An internal combustion engine includes an air charging system with a boost air system. A method to control the boost air in the air charging system, decoupled from the air and EGR system controls, includes monitoring a reference boost pressure and operating parameters of the air charging system; creating a turbocharger energy balance model of the air charging system; applying feedback linearization control to the turbocharger energy balance model to create an approximately linearized feedback system; and determining a boost control command for the air charging system using the approximately linearized feedback system based on the monitored reference boost pressure and the monitored operating parameters of the air charging system. The boost air in the air charging system is controlled based upon the boost control command.