupation

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role name: Commissioner at Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare
start date: 2023-03-01
type: Role

Operating Advisor
description: S. Clinton Hinote is an operating advisor for Bessemer Venture Partners specializing in organizational reinvention and strategic leadership in defense tech.
type: Occupation

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role name: Operating Advisor at Bessemer Venture Partners
start date: 2025-10-01
type: Role

Chief, Strategy Division
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Chief, Strategy Division
role name: Chief, Strategy Division at Combined Air Operations Center, U.S. Air Forces Central, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
start date: 2006-07-01
type: Role

Military Fellow
description: Offers military expertise in support of the Council's David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's think tank—which is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called fellows). Their expertise covers the major regions and significant issues shaping today's global agenda. CFR fellows contribute to the foreign policy debate by writing books, reports, articles, op-eds, and blogs as well as by holding discussions on the most important challenges facing the United States and the world.
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type: Role

Field Expert
description: Field expert advising companies and leaders.
type: Occupation

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role name: Field Expert at Dcode
start date: 2023-08-01
type: Role

Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Requirements & Integration (Senior Vice President for Strategy)
description: Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this position, Lt. Gen. Hinote is responsible for developing the Air Force strategy and multi-domain operating concepts, integrating through centralized design, and validating (and prioritizing) operational capabilities-based requirements to achieve national defense objectives and deliver timely and effective capability to the warfighter.
type: Occupation

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end date: 2023-06-01
has occupation: Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Requirements & Integration (Senior Vice President for Strategy)
role name: Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Requirements & Integration (Senior Vice President for Strategy) at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon
start date: 2020-06-01
type: Role

Deputy Executive Director, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements
type: Occupation

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end date: 2020-06-01
has occupation: Deputy Executive Director, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements
role name: Deputy Executive Director, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon
start date: 2018-03-01
type: Role

Principal Owner
description: Independent consulting focused on matching emerging technology to defense needs, organizational transformation, and executive coaching
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Principal Owner
role name: Principal Owner at Hinote Strategy LLC
start date: 2023-07-01
type: Role

Student
type: Occupation

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end date: 1994-06-01
has occupation: Student
role name: Student at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
start date: 1992-08-01
type: Role

Executive Chair of Federal and Defense Initiatives
description: S. Clinton Hinote serves as Executive Chair of Federal and Defense Initiatives for LSI Technologies Inc. and assists in the development and implementation of a strategic planning framework that aligns the company's initiatives with military, defense, and government policies, ensuring consistency with federal priorities and national security goals.
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Executive Chair of Federal and Defense Initiatives
role name: Executive Chair of Federal and Defense Initiatives at LIS Technologies Inc.
start date: 2025-09-11
type: Role

Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense
description: Assists the Department of Defense's #2 official and chief operating officer in his leadership duties, including overseeing the department’s annual budget and its over three million civilian and military personnel; interfacing with the Congress, other government agencies, and the media; and developing long term strategies and supporting plans for the department.
type: Occupation

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end date: 2017-02-01
has occupation: Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense
role name: Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense at Office of the Secretary of Defense
start date: 2015-05-01
type: Role

Principal
description: Pallas Advisors is pleased to announce that Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Clinton Hinote will be joining the firm as a Principal following his distinguished career spanning over 30 years in the United States Air Force. Sally Donnelly, a founding partner of Pallas, said Clint’s experience pushing for disruptive changes in the Air Force and wider Department writ large is exactly the type of leader we are looking for to join our Team. Hinote notes that disruption is key to the U.S. staying ahead of our adversaries; investing in future capabilities is more important than ever before. He looks forward to joining Pallas, a team that pushes emerging technology solutions into the right hands within the national security ecosystem.
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Principal
role name: Principal at Pallas Advisors
start date: 2023-10-01
type: Role

Professor of Policy Analysis
description: Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote is a professor of policy analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy. He served as the deputy chief of staff, Strategy, Integration, and Requirements, Headquarters, United States Air Force, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he served as the HAF A5/7, or senior Air Force leader responsible for representing the voice of tomorrow’s Airmen. HAF A5/7, known as Air Force Futures, focuses on developing Air Force strategy and concepts, conducting strategic assessments of the operating environment through wargames and workshops, manifesting an integrated future force design, and achieving timely and effective operational capabilities required for tomorrow’s Airmen to fight and win.
type: Occupation

