Mary Boyd grew up with John Boyd as her father. Mark “Moose” McGrath and I asked her what that was like, and how she is working to keep his ideas open to everyone.
Keeping the work open
Mary is digitizing her father’s work. Boyd never copyrighted his ideas, and she wants them to stay accessible for the next generation.
The network
Boyd kept up with a remarkable set of people. Mary mentions FedEx founder Fred Smith, Dick Cheney and Admiral Stockdale. She describes his charisma and how his genuine curiosity drew people in, at work and at home.
The man at home
Mary shares memories from her childhood. Her father loved certain films and preferred nonfiction books. He cared about ethical integrity and honest argument, and he never stopped learning.
The ideas
We also talk about how Boyd’s theories reach far beyond the military. The cognitive demands of fighter aviation come up, and so does the OODA sketch with orientation at its center. Mary’s stories add a human side to the strategist most people know only through his briefings.
What would you ask John Boyd if you could sit at his kitchen table?
Listen and watch:
Apple Podcasts:
Spotify:
No Way Out on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@nowayoutpodcast