The Aerospace Advantage

Episode Summary:

In this Aerospace Advantage episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats about electronic attack with Col JR Smith, commander of the 55th Electronic Combat Group. 

Maintaining an electromagnetic-based battlespace advantage is essential for twenty first century mission success. That’s why the EC-130H and the new EA-37B are so important. They execute a mission the Air Force calls Compass Call: disrupting enemy command, control, communications, radars, and navigation systems. This allows U.S. forces to maintain a decision advantage, while denying this to the adversary. Nor is Compass Call just about the aircraft and mission systems. Highly trained airmen are key. Compass Call assets also partner with EA-18Gs and F-16CJs as part of a team to facilitate the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). This episode will explore this mission—how it has developed, current considerations, and where it is going from an operator perspective.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Jeremy R "Smitty" Smith, Commander, 55th Electronic Combat Group

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats about a key component of the nuclear triad with Chris Adams, sector vice president and general manager for Strategic Space Systems at Northrop Grumman, and Jen "Boots" Reeves, Senior Fellow for Space Studies at Mitchell Institute.

The nuclear triad forms the bedrock of America’s national security. The idea is simple: to hold enemy nations at risk to such a degree that they will never cross certain lines. For this to work, our nuclear enterprise needs to be highly resilient, dependable, and zero fail. We normally focus on the weapons portion of the enterprise: ICBMs, SLBMs, and air launched weapons from bombers and certain fighters. And while those technologies are obviously critical, the ability to use them demands an incredibly safe and secure command and control system—what we call nuclear command, control, and communications—or NC3 for short. People often take that part of the enterprise for granted because it’s largely invisible. Chris and Jen talk about the NC3 enterprise—outlining why it’s so important and explaining why it must be modernized.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Christopher Adams, Sector Vice President and General Manager, Strategic Space Systems division (SSSD), Space Systems sector, Northrop Grumman

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats about the evolution of air battle management with two highly experienced airmen, Lt Col Alex Wallis of the 728th Battle Management Control Squadron at Robins AFB and Lt Col Grant “SWAT” Georgulis, who just wrapped up a stint as the commander of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker AFB.

Air battle management is an essential mission: the combination of highly trained personnel and technology that makes sense of the combat environment. They do more than just help teams on the ground and airmen in the sky find targets – battle managers orchestrate and maneuver a diverse array of capabilities to maximize logistics, mission effects, and survivability in pursuit of air superiority and air operations within dynamic and contested theaters. We often recognize the battle management community through their aircraft and ground systems—the E-3 AWACS, the CRC, BCC, and the recently retired E-8 JSTARS. However, changes are underway in this mission given the on-ramp of the E-7, TOC-Enabled CRC with "three dealer" and space-based ground moving target indicator system. The operating domain is also evolving given the focus on China and the realities of operating in a domain as large as the Pacific.  We’ve also got to think about how the rise of artificial intelligence, collaborative combat aircraft, and multi-domain teaming will impact the mission. So, what tenets of the air battle management mission will hold constant? What elements will change? We explore these questions with two highly experienced operators.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Col Grant "SWAT" Georgulis, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Alex "Big Bobby" Wallis, 728th Battle Management Control Squadron, Robins AFB

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with China expert Mike Dahm about an important aspect of China’s military modernization: how we perceive such developments.

Given the restricted nature of China’s security complex, plus different cultural and political factors between our nations, those in the West must often rely on conjecture and partial information to arrive at various conclusions regarding the scale, scope, and vector of this buildup. This oftentimes sees individuals arrive at false conclusions, while failing to observe crucial nuances that should inform how the U.S. and its allies are building their corresponding military capabilities. We explore this challenge, while also providing an overview update regarding key Chinese military developments.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the Beltway and the broader national security community.

The Air and Space Forces Association just wrapped up their Air, Space, and Cyber Conference and Mitchell Institute was incredibly engaged. It’s a major annual milestone in the air and space power dialogue. We explore what leaders said and why it matters. This includes a major discussion on the future of air superiority, collaborative combat aircraft, and the next-generation air dominance program. We also talk about the Secretary of the Air Force’s blunt statement regarding the Space Force’s requirement for additive resources given the scale of the mission demands facing them.  Additionally, the group assesses the implications of China’s recent ICBM test and why Lockheed Martin’s delivery of the 1,000th F-35 is a major milestone. We round it out with an assessment of the latest defense developments in Washington DC, including the impact of the newly passed Continuing Resolution and where the defense bills currently stand.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff "Rowli" Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney of the Mitchell Institute team chats with Colonel Jason Herring, commander of the 621st Contingency Response Wing about sustaining airpower at the edge.

Whether responding to a humanitarian disaster or facilitating distributed air operations via the ACE construct, success comes down to the airmen facilitating expeditionary operations. This demands special training, a can-do attitude, and the ability to navigate the unexpected when handling functions like quick-turn maintenance, airfield management, passenger and cargo movement, on-site command and control, force protection, and whatever else is required to sustain air operations in austere locations. Airpower is a fundamentally agile, dynamic force. That requires a highly skilled, team-oriented set of capabilities.  Join us to learn more about contingency response airmen are at the heart of the effort.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Jason Herring, Commander, 621st Contingency Response Wing (CRW)

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In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney of the Mitchell Institute team chats with Dr Michael Gregg, Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Chris Flynn Vice President of Military Development Programs at Pratt & Whitney.

For decades, the America has enjoyed a near-unrivaled position when it comes to developing and fielding high performance, incredibly reliable military jet engines. No matter how capable an airframe or the associated mission systems, these attributes are of little benefit absent the performance advantages afforded by a capable jet engine. The U.S. Air Force is at a key inflection point when it comes to stewarding this technology. Much of the service’s aircraft inventory is flying with engines designed in the Cold War. Newer types designed in the 1990s and 2000s are now multiple decades old. Sustaining existing designs is different from developing, fielding, and producing new technology.  The Air Force knows this and that is why it has invested in multiple programs to pursue new engines that deliver enhanced performance, reliability, and efficiency attributes necessary to meet current and future mission requirements. We discuss jet engine innovation from the perspective of AFRL and industry—reflecting the partnership that delivers this technology.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Editor: Patrick Gensel

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Dr. Michael Gregg, Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

Guest: Chris Flynn, Vice President of Military Development Programs, Pratt & Whitney

In episode 201 of the Aerospace Advantage, Shoot to Kill: The Day America Launched an ASAT, members of the Mitchell Institute team chat with Maj Gen Doug Pearson, USAF (Ret.), the pilot who took “the shot” and directed the F-15 Anti-Satellite Combined Test Force, and Col Jack Anthony, USAF (Ret.), the Operations Officer at Cheyenne Mountain about this incredibly historic mission.

At the height of the Cold War, the United States Air Force demonstrated the ability to shoot down a satellite in Low Earth Orbit from an F-15 fighter aircraft. While this did not result in a fielded capability, the lessons related to technology, planning, coordination, and operational execution offer valuable insight into future cross-domain operations. Plus, the context of the Cold War has remarkable parallels to the challenges the United States and its allies must confront in Great Power Competition. In this conversation, we explore this key history with two figures integral to the program's success.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Doug Pearson, USAF (Ret.)

Guest: Col Jack Anthony, USAF (Ret.)

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Jennifer Reeves, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Episode Summary:

In episode 200 of the Aerospace Advantage, Spacepower Roles and Missions Debate, Washington Update, and EA-37B Hits the Ramp: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the Beltway and the broader national security community.

It’s September and D.C. is back in action. We explore what’s next for the defense bills in Congress, a debate that is playing out regarding spacepower roles and missions between the services, and the Secretary of the Air Force’s direct appeal for more Space Force funding. We also discuss why it’s such a big deal that the Air Force just accepted its first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft and whether there will be any long-term ripple effects given the F-16 loss in Ukraine. We wrap by discussing Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen David Allvin’s frank remarks about the need for increased attention for airbase defense and we also consider what the results of the Presidential election might mean for defense spending.

These are significant issues, so join us to learn more!

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In episode 199 of the Aerospace Advantage, Winning Tomorrow’s Fight: Airpower Must Maximize Electronic Attack, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with long-time F-35 pilot and 188th Wing commander Col Jay Spohn, Josh Niedzwiecki of BAE, and 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander Col Larry Fenner Jr. about this key aspect of warfighting. 

For too long, individuals regarded electronic attack as a bolt-on effect—an afterthought. Traditional forms of kinetic combat airpower—things like missiles and bombs— dominated capability development, integration, and execution efforts. However, given the nature of the modern threat environment, it is clear that electronic attack will be crucial for both projecting power and helping ensure the survival of the force. This requires a holistic approach to integrating electronic magnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) with traditional airpower assets like fighters and bombers

The F-35, as a 5th generation information-centric aircraft, stands uniquely situated in this realm. It was designed from day one to maximize EMSO functions. Its sensors, processing capability, ability to integrate offboard inputs, and ability to derive electronic attack effects from a number of onboard technologies that will help U.S pilots meet the challenges of tomorrow’s battlespace. But maximizing the potential designed in the F-35 demands approaching EMSO in a whole new way. We explore this topic with leaders who develop the technology, innovate on the warfighting edge, and execute the missions.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Larry Fenner Jr., Commander, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing

Guest: Joshua Niedzwiecki, Vice President & General Manager, Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems

Guest: Col Jay "Evil" Spohn, Commander, 188th Wing

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Robert Lightfoot, president of Lockheed Martin Space; Greg Ulmer, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, and Mitchell Institute’s Charles Galbreath.

