When appropriate, the U.S. Air Force needs to be prepared to supply joint task force (JTF) headquarters. If the U.S. Air Force takes the steps necessary to produce JTF-capable units, both the service and the nation would benefit. The authors consider the nature of JTF command, survey command-related developments in other services and in other elements of the defense community, and examine four JTF operations. They raise issues for the Air Force to consider and offer a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing the Air Force's ability to staff and run JTF headquarters.

Introduction and purpose -- Background -- Command concepts -- Lessons from past JTFs -- Requirements -- Issues -- Recommendations -- Appendix A: joint task forces since 1990 -- Appendix B: joint manning document data from selected joint task forces.