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role name: Professor of Policy Analysis at RAND School of Public Policy
start date: 2024-01-01
type: Role

Student
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start date: 2005-07-01
type: Role

Expert Advisor
description: Member of SCSP Defense Panel advising on strategic competition with China, defense policy, and emerging technology; co-authored major reports on uncrewed systems and future warfare.
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Expert Advisor
role name: Expert Advisor at Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP)
start date: 2023-10-01
type: Role

Special Assistant to the Commander
type: Occupation

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end date: 2008-06-01
has occupation: Special Assistant to the Commander
role name: Special Assistant to the Commander at The Curtis E. Lemay Center, Maxwell AFB
start date: 2007-08-01
type: Role

Deputy Director, Directorate of Requirements (A8)
description: Deputy Director, Directorate of Requirements (A8) for Air Combat Command, Langley AFB
type: Occupation

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end date: 2013-03-01
has occupation: Deputy Director, Directorate of Requirements (A8)
role name: Deputy Director, Directorate of Requirements (A8) at United States Air Force, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB
start date: 2012-07-01
type: Role

Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training
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F-117A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Wing Chief of Weapons, 49th Fighter Wing
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has occupation: F-117A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Wing Chief of Weapons, 49th Fighter Wing
role name: F-117A Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Wing Chief of Weapons, 49th Fighter Wing at United States Air Force, Holloman AFB
start date: 1999-04-01
type: Role

Commander, 8th Fighter Wing (Vice President, Overseas Region)
description: Led the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, and also acted as the U.S. Forces Korea Area VI Commander. Responsible for the protection, wellbeing, and mission accomplishment of more than 3100 U.S. and Korean personnel.
type: Occupation

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has occupation: Commander, 8th Fighter Wing (Vice President, Overseas Region)
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Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Education and Training Command
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start date: 2008-07-01
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F-16 Flight Lead, Electronic Combat Pilot, Weapons and Tactics Officer, 20th Fighter Wing
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Vice Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing (Assistant Vice President, Overseas Region)
description: Vice Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing (Assistant Vice President, Overseas Region) for Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
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has occupation: Vice Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing (Assistant Vice President, Overseas Region)
role name: Vice Commander, 52nd Fighter Wing (Assistant Vice President, Overseas Region) at United States Air Force, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
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Commander, 3rd Fighter Training Squadron
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has occupation: Commander, 3rd Fighter Training Squadron
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Initial Cadre Member, Instructor Pilot, F-117 Division
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role name: Initial Cadre Member, Instructor Pilot, F-117 Division at United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB
start date: 2003-03-01
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Deputy Executive Director, Security Cooperation
description: As part of the U.S. Mission and U.S. Central Command, the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq conducts Security Cooperation and Security Assistance to ensure the enduring strategic partnership between the U.S. Military and the Government of Iraq's Security Forces.
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Air & Space Forces Magazine
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Air & Space Power Journal
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Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare
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Big House Enterprise
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Breaking Defense
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Defense One
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Foreign Affairs
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Pallas Advisors
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The National Interest
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War on the Rocks
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Foreign Affairs
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School of Advanced Air and Space Studies Dissertation (Air University)
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Æther: A Journal of Strategy & Airpower
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S. Clinton Hinote
additional name: Clinton
alternate name: Brig. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Brigadier General S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Clint 'Q' Hinote
alternate name: Clint Hinote
alternate name: Col. S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Colonel S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Dr. Hinote
alternate name: Lieutenant General S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. Hinote
alternate name: Lt. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Maj. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Major General S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Q Hinote
alternate name: S. Clinton Hinote
alternate name: Samuel Clinton Hinote
alumni of: eduorg-air-command-and-staff-college-alumniof
alumni of: eduorg-air-university-school-of-advanced-air-and-space-studies-alumniof
alumni of: eduorg-columbus-air-force-base-alumniof
alumni of: eduorg-harvard-kennedy-school-of-government-alumniof
alumni of: eduorg-luke-air-force-base-alumniof
alumni of: eduorg-united-states-air-force-academy-alumniof
alumni of: eduorg-usaf-weapons-school-alumniof
award: Aerial Achievement Medal (United States Air Force)
award: Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster (United States Air Force)
award: Air Force Commendation Medal (United States Air Force)
award: Air Medal (multiple awards) (United States Air Force)
award: Bronze Star Medal (United States Armed Forces)
award: Command Pilot Wings (United States Air Force)
award: Commander's Trophy (Air Education and Training Command)
award: Defense Superior Service Medal (United States Department of Defense)
award: Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster (United States Air Force)
award: Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (United States Armed Forces)
award: Joint Service Commendation Medal (United States Air Force)
award: Legion of Merit (United States Armed Forces)
award: Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster (United States Air Force)
award: Outstanding Graduate and Top Academic Graduate (Air Command and Staff College)
award: Outstanding Graduate, United States Air Force Academy (United States Air Force Academy)
award: Palm Springs Air Museum 2024 Gala Honoree (Palm Springs Air Museum)
award: Southwest Asia Service Medal (United States Armed Forces)
award: Stephen R. Lorenz Fellowship (Air University)
award: Top Squadron Graduate (Squadron Officer School)
award: USAF Weapons School Graduate Patch (USAF Weapons School)
description: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q') is a keynote speaker, organizational strategist, and advisor to high-stakes leaders.
family name: Hinote
given name: Samuel
has credential: B.S. in Space Physics (Bachelor of Science)
has credential: Certificate in F-16 Training
has credential: Certificate in Undergraduate Pilot Training
has credential: Graduate in Fighter Weapons and Tactics (Professional Military Education)
has credential: Graduate in Military Strategy and Doctrine (Professional Military Education)
has credential: M.P.P. in Public Policy (Master of Public Policy)
has credential: Ph.D. in Military Strategy
has occupation: occupation-air-command-and-staff-college-maxwell-afb-student-role
has occupation: occupation-air-force-institute-of-technology-student-role
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has occupation: occupation-council-on-foreign-relations-military-fellow-role
has occupation: occupation-dcode-field-expert-role
has occupation: occupation-headquarters-us-air-force-the-pentagon-deputy-chief-o-218795-role
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has occupation: occupation-office-of-the-secretary-of-defense-military-assistant-1c42a9-role
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has occupation: occupation-united-states-air-force-spangdahlem-air-base-germany-a1b9d1-role
has occupation: occupation-united-states-air-force-vance-afb-commander-3rd-fight-6da379-role