Read defense news headlines and you’ll see a distinct trend: a drive to sunset airborne missions and move them to space—especially for functions like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. In fact, the trend has been in play since the end of the Cold War.

At Mitchell Institute, we are huge fans of space-based capabilities. What Guardians can deliver on orbit is incredible, often superior to what an airborne solution can secure. That said, it is critical to guard against an over-concentration of capabilities in a single domain when our adversaries have clearly indicated that they’re willing to destroy or disable those assets—even when they are on orbit. As the saying goes—“don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

We now live in a world where mission effects will best be assured by pursuing a combined air-space approach. This will demand a new strategy to ensure smart multi-domain collaboration, a new assessment regarding how smart command and control is executed to ensure smart tasking, and adequate resourcing.

Join us to hear from some of the top figures in this discussion who innovate the technologies that are key to delivering mission results today and tomorrow.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space

Guest: Greg Ulmer, President, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

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Episode Summary:

In episode 197 of the Aerospace Advantage, Mission Command: Leveraging the American Cognitive Advantage, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Lt Col Fritz “Plugger” Glojek, recent fellow at the Mitchell Institute, and Lt Col Nicholas “Badger” Underwood of Air University’s LeMay Center about how we can best empower Airmen to fly and fight.

Conflict in the Western Pacific will challenge US Command and Control. Despite significant effort and progress with efforts like Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control and the Advanced Battle Management System, China will exploit the electromagnetic spectrum to contest, degrade, and deny communication. Mission Command—a philosophy of leadership that empowers Airmen to operate in uncertain, complex, and rapidly changing environments through trust, shared awareness, and an understanding of commander’s intent—offers resilience to the physical command and control structure. Without a numerical advantage or a technological advantage, Americans will need to exploit their cognitive advantage and continue to make decisions when temporarily disconnected from their leaders. We discuss the necessity of mission command in a complex, dispersed, multi-domain fight in the Western Pacific.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Col Fritz “Plugger” Glojek, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Nicholas “Badger” Underwood, LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, Air University

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Episode Summary:

In episode 196 of the Aerospace Advantage, What’s Up With NGAD? Understanding The Stakes, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the Air Force’s recent pause for its future air superiority program. What does this mean? Why does it matter? What possible courses of action might the Air Force might pursue?

Whether talking about long-range strike, airborne ISR, electromagnetic spectrum functions, or air superiority—all of this will be impacted depending on what course the service takes on NGAD. This isn’t just an Air Force issue—it impacts the entire joint force and national security writ large. Victory demands taking the fight to the enemy on a decisive scale and scope. We can’t achieve that through standoff capabilities alone. It is crucial to fly and fight inside an enemy’s defended airspace. That requires air superiority. Join us for this crucial conversation.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: J.V. Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In episode 195 of the Aerospace Advantage, E-7 on Contract, Space Force Reorg, F-35 Deliveries Resume: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the Beltway and the broader national security community.

Recent weeks have been a whirlwind. F-35 deliveries resumed, the commander of Air Combat Command backed F-22 Block 20s, and NGAD is paused…for now. The Sentinel program also moved forward after the Nunn McCurdy breach, but with some new guidance. Developments have also occurred in the Space Force. This includes Space Systems Command, Space Development Agency, and Space Rapid Capabilities Office merging into a single entity and Chief of Space Operations General Saltzman appointing Air Marshall Paul Godfrey as his Assistant CSO for Future Concepts and Partnerships.

Added to this, our panelists discuss the latest defense developments in Washington D.C. and beyond. These are huge issues, so join us to learn more!

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Links:

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Episode Summary:

In episode 194 of the Aerospace Advantage, Battlespace Connectivity: Key to 21st Century Warfighting, host Heather “Lucky” Penney and Mitchell Senior Fellow J.V. Venable explore the topic of tactical networking with Galt Aerospace CEO John Kohut.

Bottom line: information sharing and data exchange are the key to combat success in future conflicts. Whether discussing concepts like Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) or collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), there is a fundamental drive toward a far more connected force. The net effect will see individual assets in different geographic locations and domains collaborating to yield a net effect greater than their individual parts. But for that work, a variety of systems need to be able to talk.

In this episode we discuss the underlying concepts of operation that demand connectivity, explain the evolution of the associated technology, and discuss where we need to go from both a technical and operational set of perspectives. We talk about things like long-range kill chains all the time—join us in the episode to learn from experts with the operational and technical expertise to figure out how these systems-of-systems actually work and why they matter.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: John Kohut, CEO, Galt Aerospace

Guest: J.V. Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In episode 193 of the Aerospace Advantage, Ready to Fight All Night: High-Tempo Airpower Generation, Heather “Lucky” Penney discusses  how to maximize airpower sorties with Mitchell Institute Fellow Lt Col Gary “Plugger” Glojek, and Lt Col Matthew “Doubled” Jensen, the director of the experimental operations unit responsible for advancing Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) sortie generation and employment concepts.

If a conflict erupts in the Pacific, airpower capacity is going to be stretched to the limit. That’s why the Air Force needs to regain a numerical edge. Sustaining high tempo operations is going to be the key to victory. CCAs promise to be a large part of manifesting this vision, but buying these new aircraft at scale is only half the solution. The Air Force also needs to assess how it can maximize the number of sorties they fly.  This demands a departure from historical fighter force generation, with a new plan assessing how to generate mass airpower at a higher tempo and with a higher acceptable level of risk. Hear important insights from two airmen who are actively in the mix working on this key challenge.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Col Gary "Plugger" Glojek, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Matthew “Doubled” Jensen, EOU Director, 53 TEG/EOU

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Episode Summary:

In episode 192 of the Aerospace Advantage, Want to Win? You’ll Need Digital Engineering, Heather “Lucky” Penney explores this technology and its application with Air Force Research Lab AI lead Dr. Amanda Bullock and Mitchell Institute Visiting Senior Fellow Brian Morra.

The speed and complexity of modern warfare is increasing at an unprecedented pace. To maintain our competitive edge, the Department of Defense must be able to rapidly develop, field, and sustain advanced capabilities. Digital engineering represents a paradigm shift in how we approach the entire lifecycle of defense systems. Engineers have been using computer-aided design and modeling programs since the 1990s, but today’s IT infrastructure and processing is completely changing not just how we engineer weapon systems, but how we manage that engineering. This has the potential to streamline, de-risk, and accelerate very nearly everything about the design process. That can payoff throughout the lifecycle of a system, from production and sustainment to training. But what exactly is digital engineering? How has it evolved from traditional engineering practices? What are the key technologies enabling this transformation? And what challenges must be overcome to fully realize its potential? This episode tackles these challenges with top experts.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Dr. Amanda Bullock, AI Research Lead, Air Force Research Lab

Guest: Brian J. Morra, Visiting Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In episode 191 of the Aerospace Advantage, Chinese Spacepower, NGAD Turbulence, and Congressional Update: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the Beltway and the broader national security community.

Recent weeks have been packed with defense developments. China is pressing hard in space—with numerous lines of effort underway. Our experts discuss what this means and why it matters. We also assess what is up with recent Air Force leadership statements regarding the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program—this cuts to the core of airpower. What is next for the air superiority mission? We also assess where the defense bills are in Congress, with the House and Senate each advancing their versions of the authorization and appropriations language. We all know defense spending is stretched too thin given real world security demands. Gain perspective about how Congress is responding to these pressures. These are huge issues, so join us to learn more!

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: John “JV” Venable, Senior Fellow for Airpower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In episode 190 of the Aerospace Advantage, Orbital Warfare: Train Like You Fight, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Lt Col Jessica “Thumper” Getrost, Commander of the 57th Space Aggressor Squadron; Lt Col Matt “BC” Bejcek, former Commander of the 98th Space Range Squadron; and Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow Charles Galbreath about threats facing our satellites and the importance of preparing Guardians for warfighting.

There’s no question about it: adversaries will seek to hold our space capabilities at risk in future conflicts. That’s why it’s crucial to provide Guardians experience when it comes to tactics, techniques, and procedures regarding how to manage these challenges. Replicating threats and exercising our capabilities in a safe, yet realistic, training environment is essential. Just like the Nellis Range seasons our pilots for air combat, the Space Range prepares our Guardians for Orbital Warfare. Hear from two Space Force commanders about how they develop Guardians for to face these new realities.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Col Jessica “Thumper” Getrost, Commander, 57th Space Aggressor Squadron

Guest: Lt Col Matt “BC” Bejcek, former Commander, 98th Space Range Squadron; Student, Army War College

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Episode Summary:

In episode 189 of the Aerospace Advantage, Fighting the Air Base: Decisive Combat Sortie Generation Under Fire, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Mitchell Institute experts Mike Dahm and Mark Gunzinger about a key aspect of modern operations in an era of peer competition.

U.S. Air Force commanders must be prepared to fight their frontline air bases like any other weapon system to generate the combat airpower critical to the success of future joint force operations. Air Force air bases must have the capabilities and capacity to counter complex integrated air and missile attacks, rapidly reconstitute their operational capabilities when damaged by strikes, and continue to generate combat effects while under fire. This is a tough challenge given too many years of underinvestment in this area.  However, failure is not an option. Mission demands require that the Air Force continue to project power as an “inside” force capable of fighting alongside America’s allies and partners to defeat adversaries when the chips are down.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In episode 188 of the Aerospace Advantage, Front Line Air Mobility Revolution: 317th Airlift Wing Conversation, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with 317th Airlift Wing Commander Col Thomas Lankford.

