Public Affairs

Using "truth as a weapon" ... an edgy concept from a combat-tested general officer who has been an attack planner, Joint Task Force commander, director of an Air Operations Center, and twice a Joint Force Air Component Commander. As such, U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula clearly understands the challenges of modern warfare and clearly enunciates through his comment the need for change in the way the Department of Defense views Public Affairs (PA). In fact, a few short years ago, it was inconceivable for PA practitioners, much less warfighting commanders, to consider PA an instrument of power. Today, senior combatant commanders understand that war-winning hinges on the success of an operationally integrated and synchronized strategic communication process, one that recognizes the complementary and galvanizing effects PA, IO, Defense Support to Public Diplomacy, and Civil Affairs have if properly integrated. This synergistic concept will require serious collaboration among practices that have traditionally walked on different sides of the street and avoided contact at all costs.