Benjamin Franklin
description: Enlightenment polymath - scientific method, practical innovation, diplomatic coalition-building. Franklin's combination of intellectual curiosity and pragmatic application exemplifies the renaissance generalist model. Relevant to Hinote's Ph.D.-holding fighter pilot profile and integration of academic rigor with operational experience.
type: Person

B.H. Liddell Hart
description: Indirect approach and strategy of the indirect attack - achieving objectives through maneuver rather than frontal assault. Liddell Hart's critique of attrition warfare and emphasis on dislocation influenced post-WWII Western military thought. Relevant to Air Force concepts of standoff strike and avoiding adversary strengths.
type: Person

Carl von Clausewitz
description: Foundational military theory from On War - friction, fog of war, center of gravity, defense as stronger form of warfare, war as continuation of policy. Clausewitz's emphasis on uncertainty and adaptation under pressure underpins modern professional military education and strategic thinking including wargaming as policy tool.
type: Person

Claude Shannon
description: Information theory and mathematical foundations of communication - signal/noise ratio, bandwidth, encoding. Shannon's work underpins modern C4ISR systems and network-centric warfare. Relevant to Hinote's emphasis on digitized command and control, meshed sensor networks, and information advantage as key to future warfare.
type: Person

Dwight D. Eisenhower
description: Strategic leadership principles - balancing guns and butter (force projection vs economic strength), coalition management across allied forces, mission-focused leadership over ego, organizational effectiveness through delegation. Eisenhower's 'Great Equation' of sustaining military readiness without economic collapse parallels Hinote's focus on sustainable force modernization and budgetary realism in great-power competition.
type: Person

Erwin Rommel
description: Mobile armored warfare and exploitation of tempo advantages - Blitzkrieg tactics in North Africa. Rommel's emphasis on speed, initiative, and leading from the front influenced mechanized warfare doctrine. Relevant to Air Force thinking on rapid mobility and exploiting fleeting windows of advantage.
type: Person

Friedrich Nietzsche
description: Philosophical concepts of will to power and perspectivism - multiple valid interpretations of reality, importance of mental frameworks in understanding conflict. Nietzsche's critique of dogmatism and emphasis on continuous intellectual reinvention aligns with Hinote's organizational transformation philosophy and rejection of dated doctrine.
type: Person