Based at Dyess AFB and equipped with C-130Js, the men and women of the 317th are executing their missions in one of the most transformational eras regarding air mobility. After three decades of operating in relatively permissive environments, much of it in regionally focused theaters, new mission demands in the Pacific and beyond require airmen to develop new tactics, techniques, and procedures to ensure necessary personnel, equipment, and supplies get to the point of need. Lethal threats, directed both at aircraft in the sky and forward operating bases, are radically reshaping mobility requirements. So too are the vast distances of the Pacific. New operating concepts like agile combat employment and the need to flow vast quantities of materials necessary to sustain a full-fledged major theater conflict are also posing distinct challenges. This episode will explore these variables from a cutting edge flightline perspective.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Thomas Lankford, Commander, 317th Airlift Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

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Episode Summary:

In episode 187 of the Aerospace Advantage, Spectrum Warfare: Freedom to Attack, Maneuver, and Defend, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander Col Joshua Koslov.

Electromagnetic spectrum operations are critical to the success of any modern combat mission. With the growth of sensors, processing power, and connectivity—a tremendous range of effects can be netted through this realm. This includes attack, protection, and support functions. At its core, electromagnetic spectrum operations come down to securing an information advantage, which facilitates more effective decision making at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Electromagnetic spectrum warfare lies at the heart of concepts like JADC2 and ABMS—empowering data gathering, exchange, processing, and collaboration between various team members in the battlespace. It’s also a competitive realm, with our adversaries seeking to deny us this capability and our forces seeking to do the same to our opponents. This episode explores how this mission area has evolved and where it is headed in the future.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Joshua Koslov, Wing Commander, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing

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Episode Summary:

In episode 186 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Update, Triad Questioned, Space Guard Debate: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the beltway and the broader national security community.

The conversation begins with a review of where defense issues stand on The Hill. There have been a lot of hearings related to the FY25 Defense Budget request and the House Armed Services Committee just marked up their version of the National Defense Authorization Act—with major potential implications for the F-35 and other elements of the Air Force’s aircraft inventory. We also discuss how the space equities in the Guard are being handled—will these responsibilities or absorbed into the Space Force or a new Space National Guard? Team members also discuss Space Force organizational changes. Lt Gen Deptula, USAF (Ret.) wraps with a discussion regarding his recent visit to Ukraine. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Guest: James Schenck, CEO & President, Pentagon Federal Credit Union

Related Reading:

Lift The Constraints On Ukraine And Reverse The Deterrence Calculus

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Episode Summary:

In episode 185 of the Aerospace Advantage, Tomorrow’s F-35: Cooling is Key, host Heather “Lucky” Penney and Doug Birkey chat with Matt Pess, Chief Engineer on the Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) program at Collins Aerospace, about a key technology to sustain the F-35's future capability growth.

The fighter’s powerful sensor suite, computing power, and avionics set it apart as a hugely capable twenty-first century combat aircraft. Operating these technologies demands robust cooling via a key aircraft subsystem known as power thermal management system (PTMS), especially as new systems are fielded on subsequent versions of the aircraft. The Joint Program Office (JPO) recently launched an effort to explore a new generation of PTMS systems. EPACS is one of the options. Big picture, this is a good news story because it means the F-35 is radically expanding what it can deliver in the battlespace. Realizing these gains will demand innovation. We discuss these factors with a key expert. This episode will explore this evolution and how the Collins team is focused on a potential solution. 

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Matt Pess, Chief Engineer, Enhanced Power and Cooling System (EPACS) Program, Collins Aerospace

Related Reading:

Accelerating 5th Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge

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Episode Summary:

In episode 184 of the Aerospace Advantage, New NATO Voices: Conversation with Maj Gen Jonas Wikman, Chief of the Swedish Air Force, host Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret) chat with NATO’s newest airpower leader. Given recent events, the time for this conversation couldn’t be better. Our Air Forces have been strong partners for years, but Sweden’s membership in NATO will tighten the relationship even further. When you look at a map and think about current security challenges—Sweden holds a key position. Closely situated to Russia and vital sea lanes, Sweden not only serves as a key player in NATO, but their arctic position ties directly to our own homeland defense given northern tier approaches. Past that, Sweden has served shoulder-to-shoulder in recent years in numerous operations with our own airmen including Afghanistan.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: MajGen Olof Jonas Wikman, Chief of Air Force, Swedish Air Force

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Episode Summary:

In episode 183 of the Aerospace Advantage, 89th Airlift Wing: Understanding the Mission of SAMFOX and Beyond, host Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Col Angela Ochoa, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing.

They call themselves “SAMFOX” – which stands for Special Air Missions Foreign. These are the Airmen who are best known for flying our nation’s most senior and elected leaders, like the President of the United States on Air Force One. Sometimes this is for a major diplomatic function that’s been months in the making; other times it’s an unexpected trip where it’s crucial to get the right leader on the ground ASAP for diplomatic purposes or to respond to a crisis. This episode takes a special look at the 89th to learn more about their mission, the aircraft, and the people who all make it possible—flight crews, maintenance personnel, aerial port personnel, communication and cyber professionals, security forces, and all the other support individuals. Any unit in the Air Force holds high standards, but the expectations for folks serving in the 89th are in a league of their own. Join us for this fascinating conversation.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Angela Ochoa, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, USAF

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Episode Summary:

In episode 182 of the Aerospace Advantage, Tomorrow’s Air National Guard: Lt Gen Loh Conversation, Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Gen Joseph "Gus" Guastella, USAF (Ret.) chat with the Director of the Air National Guard.

Whether discussing air superiority, aerial mobility, aeromedical evacuation, or cyber—Guardsmen are deployed around the globe every single day helping meet combatant command demand. But the Air Guard is also facing challenges. Along with the rest of the Air Force, equipment is aging, and the Air Force is not sufficiently funded to procure replacements fast enough. This is especially pronounced in the fighter mission area. Jets procured in the 70s and 80s are hitting the end of their service lives, but we’re not buying enough aircraft fast enough to replace them. Demand isn’t going down, which drives the remaining force even harder. Join us for this incredibly insightful leadership conversation to learn where the ANG is headed and why.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Former Deputy Chief of Staff, USAF

Guest: Lt Gen Michael A. Loh, Director, Air National Guard

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Episode Summary:

In episode 181 of the Aerospace Advantage, Defense Budget, Space Update, CCA Decision, and PLA Reorg: The Rendezvous, Heather “Lucky” Penney and John “Slick” Baum chat with members of the Mitchell Institute team about topics you’ve seen in the national security headlines.

We begin the conversation exploring how and why the legislation aiding Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan finally advanced. We share perspectives regarding Congressional hearings featuring Air Force and Space Force leaders.  The team also provides perspectives regarding the CCA award to General Atomics and Anduril. Our spacepower experts dig into a number of topics: everything from changes to U.S. Government regulations that control the import and export of space technologies, to the new commercial space strategy and considerations regarding how members of the Air Guard move forward with their space missions. We wrap discussing new reforms to the Chinese military, which mark their biggest reorganization in almost a decade.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In episode 180 of the Aerospace Advantage, Royal Air Force Insights: Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Heather “Lucky” Penney and Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.) chat with the head of the Royal Air Force.

The U.S. is fortunate to have many allies are partners, but few are as close and aligned as the United Kingdom. The plans and priorities for Royal Air Force airpower and spacepower are incredibly impactful for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Topics discussed include lessons learned from Ukraine, projecting power into the Pacific, deterrence in the modern era, space as a contested domain, plus the impact of technologies like AI and CCAs. We also discuss program updates regarding types like the F-35, E-7, MQ-9B, and Tempest. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain unique insights and perspectives on one of America’s most important partners.

Credits:

Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: ACM Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Air Force

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Episode Summary:

In episode 179 of the Aerospace Advantage, Space Electronic Warfare: Key to Modern Combat Operations, John “Slick” Baum and Charles Galbreath chat with Col Chris “Trigger” Fernengel and Lt Col Chris “Shocker” Adams of the Space Force.

It’s no secret that space is an increasingly contested domain. The U.S. didn’t want it to be this way, but our adversaries chose that vector and now we must respond. Electronic warfare stands as the Space Force’s leading offensive counterspace capability at the moment. It’s also a means our adversaries possess and have used against us. This is a big deal given that space operations depend on cyber and the electromagnetic spectrum to connect the enterprise both within space and to downlink stations on earth. We explore these realities with two of the Space Force’s top experts on the topic. Understanding the risks, capabilities, and limitations of space electronic warfare is crucial to inform the ongoing discussion regarding counterspace capabilities and the need to improve the U.S. space architecture’s resilience. There are huge implications for cross-domain operations as well.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Col Christopher "Trigger" Fernengel, Director, Commander's Action Group, Space Operations Command

Guest: Lt Col C. Gene "Shocker" Adams, Commander, 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, Space Training and Readiness Command

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Episode Summary:

In episode 178 of the Aerospace Advantage, Airpower in Central Command: Leadership Update, Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.) and Doug Birkey chat with 9th AF/ US Air Forces Central Command Commander Lt Gen Alexus “Grynch” Grynkewich. When the U.S. sunset large-scale military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, many assumed military forces in the region would largely be tasked elsewhere—especially the Indo-Pacific. However, adversaries like Iran and numerous proxy groups have continued to pursue acts of aggression that demand a response. As these threats continue to persist and morph in new, challenging ways, it’s important to recognize a degree of coordination with nations like Russia, China. Air Force airmen have answered the call to engage, but this is placing a tremendous strain on the force given concurrent demands elsewhere around the globe. This episode seeks to understand what is driving this mission demand, the scale and scope of current operations, and desired objectives through a leadership lens.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Gen Alexus "Grinch" Grynkewich, Commander, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, and Combined Forces Air Component Commander, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia

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Episode Summary:

In episode 177 of the Aerospace Advantage, Hypersonic Ascendancy: Regaining America's Edge, John "Slick" Baum chats with Dr. Michael Brown, the Principal Scientist of the High-Speed Systems Division at Air Force Research Laboratory, and Mark Rettig, Vice President and General Manager for Business and Technology Development at GE Aerospace’s Edison Works about what the Air Force and industry are doing to help realize this crucial capability at an operational level.

