General Henry “Hap” Arnold can be said to be the father of the United States Air Force. His experiences, wisdom and foresight made him, in every way, a visionary leader. Through his efforts to develop the air spirit during the first part of the 20th century, he shaped what is today the largest air force on the planet. I will begin by explaining his effective use of transformational leadership and its impact on air power development. Next, I will explain how his acceptance of diversity impacted the war effort during World War II and the future of the United States Air Force. First, we need to know what made him the leader he ultimately became. Hap Arnold began his military career in some capacity. He attended the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1907. At the academy, he was not an outstanding student. Hap was so average that he received an assignment in the infantry, instead of the cavalry, which was highly coveted at the time, much in the same way that he is today accepted for pilot training at the US Air Force Academy. In 1911, he became one of the army's first aviators and even won the Mackay Trophy for taking a biplane to an altitude of 6,540 feet, a record at the time (Glines, 2006). The beginnings of military aviation were not without danger. Hap almost died when his plane went into an uncontrolled spin. After this experience, he gave up flying, stating: "I can't even look at a machine in the air without feeling like an accident is going to happen to it (Glines, 2006). » Billy Mitchell brought him back to the world of aviation in 1916. While stationed in San Diego, he was able to overcome his fears and return to flying. He held several positions during his career; supply officer, Sq...... middle of paper ...... the emir's air power in the world shows. He grew the Air Corps from a small fighting force to, by the time of his retirement, the starting point of his own service. His actions were truly transformational. He also embraced diversity. By advocating for female pilots, he showed aspects of an inclusive environment. Without this average cadet, we would not be discussing aspects of what makes a visionary today.BibliographyDaso, MD (1994, January 25). DTIC. Retrieved from DTIC: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a282164.pdf Glines, C. (June 12, 2006). General Henry H. 'Hap' Arnold: architect of the United States Air Force. Retrieved from Historynet.com: http://www.historynet.com/general-henry-h-hap-arnold-architect-of-americas-air-force.htmParrish, DB (2008). Biography of Hap Arnold. From the National WASP Museum: http://waspmuseum.org/hap-arnold-biography/