ABSTRACT
This chapter explains developments in the US Army through two lenses: Transformation and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). At their heart both are expressions of the net-centric paradigm. It shows, despite the prominent role that Transformation and MDO have played in the development of the post-Cold War US Army, the concepts have remained controversial, with some arguing that the trajectory of Army development helped undermine its performance in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that net-centric approaches create potential future vulnerabilities. Transformation was a vision not just of the requirements of then contemporary military operations but a vision also of what would be required to fight in the future. Beginning in 1991 with General George R. Sullivan, each successive Chief of Staff of the US Army had their own vision of the character and pace of Transformation, but the general concept was nevertheless embraced enthusiastically.