The U.S. spent the 1960s as the undisputed hypersonic leader, with the famed X-15 executing 199 successful flights, many over five times the speed of sound at the edge of space. This conversation begins with members of the Mitchell Institute team visiting the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s legendary X-15 up close, discussing the program’s significance, and then exploring how this competitive advantage faded over subsequent decades. Now, America faces fierce adversary competition in the hypersonic realm, and our defense community must respond.

We turn to AFRL’s Dr. Michael Brown and GE’s Mark Rettig to better understand how the government and industry are striving to realize the necessary innovations to field this capability at an operational level. We also discuss how and why hypersonic technology will impact tomorrow’s battlespace.  This is an incredible conversation with key leaders who are pioneering the future.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Dr. Michael Brown, Principal Scientist, High-Speed Systems Division, Air Force Research Laboratory

Guest: Mark Rettig, Vice President and General Manager for Business and Technology Development, Edison Works Division, GE Aerospace

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Episode Summary:

In episode 176 of the Aerospace Advantage, Assessing the FY25 Defense Budget and Spacepower Deep-Dive: The Rendezvous, John "Slick" Baum chats with the Rendezvous team about topics you've seen in the national security headlines.

We explore key takeaways from the FY2025 Air Force and Space Force budget requests—why it’s important to boost investment in key mission areas like space control and domain awareness, to the importance of growing aircraft acquisition numbers—especially for types like B-21 and F-35—while also boosting readiness investments.

Congress also needs to ensure Airmen and Guardian end strength is aligned with demand. The reality is that the defense budget caps drove hard choices for this cycle and it’s crucial that Congress reconsider the levels of risk in play and align funding accordingly. We also outline top take aways Space Force, Space Command, and industry leaders shared at last week’s Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum. We wrap with a discussion of the global threat picture.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In episode 175 of the Aerospace Advantage, Air Mobility Imperative: Conversation with Gen Minihan, John “Slick” Baum and Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) speak with AMC Commander Gen Mike Minihan. Air mobility is a lynchpin for any modern military operation.

Combat aircraft in the sky, ships at sea, forces on land, and forward-deployed space and cyber units are of little use unless they are resourced in alignment with operational demands. That demands delivering everything from fuel and personnel to vital supplies like munitions and spare parts both into and within a theater. The means of this are well known: airlifters and tankers. Even more vital are the personnel. How this enterprise is employed will evolve markedly given future threats and growing multi-theater demand. This will demand enhanced capacity, revised capabilities, new operational concepts, considerations tied to survivability both in the air and on the ground, plus fresh thinking regarding command and control. Given what’s at stake, this is a “failure isn’t an option” moment.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Gen Michael A. Minihan, Commander, Air Mobility Command

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Episode Summary:

In episode 174 of the Aerospace Advantage, Understanding the Air Force and Space Force Budget: Leadership Perspective, Doug Birkey Baum and members of the Mitchell team speak to Lt Gen Rick Moore, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters, USAF, and Lt Gen Shawn Bratton, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters, USSF.

It’s no secret that the Air Force and Space Force are in the middle of a massively transformative era. With threats on the rise and critical modernization dominating both services, resources really matter. It doesn’t matter how effective a strategy or operational concept might be in theory if it isn’t underwritten with sufficient capacity and capabilities. That takes funding. The spending caps passed by Congress make this year’s budget request picture exceedingly challenging. In this episode,  Lt Gen Moore and Lt Gen Bratton, the leaders charged with building their respective service budget requests, shed light on how specific programs were resourced, while also discussing how they balanced factors like readiness and modernization. This is a critical conversation that cuts to the core of building tomorrow’s airpower and spacepower.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Space Power Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Lt Gen Richard G. Moore, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters, USAF

Guest: Lt Gen Shawn N. Bratton, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters, USSF

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 173 of the Aerospace Advantage, Eyes in the Sky: From U-2 to Reaper and Beyond, John “Slick” Baum chats with former U-2 pilot Maj Gen “Jake” Polumbo, USAF (Ret.), the highest-ranking officer to fly the Dragon Lady in combat, and long-time experienced MQ-9 pilot Lt Col Johnny Duray, who has risen through the ranks as a line pilot to a commander in the RPA world. 

ISR is one of the most crucial capabilities military actors require at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. It all comes down to gaining a decision advantage over an adversary by knowing when and where to position forces to net desired effects, while minimizing points of vulnerability. While this macro goal may be timeless, the means of securing ISR data has evolved markedly. This episode will focus on this evolution by exploring the U-2, a Cold War icon manned ISR aircraft, and then discuss the uncrewed ISR mission through the lens of the MQ-9 Reaper, which can execute ISR, while also employ kinetic strike capabilities and a range of other functions. Both aircraft are tremendously capable, yet they speak to requirements from different eras. This is an incredible set of perspectives from some of the top experts who have “been there and done that”—you’ll definitely want to listen.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen H.D. "Jake" Polumbo, Jr., USAF (Ret.), Founding Partner and Senior Consultant, Two Blue Aces

Guest: Lt Col John Duray, Commander, 9th Attack Squadron, Holloman AFB, USAF

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 172 of the Aerospace Advantage, Building Tomorrow’s Space Force Architecture: Industry Insights, John “Slick” Baum chats with Scott Forney, the President of Electromagnetic Systems at General Atomics, along with Col Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.), and Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), from our Mitchell Institute team.

The Space Force is developing its satellite constellations to meet new mission demands, evolving their architecture to address a rapidly burgeoning threat environment. No longer does the Space Force want to be overly reliant on large “fat juicy target” satellites, which, if destroyed or incapacitated, would yield outsized impacts to broader mission functions.

This episode will explore the construction of this enterprise through an industrial base vantage. GA-EMS is a lead actor helping build out this new space architecture alongside the Space Force. They’re involved on the Tranche 2 effort with the Space Development Agency and building part of the replacement for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, while also pioneering domain awareness technology in the cislunar region. Experts on their team also excel in fields like laser communications, and they’re even looking at things like nuclear thermal propulsion—a key for maneuvering on orbit. Join us for an inside perspective at this seminal moment in spacepower history.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Scott Forney, President, Electromagnetic Systems Group, General Atomics

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 171 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Update, Department of the Air Force Reorg, and Effective Deterrence in the Middle East: The Rendezvous, John “Slick” Baum chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the beltway and the broader national security community.

The conversation begins by assessing where Congress stands when it comes to passing an actual defense budget and moving past the crippling parade of continuing resolutions. We also discuss the Department of the Air Force’s newly-announced reorganization—all part of their effort to optimize the Air Force and Space Force for great power competition. The team then explores what it means to deter in the Middle East. Given instability driven by Iran and others, this remains a major challenge, and we need smart options to drive down the violence.  Finally, we examine recent spacepower developments.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Mark “Gonzo” Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 170 of the Aerospace Advantage: Cislunar Space: The Latest Zone of Competition in the Space Race, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum interviews Dr. Jaime Stearns, AFRL’s cislunar lead; Bradley Cheetham, the President of Advanced Space; and Mitchell Institute’s Col Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.) about where the competition in space is headed next. Reaching the Moon was once a powerful statement of America’s prowess and global leadership, with huge strategic implications that played out during the Cold War. Today, there is a new race to the Moon and the surrounding region. Who wins that contest and the resulting precedents they set will translate to very real consequences from security, economic, scientific, and diplomatic perspectives. That’s why the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command must take steps today in the cislunar regime to establish the same freedom of operations it realizes in Earth orbit. These steps will include new capabilities such as space domain awareness, high bandwidth communications, and cislunar navigation technologies. This week we’re hearing first-hand from those operating and building spacecraft in the cislunar regime to better understand the challenges they face, the criticality of their mission, and the skillsets and resources they need to succeed.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Dr. Jaime Stearns, AFRL Cislunar Lead

Guest: Bradley Cheetham, CEO & President, Advanced Space

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 169 of the Aerospace Advantage: Special Edition, Russian Nukes in Space? Understanding the Threat and Implications, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum interviews Mitchell Institute Spacepower Center of Excellence Senior Fellow Col Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret) about headlines we’ve seen regarding a new spacepower development.

Congressman Turner (R-OH) grabbed everyone’s attention last week when he publicly asked the Biden Administration to declassify intelligence findings so a broad range of decision makers and the public could better understand what’s at stake given this new adversary capability. While specific details are still not known, various comments made by senior officials suggest this involves a nuclear device designed to be detonated on orbit as a mass anti-satellite weapon. Not only would the electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) destroy satellites, but the resulting radiation release would also degrade surviving systems on orbit. Slick and Charles break down the fundamentals of this issue, help explain the surrounding context, discuss the implications for U.S. and allied space capabilities, and consider next steps U.S. leaders should consider pursuing.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 168 of the Aerospace Advantage, F-16 at 50: The Viper Goes to War, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum hosts a special set of guests to mark the 50th anniversary of the F-16’s first flight. The Viper came of age in the 1980s, and its capability growth rapidly accelerated in the 1990s and 2000s. The aircraft is still in production, empowered with an array of cutting-edge systems few could have envisioned when the first aircraft flew in 1974. ​​​In this episode, we talk about what it was like to take the F-16 to war in numerous conflicts, grow capabilities, and how the Air Force continues to steward this aircraft. We also explore what’s next as Viper drivers transition to the F-35.

