Chet Richards

Chet Richards, a close colleague of John Boyd, offers a rare glimpse into the intricate workings of the OODA loop framework. He clarifies the misconceptions surrounding Boyd's original sketch, emphasizing its complexity centered on orientation. The discussion dives into the concept of implicit guidance and control, revealing how elite performers achieve flow states through deliberate practice. Richards also highlights the importance of unity in high-performing teams, showcasing how collective experiences foster intuitive responses for effective decision-making.

Chet Richards, a close friend of military strategist John Boyd, shares fascinating insights on Boyd's revolutionary concepts. They dive deep into the 'Conceptual Spiral' framework, discussing its application in today's complex environments. Chet reflects on Boyd's critiques of traditional strategies and emphasizes the importance of adaptability. With humorous anecdotes about automotive history, they highlight the parallels between martial arts and strategic decision-making. The conversation touches on Boyd's legacy and the integration of Eastern philosophies into modern leadership.

Send us a textChet Richards is a retired Air Force Colonel, an independent consultant, and an author. He graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he also earned a PhD in mathematics. He served as an intelligence officer in the Air Force and as a strategy consultant and Lean theoretician.  Chet is a certified yoga instructor and holds a  Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500) certification with the Yoga Alliance. Colonel Richards is a colleague of the late American strategist John R. Boyd and is a gadfly-at-large for Boyd's ideas today. He has researched into the foundations of Boyd's strategy and has written "Certain to Win: The Strategy of John Boyd Applied to Business" and "If We Can Keep It" (on national security policy). He has a blog at slightlyeastofnew.com, which also has latest edits of Boyd's papers and presentations.Be sure to use the Chapters Feature on Apple and Spotify to quickly browse and navigate to segments of this episode.Chet Richards, PhD on LinkedInslightlyeastofnew.comTwitter: @FuentesDeOnoroJohn R. Boyd's Conceptual Spiral was originally titled No Way Out. In his own words: “There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…” A promotional message for Ember Health.  Safe and effective IV ketamine care for individuals seeking relief from depression. Ember Health's evidence-based, partner-oriented, and patient-centered care model, boasting an 84% treatment success rate with 44% of patients reaching depression remission. It also mentions their extensive experience with over 40,000 infusions and treatment of more than 2,500 patients, including veterans, first responders, and individuals with anxiety and PTSD John Boyd’s Conceptual Spiral was originally titled “No Way Out.” In his words: “There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…” Download a complete transcript of Conceptual Spiral for free by clicking here. Stay connected with No Way Out and The Whirl Of ReOrientation Follow Us onX: @NoWayOutcast @PonchAGLX @NoWayOutMoose Subscribe to our Substack – The Whirl Of ReOrientation Long-form work on John Boyd, Orientation, and how to think and act inside the Guerrilla Information War. Want to build your organization’s capacity for free and independent action?See how we help teams become more competitive, collaborative, and coordinated under pressure: AGLX AGLX Yo...