The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast: Recent Episodes

aerospacenation

The Mitchell Institute hosts some of the most senior leaders and thought influencers of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and Department of Defense for an intimate hour-long discussion on the pressing issues of the hour as well as long-term strategic visions. The live sessions are attended by a broad swath of individuals from the Department of Defense, Capitol Hill, defense industry, and academia who influence defense policy and budget, and they receive wide press coverage.

United States Air Force forward operating installations face a grave threat given air and missile threats, especially when it comes to small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAV). Recent combat events in places like Ukraine and the Middle East highlight the significance of this threat. It's time to pursue new operational concepts, tactics, and procure necessary technologies to mitigate this threat.

Join us for the release of the Mitchell Institute’s newest report exploring how the U.S. Air Force can address the sUAV threat, Defeating the Drones: The Airman’s Imperative to Defend Against Small UAV, by Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Fellow for the Mitchell Institute Center for Unmanned and Autonomy Studies.

Gen. Glen VanHerck, USAF (Ret.), former commander of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), will join the Mitchell Institute to provide his unique perspectives and insights on the report’s findings and recommendations.

Few regions are as strategically significant as the Pacific. The persistent challenges posed by adversaries like China and North Korea, the critical importance of alliances and partnerships, and the sheer scale of projecting airpower across this expansive theater make it one of the most complex and consequential areas of responsibility in the world today. Gen. Schneider is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports more than 46,000 Airmen serving principally in Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska, and Guam. Join us as Gen. Schneider provides an update on airpower and the Pacific theater.

Combat Forces Command is responsible for generating, presenting, and sustaining combat-ready space control, global operations, and combat service support forces capable of defending the nation’s interests in, from, and to space. Lt. Gen. Gagnon’s insights and deep connections with the intelligence community will paint a clear picture of the evolving threat environment and the Space Force’s ability to maintain space superiority for the nation and its warfighters.

Autonomy and AI dominate the defense debate. Whether talking about next generation collaborative combat aircraft, command and control decision making aids, or cyberspace tools–there’s no question that these technologies are reshaping national security.

Frank Kendall will join us to discuss this topic, which he explored in his recently released book “Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It Or Not.”

During his tenure as the 26th United States Secretary of the Air Force, Kendall was at the leading edge of this discussion. A veteran of the defense industry and former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, he spent his tenure overseeing the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force through a major modernization effort focused on strategic competition. Join us for this important discussion.

Lt. Gen. Steve Whitney serves as the Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J-8. In this position, he oversees the development of capabilities, conducts studies and assessments, and evaluates plans and programs for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also serves as Secretary of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council and Chairman of the Joint Capabilities Board. Lt. Gen. Whitney plays an important role in ensuring that the Air Force and Space Force are properly sized and resourced for future conflicts. He also brings valuable insights from his extensive acquisition experience. Join us for what will be a fascinating discussion with one of the senior Guardians on the Joint Staff.

Through authorization and appropriation, Congress holds the definitive power to shape military growth and readiness. As the nation’s youngest and smallest service, it is vital for the Space Force to have effective advocacy on the Hill. Leading this effort are Brigadier General Nikki Frankino, Legislative Liaison for the U.S. Space Force and Ms. Melissa Blakesly, the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison. From budget priorities and force design to long-term strategic objectives, congressional decisions will play a decisive role in determining how the Space Force develops in the years ahead. Join us for an inciteful discussion on their work, priorities, and impact shaping the Space Force at this historic moment.

Space has become an indispensable element of modern military, economic, and societal functions, yet the character of conflict in the space domain is only just emerging and is not well understood. The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) held a two-day unclassified workshop that sought to clarify how hostile acts in space might be identified, how escalation thresholds could be assessed, and what effects and response options the United States and its allies should prioritize to achieve and maintain space superiority. Join us to discuss the key findings in our newest report, Space Superiority Through the Spectrum of Conflict: Findings and Recommendations from the Conflict in Space Workshop and gain insight on how the United States must continue to build combat credibility, deter hostile behavior, control escalation, and ensure the United States’ ability to prevail in future space conflict.

Join us to learn more about current Air Force priorities with Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Lamontagne. As one of the service’s top leaders, Gen. Lamontagne plays an instrumental role in organizing, training, and equipping Airmen across the force. His insights will be incredibly valuable give this year’s historic defense investments and pressing global security requirements. This is a conversation you won’t want to miss!