Guests include Lt Gen Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.)—a Fighter Weapons School Graduate, F-4 and F-16 pilot with 3,200 hours of flight time and 65 combat missions in the F-16, most notably as the 614th Sq/CC during Desert Storm. He continued to fly the Viper throughout his career, including as the 5th Air Force commander. We also hear from Heather “Lucky” Penney, who flew 2 combat tours in the F-16, but most notably found herself scrambled on the morning of September 11th, 2001 to defend the national capital region. Lt Col Maxwell “Efes” Cover shares how he cut his teeth as a young fighter pilot in the F-16, and he’s now an F-35 pilot. Last but not least, Slick talks about his time flying the Viper in combat and serving as a Weapons School Instructor and Thunderbird.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen Bruce “Orville” Wright, USAF (Ret.), President and CEO, Air & Space Forces Association

Guest: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Maxwell “Efes” Cover, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 167 of the Aerospace Advantage, F-16 at 50: The Origins of the Viper, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum hosts a special set of guests to mark the 50th anniversary of the F-16’s first flight. It’s one of the most impactful, widely used combat aircraft in airpower history. Developed in the early 1970s and first flown in 1974, the F-16 began as a relatively basic fighter. Numerous upgrades saw it evolve into an incredibly capable multi-role combat aircraft with powerful sensors, computing capacity, connectivity, a broad array of munitions, and far more thrust. This episode will discuss the origins of the F-16—how and why the requirements were developed, flight test, and early operational experiences.

We’ve got General Mike Loh, who was a young officer just back from flying combat in Vietnam assigned to work with the “father of the F-16”, Col John Boyd, in the Fighter Requirements Directorate in the Pentagon. He later circled back to the program as the project manager for the YF-16 and F-16 at Aeronautical Systems Division. He’s joined by Major General Charlie Lyon, who began his career in the F-16 in the early 1980s, when the jet was brand new and far more basic than anything flying today. He was a FWS Graduate and 422 TES IP and later a Squadron, Group, and Wing Commander. Finally, we’ve got Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, who transitioned from the F-4 to the F-16 in the mid-1980s. This history really matters and that’s why we’re so excited to share it with you.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Gen John Michael Loh, USAF (Ret.)

Guest: Maj Gen Charles Lyon, USAF (Ret.)

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 166 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Update, Sentinel & F-35 Developments, and Spacepower Considerations: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense news from the beltway and the broader national security community.

The conversation begins by assessing where Congress stands when it comes to passing an actual defense budget and moving past the crippling parade of continuing resolutions. We also discuss how the 2024 election cycle will impact the national security debate throughout the course of the year, including support for Ukraine. Our panel then explores why the Sentinel program experienced a Nunn McCurdy breach and what this means looking to the future. Team members also consider what Lockheed Martin’s latest projection for TR3/ Block 4 means for the F-35 program, especially when it comes to the FY25 budget request. The conversation then turns to spacepower developments. Finally, given the fighting in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, continued issues with Iran and North Korea, plus China’s aggression in the Pacific, we discuss the implications for Airmen and Guardians—especially given finite resources from both a manpower and hardware set of perspectives.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

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Episode Summary:

In episode 165 of the Aerospace Advantage, It Comes Down to Guardians: Rightsizing Space Force, John “Slick” Baum chats with a top-tier slate of space professionals about one of the top issues impacting national security issues in orbit: having enough trained and qualified personnel. Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Maj Gen Thomas Taverny, USAF (Ret.), Col Stu Pettis, USAF (Ret.), and Col Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.) discuss how the nation is asking the Space Force to deliver an ever-increasing scale and scope of effects as mission demands and the threat environment evolve.

This requires a reassessment regarding the number of Guardians authorized for the Space Force, as well as a discussion about the appropriate mix of skill sets. Further impacting this question are considerations tied to whether the Space Force will gain a National Guard component or seek to address those mission functions through an alternate means. At the end of the day, mission demand must be matched with the right scale and scope of uniformed professionals. This is a crucial conversation. It doesn’t matter how much sophisticated technology the service acquires if it doesn’t have enough people to operate it, employ concepts of operation, and engage effectively throughout the higher echelons of the defense enterprise.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Stuart Pettis, Director, STEM Education Programs, Air & Space Forces Association

Guest: Maj Gen Thomas “Tav” Taverney, USAF (Ret.), Senior Vice President, Space Systems Development, Leidos

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Episode Summary:

In episode 164 of the Aerospace Advantage, Tip of the Spear: Inside the 509th Bomb Wing and the Future of Stealth Bombers, John "Slick" Baum chats with Colonel Keith "Ghost" Butler, long-time B-2 pilot and commander of America’s sole stealth bomber wing.

The ability to attack any target around the globe anytime, anywhere is a crucial asymmetric advantage for the United States. Key policy options fundamentally rely on the B-2 and the men and women who fly and sustain the aircraft. The 509th is on call 24/7 to execute both nuclear deterrence and conventional strike missions—a tremendous responsibility. They make headlines wherever they fly around the globe.  However, with only 20 B-2s in the Air Force’s inventory, the aircraft and crews are stretched thin as high-demand, low-density assets. Top defense leaders know it is time to build out America’s stealth bomber capacity—that’s why there’s such an emphasis on fielding the B-21, America’s newest stealth bomber.  Col Butler explains the types of sorties he and his crews are executing, the unique realities involved with operating a jet as advanced as the B-2, and what it means to be dual-qualified for both the conventional and nuclear missions. Additionally, having successfully commanded Detachment 5 of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Edwards AFB, Colonel Butler brings unique insights into what’s in store for tomorrow’s long-range strike mission. This is a riveting episode you will not want to miss!

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Keith "Ghost" Walker, Wing Commander, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 163 of the Aerospace Advantage, Realizing the Quantum Computing Edge: Key Considerations, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with national security expert Maj Gen Cameron Holt, USAF (Ret.), founder of the Quantum Industrial Coalition Paul Stimers, and Mitchell Institute’s Heather Penney about one of the top topics in defense innovation.

​​​​​​​The imperative to develop, produce, and field quantum computing capabilities is real. While some aspects of this technology may be nearly a decade away from useful maturity, other elements are advancing at a pace to yield operationally relevant offerings in five years, or even less. These quantum developments will solve critical DoD vulnerabilities and capability gaps—things like timing, navigation, sensing, and radio frequency reception. However, successfully realizing these breakthroughs requires DoD investment and stewardship because many applications are defense specific. That sort of investment demands a strategy. This episode explore how quantum technologies can bridge from the lab to the operational battlespace.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Maj Gen Cameron Holt, USAF (Ret.), President & Founder, Holt Consulting Group LLC

Guest: Paul Stimers, Founder, Quantum Industrial Coalition

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 162 of the Aerospace Advantage, Airpower and Spacepower Predictions for 2024: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense developments in the beltway and the broader national security community.

We’re off to a new year, so we’ve gathered members of the team to discuss topics we should be tracking in 2024. What should we expect from Congress—especially when it comes to the ongoing continuing resolution? Will more funding be approved for Ukraine? How will The Hill react to the Department of the Air Force’s proposed reorganization? We also explore spacepower trends—there’s a lot in play as adversaries continue to press hard on orbit. The team assesses China and considers what’s going to drive their decision-making calculus in 2024.  We also identifying technologies we should track in 2024. What is going to happen with CCAs, the B-21, NGAD, the F-35, and GBSD? We also discuss how the Department of the Air Force should seek to strike a balance between near-term priorities and long-term imperatives—recapitalization, personnel issues, concepts of operation, and high-demand, low-density mission areas. There’s a lot in this episode that you are going to want to know.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 161 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast “There I was!”: Real Life Stories from the Cockpit with the Mitchell Institute Part II, our team members recount some of their most memorable experiences flying and fighting. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years.

This week, we hear from Gen Kevin “Chili” Chilton, USAF (Ret.) as he explains the first and only time he blacked out at the controls of an aircraft; Maj Gen Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.) talks about a similar terrifying moment in flight training and follows that story with a spectacular engine fire in the F-16; Air Force Fellow Lt Col Gary “Plugger” Glojek remembers a time when he wrestled with the unexpected while leading a six-ship of A-10s; Heather “Lucky” Penney shares what it was like to fly a B-17; and John "Slick" Baum describes how a fighter pilot's mission can go from easy to crazy on takeoff with a full load of live ordnance at Nellis AFB.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Gen Kevin "Chili" Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Maj Gen Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Gary "Plugger" Glojek, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 160 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, “There I was!”: Stories from the Cockpit and Space with the Mitchell Institute, our team members recount some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years.

This week, we hear from Lt Gen Dave "Zatar" Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Charles Galbreath, and Air Force Fellow Lt Col Max “Efes” Cover. So, this episode is for you if you want to know what it’s like to experience a catastrophic emergency in an F-15 during your second solo flight in the aircraft; what happens when your B-52 won’t rotate at takeoff; when you depart controlled flight in an F-16 and struggle to recover; or discovering a surprising family connection that will make you smile.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David A. "Zatar" Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Col (S) Maxwell "Efes" Cover, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 159 of the Aerospace Advantage, CCAs and Disruptive Air Warfare: The Future Vector, John Baum chats with Mark Gunzinger, Mike Dahm, and Mark Gunzinger of the Mitchell Institute about the potential for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) to increase the lethality, survivability, and capacity of the Air Force’s air superiority forces for operations in highly contested environments.

