“Brent Ziarnick’s study of General Tommy Power provides the first substantial academic coverage of a key military commander who was effective at the operational level during World War II and then provided strong strategic leadership in the development of aerospace forces during the early Cold War years. This work helps rescue General Tommy Power from relative obscurity and also from a standard mischaracterization of his role that is based on his aggressive personality and his clashes with the intellectual elites of the 1960s.” —Jerome V. Martin, PhD, Retired Command Historian for US Strategic Command

“Brent Ziarnick paints a vivid and compelling portrait of a fascinating but forgotten Cold War American hero. More importantly, he introduces a much needed new space leader, his vision to dominate space for free nations, how it failed, and most importantly, how today’s Space Force can succeed in the future by following General Power’s example.” —Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast (Ret.), USAF, former commander, Air Education and Training Command

“Brent Ziarnick’s To Rule the Skies brings to light a key figure in the development of the nation’s strategic deterrent who is often cast in the shadow of Gen Curtis LeMay. Through archival research and a gripping narrative, Ziarnick adds depth and context to someone the nation must thank for making ‘peace his profession.” —Melvin Deaile, author of Always At War, Director of the School for Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies

“Dr. Ziarnick provides us a well-researched and timely re-look at an important and too-often caricatured figure in our nation’s Cold War history – one who in many ways was ahead of his time in thinking on strategic deterrence and stability, and particularly the role space can play in that arena. If Gen Power were with us today, we could glean much from his experience and strategic thought!” —Lt. Gen John Shaw, U.S. Space Force, Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command

“This book is a must-read for Cold War history as well as Strategic Air Command history. Ziarnick has provides readers with a plethora of citations and endnotes to satisfy deeper questions or further research. It is a pleasant read and the author has an ease of explaining his depth of knowledge that comes with his years of experience and practice as a lecturing professor at a top school.” —Seattle Pi

“To Rule the Skies is a remarkable and sensitive biography of a man who commanded the Strategic Air Command in its most critical years. Power’s story has relevance today.” —Richochet

“To Rule the Skies in an engaging read. Dr. Ziarnick brings the story of Thomas S. Power from shadows of history and places that story into a modern context…. It is a book that’s more than a biography. It’s also a mirror on which to view how earlier challenges shaped our current geopolitical landscape and a lens through which to view current choices and decisions regarding access to and control of the expanding aerospace frontier.” —Armchair General

“To Rule the Skies adds a refreshing nuance to our understanding of Power as both military leader and aerospace theorist; it is a significant contribution to the history of the Cold War, addressing a hitherto unexamined gap in the literature with incredible insight and finesse.” —New Books Network

“This book is an illuminating ... look into one man’s life, as well as a review of the politics of nuclear deterrence in the Cold War era…. Readers will learn a lot from Ziarnick’s investigation of this leader’s life.” —The Journal of America’s Military Past

“To Rule the Skies illuminates one of the more important figures in the history of the U.S. Air Force.” —Aviation History

“To Rule the Skies is a respectable history of Power and his contributions to the evolution of Cold War nuclear power. It [should] be the go-to reference on Power.” —Aerospace