With the Trump Administration requesting a major defense budget boost, it’s now up to Congress to turn this proposal into reality. To discuss this and a wide variety of national security topics, we are pleased to welcome Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX). Before his time in Congress, Congressman Pfluger graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and served for over two decades as a fighter pilot–including time as a squadron commander. After 26 years in uniform, August retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Air Force on February 1, 2026. Representing the 11th District of Texas, which includes Goodfellow Air Force Base, Congressman Pfluger is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and also serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee plus is the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Additionally, Congressman Pfluger serves as Chairman of the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors. Join us as we explore national security perspectives as seen from Capitol Hill through the lens of a combat veteran fighter pilot.

As the modern space race heats up and more humans venture into orbit and to the Moon, the Space Force will likely need to place Guardians in space to defend American interests. In the latest paper from the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence, Col (ret) Kyle “Puma” Pumroy outlines the conditions requiring future human military spaceflight and the steps the Space Force can take to make it a reality. With increasing competition for positional advantage in space exploration and the burgeoning commercial human spaceflight market, the United States is at a pivotal moment to initiate a program that will provide a crucial element for enduring space superiority. Join us for an in-depth discussion on this thought-provoking paper.

The Space Force is on the verge of one of the largest percentage budget increases of any military service in history. Brig. Gen. Christopher “Trigger” Fernengel will have a significant role in shaping what the service will prioritize and how it will manage this growth. As Resourcing Lead, he is responsible for executing U.S. Space Force programs across the Future Years Defense Plan and the Program Objective Memorandum. Join us for an in-depth discussion on how the Space Force is seizing this historic opportunity.

Gen. Stephen N. Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command, is responsible for defending U.S. and allied interests in the space domain, while also providing space-enabled combat effects to joint warfighters around the globe. He exercises combatant command authority over Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Guardians operating ground and space-based systems around the world. From growing Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender, to ongoing combat operations in Iran, and supporting NASA’s return to the Moon, the space domain has never been busier or more critical. Hear first-hand from the leader at the center of it all to learn about progress achieved, challenges remaining, and objectives on the horizon.

Ensuring Guardians and their weapon systems are combat credible demands an innovative, realistic test and training approach. The Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) is that approach—combining live and virtual elements to represent the range of threats and operating conditions the Space Force might face.

Join us for an in-depth discussion with Colonel Corey Klopstein, the Program Executive Officer for OTTI, and the Commander of System Delta 81, and Colonel Craig Hackbarth, Director of Capability, OTTI, to hear about their progress and the priorities of Space System Delta 81.

Mobility is the backbone behind any successful military operation, both in peacetime and war. Whether talking about cargo aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, or the airmen who empower the logistics enterprise, the Air Force provides fundamental elements of this capability to the nation. Lt. Gen. Rebecca Sonkiss, Deputy Commander of Air Mobility Command, joins us for a conversation to learn more about current operations and future plans for this critical mission.

Whether the U.S. Air Force can succeed in future combat operations will depend on key force design decisions and corresponding modernization choices. The Mitchell Institute assessed these courses of action in its most recent wargame. Join us for the release of our newest report, Rebuilding America’s Air Force: Balancing the Air Force’s Combat Forces for Peer Conflict, to gain insights into what operational concepts and corresponding investment decisions delivered the best mission effects. Mark A. Gunzinger, the Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, will be joined by Lt. Gen. Jason Armagost, Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Deputy Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, for this discussion.

As the newest combatant command, U.S. Space Command must rapidly advance and integrate spacepower into real world operations, and Maj. Gen. Samuel “Bull” Keener is leading the charge to do just that.

He leads efforts with allies and partners to plan, execute, and integrate military spacepower into multi-domain global operations to deter aggression, defend national interests, and when necessary, defeat threats. Join us for this can’t-miss Schriever Spacepower Series to hear first-hand how spacepower is evolving to meet emerging challenges.

Lt. Gen. Dennis Bythewood sits at the nexus between the Space Force and U.S. Space Command. He leads thousands of joint and combined personnel across 50 tactical units with the purpose of protecting and defending our interests in space. Join this upcoming Schriever Spacepower Series to hear about the accomplishments and ongoing efforts of this key component command.

Allowing adversaries to operate from operational sanctuaries is a losing proposition. A war-winning strategy for the U.S. military must involve applying long-range penetrating airpower to hold targets at risk – anytime, anywhere. This includes an adversary’s ability to launch air and missile salvos that could cripple U.S. operations.

However, decades of force cuts and deferred modernization have reduced the Air Force’s combat capacity to the point where it cannot simultaneously deter nuclear attacks, defend the U.S. homeland, and defeat adversary aggression at acceptable levels of risk.