Projecting decisive military power has long relied on the Air Force’s ability to achieve air superiority. This is an increasingly critical requirement given the advanced air and missile defense threats that now exist in the Pacific. This core warfighting requirement is now at risk given the diminished size and advanced age of the Air Force’s air superiority aircraft inventory. This episode explores air superiority mission requirements in a Pacific scenario and the potential for a family of crewed CCAs operating cooperatively with 5th and 6th generation combat aircraft to disrupt China’s counterair operations and achieve the degree of air superiority needed for all joint force operations to succeed.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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In Episode 158 of the Aerospace Advantage, Affordable Mass: Understanding Next Gen Munitions Requirements, Doug Birkey chats with Mitchell Institute’s Mark Gunzinger and Jim Young of Boeing, who serves as the Executive Director for their Direct Attack portfolio within the Precision Engagement Systems organization.

Most DOD air-to-surface munitions were designed for U.S. campaigns of the past 30 years in which its forces confronted lesser regional militaries operating weak air defenses. DOD is now planning for conflicts with peer adversaries. This is why the Air Force is acquiring 5th generation F-35 fighters and B-21 stealth bombers. However, new stealth aircraft are only as effective as the weapons they can deliver. Developing multiple variants of mid-range, stand-in precision guided munitions suitable for operations in contested environments is crucial. These munitions must be affordable to build high-capacity inventories necessary for the scale of peer-on-peer operations. This is a “must do” for the Air Force—it all comes down to getting enough bombs on target. 

Episode Summary:

In Episode 157 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Defense Update; B-21 First Flight; Spacepower Considerations, and a China Update: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest defense developments in the beltway and the broader national security community.

We discuss where defense bills stand in Congress and continuing resolution implications. Panelists also explore the latest developments regarding the B-21’s first flight and what the future will hold for the program. We also explain why the T-7’s arrival at Edwards is so important. The conversation then assesses the latest in spacepower news developments and wraps with an extensive national security assessment regarding China, especially the recent meeting between President Biden and President Xi. As always, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 156 of the Aerospace Advantage, 4th Gen to 5th Gen Air Combat Evolution: Operator Perspectives, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with two seasoned fighter pilots, Lt Col Gary Glojek and Lt Col Max Cover, about how modernization is impacting today’s Air Force flightlines. Specifically, they discuss how the combat Air Force inventory is evolving from a 4th generation force to one increasingly populated by 5th generation aircraft.

Types like the A-10, which have been in the Air Force inventory since the 1970s, are sunsetting. Others, like the F-16 will stay in the inventory for several more years, but in reduced quantities as F-35 numbers increase. Add this to the combination of F-22, F-35, B-2, and B-21, plus NGAD, and the Air Force is looking at a fundamentally reshaped combat inventory. This has major operational, tactical, and technological implications for how these forces train and execute missions. Given Cover’s time in the F-16 and F-35, plus Glojek’s time in the A-10, these two airmen are uniquely qualified to discuss this operational evolution.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Col Maxwell "Efes" Cover, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Gary "Plugger" Glojek, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In episode 155 of the Aerospace Advantage, Evolution of Air Battle Management: Navigating Beyond JSTARS, John “Slick” Baum talks to Mitchell Institute’s Doug Birkey and Lt Col Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis, a former JSTARS battle manager who currently serves as the Director of Plans at the 461st Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base.

JSTARS enabled Air Force battle managers to monitor surface targets, convert data into actionable insights, and exploit a comprehensive command and control system to make more effective decisions. This capability represented a fundamental transformation in modern combat operations. But given the JSTARS retirement, the Air Force is reshaping how it achieves these effects. The battle management mission will only become more vital as the Air Force moves toward more disaggregated operational concepts empowered by JADC2. This episode will explore this evolution and what it means for the future force.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis, Director of Plans, 461st Air Control Wing, Robins Air Force Base

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 154 of the Aerospace Advantage, Understanding the Chinese Challenge: Assessing DoD’s Latest China Military Power Report, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies Mike Dahm about key trends and insights shaping the security picture in the Western Pacific and beyond.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall recently described what keeps U.S. military leaders awake: “China, China, China.”  He’s right, the People’s Republic of China is growing its military capabilities at scale while its leaders are beginning to assert themselves in ways that often conflict with American interests and values. Each year, the Department of Defense produces an unclassified report for Congress to explain these variables: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China. This episode explores the 2023 edition with our own China expert, Mike Dahm, providing unique insights and analysis. The conversation focuses on concerning air and space power trends, but also considers factors influencing China’s national security calculus.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 153 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Defense Update; Conflict in the Middle East; and a China Threat Update: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s John “Slick” Baum chats with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), China expert Mike Dahm, plus Washington insiders Anthony Lazarski and Todd Harmer about the latest developments in the beltway and the broader national security community.

We discuss what new leadership in the House of Representatives will mean for defense equities on The Hill, including the likelihood for another continuing resolution and the risks that will drive. Panelists also explore the latest developments regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, plus what this will mean for America’s broader national security interests around the globe. We wrap with an extensive national security assessment regarding China, especially given DoD’s newly released 2023 edition of Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China. As always, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Credits:

Host: John “Slick” Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 152 of the Aerospace Advantage, Commander Conversation: The Future of French Airpower, John “Slick” Baum explores the future of fighter aviation with Maj Gen Jean-Luc Moritz, head of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program for the French Air and Space Force.

The FCAS is a next-generation fighter aircraft and the associated set of collaborative systems that France, Germany, and Spain are developing to replace types currently in service, like the Rafale, Typhoon, and Hornet. The U.S. Air Force has its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD)—this is one of the European equivalents. The air superiority mission is critical for achieving success in modern warfare. Anyone who doubts the need for air superiority can see what has happened in Ukraine. Reverting to WWI-like trench warfare, with neither side controlling the sky, is beyond brutal. No one wins fighting like that, which is why it’s crucial to constantly push the state of the art with new design concepts, technologies, and employment concepts when it comes to next-generation fighter aircraft and associated systems. Join us to learn more from one of the key allied leaders charting the future of this crucial mission.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Jean-Luc Moritz, Future Combat Air System Operational Project Director, French Air & Space Force

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 151 of the Aerospace Advantage, The Backbone of Aerospace Production: Understanding the Supplier Base, John “Slick” Baum discusses what it’ll take to ensure America’s aerospace industrial base can meet demand with industry expert Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director at AeroDynamic Advisory, and Karl Hutter, President & CEO of Click Bond, a leading supplier.

The U.S. and its allies are in the middle of rebuilding their air forces to meet the challenges of an evolving threat environment. Considering that these countries largely still fly aircraft from the Cold War, the need for this modernization is acute. Everyone wants new aircraft now, but manufacturing lines can only accommodate so much, so fast—especially with a concurrent surge in demand for commercial airliners. Companies are trying to expand their capacity to produce, but that’s far easier said than done. In this episode, hear directly from the individuals deep in the industrial base who literally build the future of airpower—we’ll explore how they contribute, their strengths, and the risks that are in play so that we better understand what it’ll take to ensure we have an industrial base that can meet demand.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Richard Aboulafia, Managing Director, AeroDynamic Advisory

Guest: Karl Hutter, President & CEO, Click Bond

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 150 of the Aerospace Advantage, The USSF’s Theory of Competitive Endurance: Expanding the Discussion, Tim Ryan sits down with Brian “Flasher” Goodman, a seasoned space operator and Guardian; Tom “Pumper” Nichols, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at True Anomaly; and Mitchell’s Charles Galbreath to explore ideas around Competitive Endurance and how it can be applied in today’s contested space domain.

With threats on orbit on the rise, it is crucial to define this strategic concept and explore how it ties to key concepts integrated defense, space superiority, and maintaining the sustainability of the space domain. Additionally, our guests discuss the principles underpinning this theory—Avoiding Operational Surprise, Denting First-Mover Advantage, and Responsible Counterspace Campaigning. When Chief of Space Operations Gen “Salty” Saltzman released his vision, he also challenged Guardians and members of the space national security community to discuss and further develop a conceptual foundation. This is the first of what will be many future Mitchell discussions doing just that.

Credits:

Host: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, MI-SPACE

Guest: Brian “Flasher” Goodman, USSF

Guest: Tom “Pumper” Nichols, Chief Product Officer, True Anomaly

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 149 of the Aerospace Advantage, Washington Drama, Boosting Defense Production, Spacepower Update, and Replicator: The Rendezvous, Mitchell Institute’s Doug Birkey chats with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), spacepower expert Charles Galbreath, plus Washington insiders Anthony Lazarski and Todd Harmer about the latest developments in the beltway and the broader national security community.

We discuss the national security realities created by a continuing resolution and the looming potential of a government shut down, plus Secretary Kendall’s call for a Department of the Air Force reorganization and the latest developments in spacepower. We consider variables involved in Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment LaPlante’s call for increased defense production and cover Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks’ initiative termed “replicator,” followed by an update on developments in Ukraine.  It has been a busy fall so far, so please join us for a very thought-provoking episode.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Links:

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 148 of the Aerospace Advantage, Understanding Hostilities in Space Short of War: Harnessing an Irregular Warfare Model on Orbit, Mitchell Institute’s Tim Ryan chats with Commander John ‘Patsy’ Klein, USN (Ret), a noted spacepower expert; Colonel El Gardner, Director Space Strategy, Policy, and Plans HQ USSF; and Henry Heren about what it means to successfully engage in an era of enduring competition in space.

