As an AF Academy cadet in the mid '70's, I took a course taught by a particular Captain whose name now eludes me. This was a fascinating course that was, in effect, a class on "problem solving techniques". It was, hands down, one of the best courses I ever took. The "strawman" technique of building a solution, then tearing it down until very little remained......only to begin rebuilding your solution yet again, repeating this painful process over and over........was incredibly powerful.
The Captain had been a protege' of a Colonel who this Captain claimed to be the "father of the lightweight fighter program". The man was, apparently, a true genius......and my instructor couldn't say enough about him. I'm wondering if it was Boyd.
IF it was Boyd, two interesting tidbits passed on to us by the good Captain.
A) The Colonel once said that he could develop the best tank on earth.............because he knew absolutely nothing whatsoever about tanks.
B) The Colonel used to delight in the fact that his measured IQ was only 85. You read that right...........85.
IIRC, the AF's minimum IQ for commissioning was 115, so I kind of doubt that. Besides, in that case he'd have made General.