System and method for topology management of dynamic ad hoc wireless communication networks. The network nodes are organized in a multi-level hierarchical architecture whereby the nodes at each level are managed by nodes at the next higher level. In a three-layer network, leaf nodes populate the lowest level, cluster head nodes the intermediate level, and regional head nodes the highest level. Priority-based backbone tree paths are constructed by selecting and connecting high capability nodes, such that the unselected nodes are one-hop away from a connected node. In a two backbone tree path construction, a primary backbone tree path carries the high priority traffic and a secondary backbone tree path carries the lower priority traffic. The connectivities of the backbone tree paths are maintained dynamically. So also are high priority traffic flows using the Dynamic Priority Threshold mechanism with High Fidelity Monitoring and traffic siphoning via unutilized network resources.