The conversation focuses on the findings of Klein’s latest book, 'Fight for the Final Frontier: Irregular Warfare in Space.'  Klein argues that hostile actions on orbit normally fall outside the definition of armed conflict, with actions short of overt war as the norm for adversaries seeking to disrupt our ability to engage in this domain. The net effects yield distinct similarities to what we’ve seen in irregular warfare. This discussion opens the aperture for applying lessons learned.

Credits:

Host: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Henry Heren, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, MI-SPACE

Guest: CDR John "Patsy" Kline, USN (Ret.), Senior Fellow, Falcon Research, Inc.

Guest: Col El Gardner, Director, Space Strategy, Policy, and Plans, HQ USSF

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 147 of the Aerospace Advantage, No Bucks, No Buck Rogers: Leadership Conversation with Lt Gen Rick Moore, Mitchell’s Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.) explores the fiscal realities facing the USAF. As the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs at Headquarters Air Force, Lt Gen Rick Moore oversees building the budgets that are ultimately submitted to top Department of the Air Force leaders, DoD, and the Hill.

We frequently talk about hardware like aircraft and munitions, plus the operating concepts and strategies governing their use. But making that happen all comes down to resources and General Moore is the key figure in that realm. Join us to learn more about how he sees the priorities stack, the tough choices that must be made given finite resources, and what this means for the future of the service.

Credits:

Host: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen Richard G. Moore, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters USAF

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 146 of the Aerospace Advantage, Innovating the Spectrum Warfare Edge: Industry Conversation, Mitchell’s Doug Birkey continues our focus on this topic with Josh Niedzwiecki, vice president and general manager of electronic combat solutions at BAE.

As we discussed last week with 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander Col Joshua Koslov, this technology, the associated conops, and tactics are crucial for success in modern warfare. The nation has taken too much risk in this area since the end of the Cold War, and now it’s time for the U.S. military to reset. Success demands the recruitment of industry talent who can innovate and produce the tools required to empower this mission—a complex endeavor that should not be taken for granted. The talent needed to help meet these requirements takes years, even decades, to cultivate. The same holds true for the facilities and tools needed for production. This week’s episode covers these essential industry-side factors of the spectrum warfare equation.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Joshua Niedzwiecki, Vice President & General Manager, Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems

Links:

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 145 of the Aerospace Advantage, Regaining the Spectrum Warfare Advantage: Leadership Conversation, Doug Birkey chats with the commander of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, Col Joshua Koslov to discuss the current state of this mission area, explain challenges and opportunities, define key concepts, and provide insights on future vectors.

Spectrum warfare is a crucial element of overall warfighting effectiveness.  At its core, it comes down to securing an information advantage, which facilitates more effective decision-making at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Spectrum warfare lies at the heart of concepts like JADC2 and ABMS—empowering data gathering, exchange, processing, and collaboration between various team members in the battlespace. It’s also a competitive realm: our adversaries seek to deny us this capability, and our forces seek to deny the same to our opponents.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Joshua Koslov, Commander, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing

Links:

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 144 of the Aerospace Advantage, Commander Conversation: Royal Canadian Air Force Spacepower, Doug Birkey chats with Brigadier General Mike Adamson, Commander of 3 Canadian Space Division (3 CSD); Brigadier General Chris McKenna, Director General Air and Space Force Development; and Brigadier General Kyle Paul Deputy Commanding General, Transformation, U.S. Space Operations Command.

The Royal Canadian Air Force organizes, trains, operates, and equips for a broad range of air and space missions. Building off an earlier podcast episode with Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force Lt Gen Eric Kenny, this episode seeks to further explore current RCAF activities through the spacepower lens.  We discuss challenges and opportunities facing the RCAF in orbit; how Canada sees spacepower missions evolving when it comes to interoperability, protocols, and equipment equity; and how the RCAF can effectively secure desired mission effects given an increasingly contested domain and extend deterrence to space.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: BGen G. Michael Adamson, 3 Canadian Space Division Commander

Guest: BGen Chris McKenna, Director, General Air and Space Force Development

Guest: BGen Kyle Paul Deputy, Commanding General, Transformation, U.S. Space Operations Command

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 143 of the Aerospace Advantage, Decoding China's AI Ambitions: The Rise of Informationized and Intelligentized Warfare, John “Slick” Baum chats with Daniel Rice, China Expert at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation and Future Warfare at Marine Corps University, and Dennis Murphy, who researches the implications emerging technologies will have on international security at Georgia Tech.

This discussion takes a deep dive into China’s most cutting-edge concepts that are shaping its vision of future warfare—ideas known as informationization and intelligentization. These concepts represent a shift from the past convention of attrition warfare toward a more dynamic, algorithm-driven model of engagement that leverages the information battlespace and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Said another way, the U.S. military is not alone in focusing on the role information will play in future conflicts. So while concepts like JADC2 and ABMS are shaping the future of the U.S. military, it’s crucial to recognize that China is pursuing similar vectors and that the PLA's evolution is not just about amassing new hardware and weapons platforms. This episode explores these concepts, and our guests explain what they reveal about China's ambitions to become a world-class military.

Note: Daniel Rice is the China Political and Military Subject Matter Expert at Marine Corps University's Brute Krulak Center for Innovation & Future Warfare. The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Marine Corps, or the Marine Corp University.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Dan Rice, China Expert, Brute Krulak Center for Innovation & Future Warfare, Marine Corps University

Guest: Dennis Murphy, PhD Student, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 142 of the Aerospace Advantage, A Conversation with Air Marshal Harvey Smyth: Allied Perspective, John “Slick” Baum, Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret), and Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret) chat with Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, the Royal Air Force’s Air and Space Commander.

It’s hard to think about a single time in history when our nation fought alone. It’s no secret why: allies and partners are the key to success as America seeks to engage around the world. It takes a team to win—especially in the modern security environment. Working together with other service branches and international operational commanders, Air Marshal Smyth oversees the generation and employment of airpower for the United Kingdom. During this episode, the Mitchell team explores with Air Marshal Smyth how he sees the global security environment and where the RAF stands from a capabilities perspective. They also discuss future operating concepts and RAF spacepower objectives. Join us for this incredibly insightful dialogue.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies 

Guest: Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Air Mshl Harvey Smyth, CB, OBE, DFC, Air & Space Commander, Royal Air Force

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 141 of the Aerospace Advantage, Building Counterspace Capabilities: Smart Spacepower, John “Slick” Baum chats with Col Eric Felt, USSF Director of Architecture; Matt Fetrow of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office; Arnie Streland of Northrop Grumman; and Charles Galbreath, Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow for Space Studies, about how the Space Force and industry are responding to the growing threat environment on orbit.  

Significant improvements and investments are required for nearly every aspect of the military space architecture as the nation works to field defensive and offensive counterspace capabilities. It comes down to addressing the realities of space as a warfighting domain—an imperative that drove the establishment of the Space Force. This podcast brings together expert perspectives from the communities responsible for the building, acquiring, and operating our national security space architecture. The shift to a more resilient hybrid space architecture that leverages proliferated Low Earth Orbit constellations, plus satellites in other orbits, is a critical first step. Additional efforts to improve domain awareness with threat sensors and assure contact with satellites are priorities as well. Above all, we must continue to integrate commercial and international capabilities. Join us for an insightful conversation with some of the top thought leaders in the field.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Col Eric Felt, Director of Space Architecture, USSF

Guest: Matt Fetrow, Communications Director, Space Force Rapid Capabilities Office

Guest: Arnie Streland, Corporate Lead Executive, Northrop Grumman

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 140 of the Aerospace Advantage, Congressional Defense Priorities, Allies Boost Modernization, China Realities, and Spacepower Perspectives: The Rendezvous, John “Slick” Baum chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Washington experts Todd Harmer and Anthony Lazarski, plus Mitchell Senior Fellow for Space Studies Tim Ryan about some of the latest national security developments.

The last few weeks have been busy, with Congress continuing to advance the defense bills and the looming potential for a government shutdown in the coming months. We’re also seeing a generational wave of modernization with our allies and partners—we discuss what it means for the U.S. from an operational and industrial base set of perspectives. Our experts also assess recent threat developments as Russia continues its war in Ukraine, and as China maintains its assertive stance in the Pacific. On top of all that, we review the latest developments in spacepower—including the Space Command headquarters announcement and how the Space Force continues to evolve meet the threat. Join us for a dynamic, insightful set of conversations.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 139 of the Aerospace Advantage, Flying and Fighting Against the Odds: A Cold War Perspective, John “Slick” Baum chats with Col Robert Graham, USAF (Ret.) about the 500+ combat sorties he flew across four combat tours during the Vietnam War.

Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), anti-aircraft artillery (AAA), air bases under attack, high pilot attrition, tremendous tactical and technical innovation, training shortfalls, and unwavering dedication to duty were all hallmarks of the air war over Vietnam. As the Air Force reorients itself to confront a national security environment defined by peer competition, it is critical we look back in time and learn from the experiences of airmen who confronted and overcame similar threats.

Col Graham’s experiences are harrowing, captivating, and incredibly instructive. Having flown the O-1 Bird Dog, F-100 Super Sabre, and F-4 Phantom in combat, he provided close air support in danger-close proximity to friendly units; operated amidst robust enemy air defenses; and got shot down off the end of his own runway by guerilla forces—yet he continued to fly sorties day-after-day as pilot attrition exceeded 20 percent. All the while, Col Graham seasoned a new generation of airmen entering the fight. These are all challenges tomorrow’s airmen will experience. Join us for this incredible conversation.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Col Bob Graham, USAF (Ret.)

