School of War Ep 262: Mark Jones Jr. on Special Air Operations and American Military Dominance
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Jan 2, 2026 Mark Jones Jr., a former U.S. Air Force test pilot and special operations commander, shares his insights on air operations in this engaging discussion. He recounts the unique dynamics of special air operations and the pivotal role they played during Desert Storm. Jones also contrasts test piloting with remote operations and reflects on the emotional challenges faced during the Kabul withdrawal. With a focus on innovative tactics used to neutralize threats, he highlights how lessons from past missions inform modern air power strategies.
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Convergence Of New Technologies Enabled Specialized Air Power
- Task Force Normandy fused new tech like stealth and GPS with creative tactics to solve a unique operational problem.
- Mark Jones Jr. argues this convergence enabled a form of specialized air power that shaped 1990s dominance.
Unusual Apache–Pave Low Partnership
- The 20th SOS paired MH-53 Pave Lows with Apache attack helicopters to reach and destroy early-warning radars.
- MH-53s navigated low using terrain-following radar and GPS while Apaches carried Hellfires to ensure destruction.
Stealth Is Not Invisibility, Nodes Still Matter
- Stealth reduces radar signature but does not grant invisibility; key radars remained decisive nodes.
- Destroying two specific early-warning sites opened a 40 nm corridor necessary for the strike packages.