New, long-range stealthy bombers and fighters that can deny sanctuaries to adversary forces wherever they are located are required at scale. A less-capable force cannot achieve peace through strength or win should deterrence fail. This is a strategic choice for the nation, not just the Air Force.

The authors examine this topic and solutions with guest, Gen. Tim Ray, USAF (Ret.), former Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.

Join the Mitchell Institute as Col. Jen “Boots” Reeves, USAF (Ret.) releases her latest policy paper outlining why space superiority is foundational to America’s ability to fight and win. Achieving this will demand that the other services support the Space Force and Space Command, which is a departure from the traditional notion of spacepower acting to empower terrestrial actions. This necessary evolution has major implications when it comes to strategy, operational concepts, command relations, technology investments, and basic warfighting attitudes.

Joining the discussion is Maj. Gen. Brook “Tank” Leonard, USAF (Ret.), the inaugural Chief of Staff of U.S. Space Command. This is a must see deep-dive on the institutional reforms, operational changes, cultural shifts, and new technologies required to achieve space superiority through cross-domain operations.

The National Reconnaissance Office is leading one of the most ambitious architectural transformations in intelligence history. In the last two years, the NRO has deployed more than 200 satellites. This increases both mission performance and architectural resilience in the face of growing threats around the world. As the Deputy Director of the NRO and Commander of the Space Force Element to the NRO, Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak serves two vital roles in securing access to vital space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data. Join the Mitchell Institute’s discussion with Gen Povak for an informative look at dramatic transformation occurring within the NRO.

U.S. Air Force airlift stands as the foundation for any successful military operation, whether in times of peace or war. After decades of hard use, the current airlift enterprise is small, old, and increasingly stretched too thin amidst surging demand. Emerging operational concepts, the sheer expanse of the Indo-Pacific theater, and continued high demand elsewhere around the globe places greater stress on this strained mission. The Department of War and the Air Force must expand and sustain the capacities and readiness of the airlift system. This isn’t a quick fix. It will require years of committed investment in personnel, hardware, and the broader mobility ecosystem.

Ask any pilot about what makes or breaks an aircraft, and they’ll say propulsion. A jet engine is literally the heart of an aircraft. It doesn’t matter how good the airframe’s design is if it doesn’t have the power and thrust to be able to exploit that design. America enjoys a fundamental advantage when it comes to military jet engine technology. That didn’t just happen though, it’s been earned generation after generation by developing the strategy, innovating the technology, and investing in the resources necessary to keep advancing the state of the art. That also means producing it in quantity because we need to see these aircraft operational to understand how to improve that next generation.

In this event, we’re going to talk with Steve Russell, Vice President & General Manager, Edison Works at GE Aerospace about America’s propulsion advantage. How we achieved it, where does it stand today, and where do we need to go tomorrow?

The Air Force’s commitment to generating a highly lethal force that is technologically superior, numerically sufficient, and flown by the most well-trained airmen in the world is the bedrock of deterring aggression in times of peace and prevailing in war.

However, today’s United States Air Force is the oldest, smallest, and least ready in its history. Facing the severely challenging global threat environment for the next decade and beyond, these shortfalls set the conditions for an existential national security crisis. Moreover, projected underfunding of the Air Force within the future years defense plan (FYDP) will exacerbate the service’s decline. The service’s FY 2025 budget request sought to divest 250 aircraft, while only procuring 91. The FY 2026 request seeks to divest 340 aircraft, while only acquiring 76. Anemic funding for operations and maintenance will only advance the downward trajectory of force readiness, taking already historic lows to levels once thought unfathomable. It is essential that the Trump administration and Congress reverse the service’s decline in a capacity, capability, and readiness.

The solution demands increasing the Air Force budget, while also shifting internal service funds from Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) into both procurement and operations and maintenance (O&M) accounts specifically aimed at re-establishing readiness to prevail in peer conflict. The Air Force’s innovative capabilities are only relevant if procured in operationally significant quantities and flown by an exceptionally well-trained force. If the declines in the U.S. Air Force are excused or ignored, the human and material losses we will suffer in the next major conflict risk being significant. Defeat is a very real possibility. That is a price the nation cannot afford.

Authored by Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies

Russia and China have spent the past three decades developing and fielding advanced weapons capable of striking the U.S. homeland—this includes nuclear and non-nuclear missiles. Military and civilian targets are more vulnerable to aerial attack than ever before. This is a major driver behind Golden Dome.