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 138 of the Aerospace Advantage, Maintaining the Propulsion Advantage: The Race to Deliver Tomorrow’s Jet Technology, Doug Birkey chats with Mitchell Institute’s Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), and David Tweedie, GE Edison Works vice president and general manager for advanced products, about a key element of America’s crucial combat aircraft advantage in the sky: engines.

No military aircraft design, no matter how good, can execute any mission without its engine. In today’s military, that translates to incredibly sophisticated jet technology. Mission requirements for both today and tomorrow demand enhanced performance, greater efficiency, and continued top-of-the-line reliability. After relying on a relatively limited number of existing engines in its propulsion stable for years, the Air Force is pursuing a new generation of capabilities. This is a positive development given new operational demands and the competition from adversary nations. There is little room for error. The U.S. must double down to ensure it maintains the edge in this key technology arena.

Credits:

Host: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: David Tweedie, Vice President & General Manager for Advanced Products, GE Edison Works 

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 137 of the Aerospace Advantage, Fighter Modernization Imperative: Defining the Vector, John “Slick Baum” explores the status of the Air Force’s fighter inventory and a path for reset with Maj Gen Charles “Corky” Corcoran, USAF (Ret.); Lt Col Eric Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.); and Douglas Birkey.

The United States faces a fighter aviation modernization crisis that, left unchecked, will undermine every facet of joint force operations. The challenge is particularly acute in the U.S. Air Force. The service simply hasn’t acquired enough aircraft since the Reagan-era defense build-up, and, in light of budget constraints, is way behind the curve resetting the force. Given the threat environment, we’re now in an untenable position. This isn’t just about Air Force fighters—it’s about viable joint power projection, and that demands the scale and scope that Air Force fighters uniquely bring to the table—starting with air superiority. This episode is designed to assess the Air Force fighter capacity challenge and then explore options for resetting the force.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Maj Gen Charles “Corky” Corcoran, USAF (Ret.), Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Col Eric "Gunz" Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.), Former Instructor Weapons Systems Operator

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 136 of the Aerospace Advantage, It’s Time to Reset the Force: Leadership Conversation with Lt Gen Mike Loh, Director of the ANG, Doug Birkey explores the modernization challenges facing the Air National Guard and the Air Force as a whole with Lt Gen Mike Loh, along with Mitchell Institute’s Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.) and Heather Penney.

The Air Force’s fighter inventory is too small and too old to meet demands placed upon it. Aircraft are now physically worn out and must be retired, but the Air Force lacks the necessary funding to procure a sufficient volume of new fighters to ensure the outflow of aging aircraft is matched by new replacements. We saw this in the fall of 2022 when F-15s stationed at Kadena were retired without direct, permanently assigned backfills—the aircraft were simply not available. This will be repeated absent a significant boost in the scale and scope of new aircraft buys. The modernization imperative disproportionately impacts the ANG given that those units generally possess the service’s oldest equipment. Force structure realities see the ANG necessary to meet COCOM demands, especially those tied to homeland defense. It’s time to focus on solutions.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt Gen Michael Loh, Director, Air National Guard

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 135 of the Aerospace Advantage,  Hill Update, Budget Caps, Space Trends, and Ukraine Perspectives: The Rendezvous, Doug Birkey chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Washington expert Todd Harmer, and Mitchell Senior Fellow for Space Studies Henry Heren about some of the latest national security developments.

Our conversation begins by exploring recent news from Ukraine, especially the Wagner Group’s rebellion in Russia. We also discuss how the defense bills are progressing through both the Senate and House—evaluating how priorities are faring as they work through the markup process in the various committees. We specifically focus on the modernization accounts, legislation tied to Space Force equities, how the new budget caps are going to impact spending, and whether there’s any hope for a defense supplemental. We also discuss the Hill’s take on “divest to invest.” Join us for unique air and space insights on the issues you’ve seen in the headlines.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Henry Heren, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 134 of the Aerospace Advantage, Charting the Future: Innovating and Building Next Gen UAVs, Douglas Birkey explores the future of uncrewed combat aviation with Mike Atwood, Senior Director of Advanced Programs at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.

UAVs have been a fixture in the U.S. airpower arsenal for over two decades. However, evolving operational demand, paired with new technologies, is rapidly changing the scale and scope of these aircraft. We explore this topic with one of the nation’s leading technical experts to help listeners understand where next gen UAVs fit into the operational equation, discuss the evolution of technology and requirements, while also exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the teams involved innovating and producing these systems. The discussion also outlines factors to consider as the technology evolves from the conceptual, low-rate production realm to the operational flightline in mass. Finally, what steps does industry need to take to make the next generation UAV vision succeed? What is government’s role in this process? This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Michael Atwood, Senior Director, Advanced Programs at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 133 of the Aerospace Advantage, Spacepower and the Commercial Realm: Insider Perspective, Douglas Birkey chats with Even Rogers, CEO of True Anomaly, a former Air Force weapons officer and a contributing author of the inaugural Space Force doctrine; Steve Kitay, Senior Director of Azure Space at Microsoft and a former Deputy Assist Secretary of Defense for Space Policy at DoD; and Mitchell Institute’s Tim Ryan.

The combination of an increasingly dangerous threat environment and an insatiable demand for capabilities on orbit launched a new generation of spacepower. A key element to this evolution is the ascent of commercial capabilities to secure national security effects in, through, and by space. Want proof? Just look at operations in Ukraine. Missions that were once the sole domain of government owned and operated military space architectures are now being executed through a hybrid approach highly reliant upon commercial providers. We talk about the rise of private actors in the national security space world—why they developed, how they operate, challenges and opportunities involved in the equation, and key considerations you should be thinking of as we track this important trend.

Credits:

Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Even Rogers, CEO, True Anomaly

Guest: Steve Kitay, Senior Director, Azure Space, Microsoft

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 132 of the Aerospace Advantage, Humans Are More Important Than Hardware: SOF Truth #1, John “Slick” Baum chats with longtime AFSOC pilot Col Sarah Brehm, veteran defense leader Mr. Jim “Hondo” Geurts, and AFSOC Special Tactics Officer Lt Col Steve Cooper about the United States Special Operations Command’s core values, what they call SOF Truths.

These tenets have defined the culture of SOCOM since 1987, which means they’ve connected special operators across different service components for generations—and this includes Air Force Special Operations. The first SOF Truth declares that “humans are more important than hardware.” However, given that technology permeates today’s battlefields more than ever, what does this really mean? To this point, how does the Department of Defense emphasize the importance of our human capital when the budget is geared toward the procurement of new hardware? We also explore how this ideal applies to the broader conventional force.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col Sarah Brehm, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: James "Hondo" Geurts, Former Acquisition Executive for the Navy, USMC, and USSOCOM; Distinguished Fellow, Business Executives for National Security

Guest: Lt Col Steve Cooper, Special Tactics Officer, National Security Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 131 of the Aerospace Advantage, Defense and the Budget Deal, Hill Update, ANG Fighters, and Space Trends: The Rendezvous, John “Slick” Baum chats with Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Doug Birkey, Todd Harmer, Anthony Lazarski, and Charles Galbreath about some of the latest national security developments.

Our conversation begins by exploring the new budget deal and its implications for defense. How will these new spending levels affect the Air Force and Space Force? Next, we talk about how Air Force and Space Force requests are faring on The Hill as the defense committees advance their annual authorization and appropriations bills. Our panelists also assess the legislation that was introduced by Rep Bacon (R-NE) regarding ANG fighter capacity and provide an update about the latest developments in Ukraine. We wrap with an update regarding national security space issues. Join us for unique aerospace insights on the issues you’ve seen in the headlines.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 130 of the Aerospace Advantage, F-16s and Beyond: What’s Next for Ukraine?, John Baum chats with Mitchell Institute’s Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), and Doug Birkey about building out Ukrainian airpower.

It all comes down to breaking out of the land-centric war of attrition by striking key battlefield targets, gaining situational awareness to better employ forces, and fighting for control of the sky. The Biden administration’s decision to authorize the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine, plus related efforts to train pilots, is the long-awaited breakthrough moment necessary to empower this possibility. That said, airplanes alone do not manifest effective airpower. It takes the right mix of strategy, tactics, capabilities, and technology to net desired effects. These missions will be incredibly dangerous, but the Russian air defense network does have vulnerabilities that can be exploited. It’s time to lean into sustaining the fight.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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Episode Summary:

In Episode 129 of the Aerospace Advantage, Kill Chains: From 5th Gen to JADC2, John Baum chats with Mitchell Institute’s Heather “Lucky” Penney about what it means to secure battlespace effects in the 21st century.

Combat aircraft don’t fly sorties for the sake of getting time in the air. It’s all about empowering the broader strategy. That might involve ensuring a munition hits the right aim point—or launching a non-kinetic operation, like electronic attack. Regardless of the means, netting battlespace effects with combat aircraft depends on our kill chains, the systems and processes to Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess adversary targets. The U.S. military has long relied upon its superior ability to rapidly close kill chains, but this advantage is now at risk. China has developed countermeasures to obstruct or even collapse U.S. kill chains, which could lead to combat operational failures that have devastating, long-term consequences. To overcome these challenges, the Air Force must increase the scale, scope, speed, and survivability of its kill chains. That will entail harnessing information age advantages and doubling down on the time-tested effectiveness of fielding highly capable mission aircraft in combat-relevant quantities.

Credits:

Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Heather Penney, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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