John Boyd
description: OODA Loop decision-making framework and maneuver warfare theory. Boyd's energy-maneuverability theory and emphasis on tempo/agility over raw firepower influenced modern Air Force tactical thinking. Boyd's concept of getting inside adversary decision cycles informs Hinote's wargaming methodology and emphasis on decision advantage through human-machine teaming and networked battle management.
type: Person

Joseph Byrum
description: Documented peer relationship in the innovation ecosystem per existing database entry. Both operate in the nexus of defense technology commercialization, strategic advisory work, and organizational transformation consulting. Shared professional networks in the post-retirement defense tech sector.
type: Person

Leonardo da Vinci
description: Renaissance polymath ideal - combining artistic vision with engineering innovation. Da Vinci's designs for war machines and fortifications demonstrate integration of creativity and technical problem-solving. Symbolic of the intellectual versatility Hinote brings to defense transformation through cross-domain thinking.
type: Person

Micah Zenko
description: Wargaming theory and strategic planning methodology. Zenko's work on wargaming best practices and critiques of defense planning processes informs modern approaches to scenario-based force development. Relevant to Hinote's role leading Air Force Futures wargaming programs that exposed U.S. vulnerabilities against China.
type: Person

Napoleon Bonaparte
description: Operational art and maneuver warfare - concentrated force at decisive point, interior lines, tempo of operations. Napoleon's campaigns studied in military education as exemplar of strategic initiative and exploiting adversary vulnerabilities through speed and positioning. Relevant to Hinote's advocacy for operational agility and forward defense concepts.
type: Person

Robert Work
description: Direct superior-subordinate relationship as Deputy Secretary of Defense (2014-2017) during Third Offset Strategy. Hinote served as Work's Military Assistant (May 2015-Feb 2017). Work championed human-machine teaming, wargaming to identify capability gaps, and technology-enabled operational concepts - themes Hinote later amplified as leader of Air Force Futures. Work's advocacy for using wargames to drive requirements directly shaped Hinote's methodology.
type: Person

Sun Tzu
description: Foundational strategic thought from The Art of War - knowing enemy and self, strategic deception, winning without fighting, importance of intelligence and preparation. Sun Tzu's emphasis on winning through superior positioning before battle resonates with Hinote's wargaming-driven force design and deterrence-by-denial strategy against China.
type: Person

Ulysses S. Grant
description: Relentless operational pressure and resource attrition against peer adversary (Confederate States). Grant's Overland Campaign demonstrated sustained offensive operations despite setbacks. His understanding of total war and applying pressure across multiple theaters informs modern thinking on multi-domain operations and imposing costs on adversaries.
type: Person

After Defeat: A Time to Rebuild
abstract: Speculative strategy article in the inaugural issue of Air University's Æther journal; set in the future, exploring how to rebuild after strategic failure.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-01-01
description: Speculative strategy article in the inaugural issue of Air University's Æther journal; set in the future, exploring how to rebuild after strategic failure.
is part of: Æther: A Journal of Strategy & Airpower
type: ScholarlyArticle

Cutting Off the Head of the Snake: Applying and Assessing Leadership Attack in Military Conflict
abstract: This study examines a compelling phenomenon in modern conflict. Leaders are being attacked and their leadership is being disrupted at what appears to be an unprecedented rate. Because of this, military decision makers and planners need to know if attacking leadership is an effective strategy. There are numerous and divergent opinions on this subject. This study's purpose is to answer the research question: when, if ever, is it advisable to attack adversary leadership in times of military conflict? The study differentiates between attacking leadership and the killing or capturing of enemy leaders, commonly called decapitation. Leadership attack is broader than decapitation, as it encompasses additional actions that disrupt the process of leadership within the adversary organization. These include destroying command centers and communication nodes or undermining the adversary leader through psychological attack.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2013-06-01
description: This study examines a compelling phenomenon in modern conflict. Leaders are being attacked and their leadership is being disrupted at what appears to be an unprecedented rate. Because of this, military decision makers and planners need to know if attacking leadership is an effective strategy. There are numerous and divergent opinions on this subject. This study's purpose is to answer the research question: when, if ever, is it advisable to attack adversary leadership in times of military conflict? The study differentiates between attacking leadership and the killing or capturing of enemy leaders, commonly called decapitation. Leadership attack is broader than decapitation, as it encompasses additional actions that disrupt the process of leadership within the adversary organization. These include destroying command centers and communication nodes or undermining the adversary leader through psychological attack.
is part of: School of Advanced Air and Space Studies Dissertation (Air University)
type: ScholarlyArticle

Empowering the Edge: Uncrewed Systems and the Transformation of U.S. Warfighting Capacity
abstract: Full-length policy report arguing transformational change comes from the interaction of three elements: uncrewed systems, democratized digitized C2, and meshed sensor networks. Recommends DoD reforms for uncrewed air, land, and maritime systems. Draws lessons from Ukraine conflict.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-02-01
description: Full-length policy report arguing transformational change comes from the interaction of three elements: uncrewed systems, democratized digitized C2, and meshed sensor networks. Recommends DoD reforms for uncrewed air, land, and maritime systems. Draws lessons from Ukraine conflict.
is part of: Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) Policy Report
type: ScholarlyArticle

How to Stop the Next Hack
abstract: Argues deterrence has not worked for cyberattacks; draws on Thomas Schelling's deterrence theory to propose the U.S. must communicate credible threats of punishment to deter state-sponsored cyberattacks. Written in response to Sony hack by North Korea.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2015-01-04
description: Argues deterrence has not worked for cyberattacks; draws on Thomas Schelling's deterrence theory to propose the U.S. must communicate credible threats of punishment to deter state-sponsored cyberattacks. Written in response to Sony hack by North Korea.
is part of: Foreign Affairs
type: ScholarlyArticle

The Character of Future War to 2030
abstract: Part 1: Factors Driving Change in the Security Environment; Part 2: The Evolving Character of War; Part 3: Implications for the Joint Force. Examines technological, geopolitical, and operational factors shaping warfare through 2030.
author: S. Clinton Hinote
date published: 2024-12-01
description: Part 1: Factors Driving Change in the Security Environment; Part 2: The Evolving Character of War; Part 3: Implications for the Joint Force. Examines technological, geopolitical, and operational factors shaping warfare through 2030.
is part of: Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) Defense Paper Series
type: ScholarlyArticle

S. Clinton Hinote - Disruptive Strategist
description: Lt. Gen. (Ret) S. Clinton Hinote, PhD ('Clint' or 'Q') is a keynote speaker, organizational strategist, and advisor to high-stakes leaders.
language: en
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item: How To Determine the Success of Air Strikes in Syria
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collection-list-item-11
item: The Islamic State May Have Hit the Point of Diminishing Returns
position: 11
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collection-list-item-12
item: The risk in targeting the head of the Islamic State
position: 12
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collection-list-item-13
item: No-Fly Zones: The Ultimate Guide
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collection-list-item-14
item: If Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Is Dead: Could This Be the End of ISIS?
position: 14
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collection-list-item-15
item: The Air War Against ISIS: The Deciding Factor
position: 15
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collection-list-item-16
item: Russia's S-300 Sale to Iran: 3 Things You Need to Know
position: 16
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collection-list-item-17
item: One Way To Combat The Ebola Virus: Use Counterinsurgency Tactics
position: 17
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collection-list-item-18
item: Guest Post: The ISIS Video and Military Strategy in Iraq
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collection-list-item-19
item: Ebola and Counterinsurgency—A Struggle for Legitimacy
position: 19
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item: Future warfare depends on agile, measurable software development
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collection-list-item-20
item: Russia's Sale of the S-300 to Iran Will Shift Military Balance
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collection-list-item-25
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item: Empowering the Edge: Uncrewed Systems and the Transformation of U.S. Warfighting Capacity
position: 26
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collection-list-item-27
item: The Character of Future War to 2030
position: 27
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collection-list-item-28
item: Centralized Control and Decentralized Execution
position: 28
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item: Cutting Off the Head of the Snake
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position: 30
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collection-list-item-4
item: Adapt or Die: Big Air Force Changes Demand Buy-In from Within
position: 4
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collection-list-item-5
item: In Brief: The National Defense Industrial Strategy
position: 5
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collection-list-item-6
item: Deterrence in Cyberspace
position: 6
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collection-list-item-7
item: Everything You Need To Know About No-Fly Zones
position: 7
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collection-list-item-8
item: The Russian Weapon That Could Tip The Balance in the Middle East
position: 8
type: ListItem

collection-list-item-9
item: The US Missile System Driving a Wedge Between China, South Korea
position: 9
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