A Russian aircraft launching a hypersonic missile could strike New York or Washington D.C. in less than 60 minutes. Advanced cruise missiles—which are available in high numbers and at a low cost—can transit thousands of miles, evade existing radars, fly unpredictable flight paths, and deliver disastrous effects. The current devastation of major Ukrainian cities serves as a warning of what the United States could face in a future conflict.

Nowhere is the country’s exposure to attack more acute than from its Arctic approaches—the most direct corridor through which both Russia and China could strike the United States. America has dealt with similar threats before. The Cold War saw the United States install and operate extensive arrays of early warning systems to ensure advanced detection of Soviet bomber aircraft across the Arctic region. However, those systems have aged out. U.S. Arctic domain awareness capabilities and capacity are woefully insufficient to meet today’s threats. A modern, effective enterprise must detect, track, and analyze military movements and other activities in real-time by using a variety of air, surface, and space sensors that collect and share information from multiple domains. It is time for the nation to rebuild its northern tier defenses.

It’s no secret that China is America’s national security pacing threat. Join us to learn more about airpower and the Pacific theater with Gen. Kevin Schneider, Commander, Pacific Air Forces; and Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He and his team are responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports more than 46,000 Airmen serving principally in Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam. The challenges he and his team work every day are hugely consequential.

Authored by J. Michael Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies

China’s informationized warfighting strategies are specifically designed to counter America’s networked approach to warfare. This includes breaking long-range kill chains and denying penetrating strikes their highly networked reach-back connectivity. Given these vulnerabilities, it is crucial that the Air Force pursue disaggregated collaborative air operations (DCAO) as an operational concept that sidesteps these adversary strategies to dominate the battlespace information environment.

DCAO centers upon combat air forces that operate as locally networked formations, that can operate even when disconnected from broader networks. The concept relies upon a force of fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft, plus collaborative combat aircraft, that can penetrate adversary air defenses, independently sense, coordinate, and execute individual actions at the tactical edge of the battlespace. This builds upon the proven U.S. Air Force employment of effects-based operations (EBO) and parallel warfare.

Just as precision weapons and stealth aircraft enabled effects-based operations in numerous conflicts following the Cold War, fifth-generation and beyond aircraft provide battlespace information dominance capabilities to enable new warfighting concepts that can achieve decisive effects forward in highly contested areas.

The Mitchell Institute is pleased to feature Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara as its next Aerospace Nation guest. He is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration for the United States Air Force. While nuclear deterrence is always important, the current threat environment heightens the critical nature of this mission. Added to this is the reality that the U.S is in the midst of recapitalizing all three legs of its nuclear triad, plus NC3. In this position, Lt Gen Gebara is responsible for strategic deterrence policy, nuclear oversight, arms control and the Department of Defense foreign clearance program, as well as providing focus on the nuclear deterrence and countering weapons of mass destruction missions for the Air Force. Join us for what will be a most interesting conversation.

The Eighth Air Force is a storied unit with a warfighting history that dates back to the contested skies over Europe in World War II. Today, circumstances and technologies may be a bit different, but the Mighty Eighth’s mission is largely the same: to deter conventional and nuclear threats, and provide national leadership with the means to strike any target around the globe at any time.

Maj Gen Jason Armagost is a life-long combat pilot. He began his career in the F-16 and then transitioned to flying B-2s and eventually B-52s. In his current role, he leads the Air Force’s bomber and airborne nuclear command and control forces. He is also commander of the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, which serves as the central command and control node for all operations within Air Force Global Strike Command, orchestrating warfighting and readiness activities for the Commander, Air Forces Strategic.

Bombers flying long-range strike missions are one of the most important capabilities in America’s arsenal. It’s a powerful motivator to deter adversaries in times of peace, and it nets powerful results when we’re at war. Only the Air Force possesses these aircraft, they don’t exist in other U.S. or allied service branches. Add refueling tankers, air superiority fighters, and powerful electronic warfare planes, and we’re talking about an incredible force mix that manifests the attributes of true global reach and power.

Listen to the dynamic discussion with Lieutenant General DeAnna Burt, Chief Operations Officer of the United States Space Force, as we explore how the Space Force is driving innovation and integration to stay ahead in today’s contested space domain. From weaving cyber into space architectures and advancing Moving Target Indication (MTI), to sustaining weapon systems, supporting combatant commands, and deepening collaboration with allies and partners – this conversation will highlight how the Space Force is preparing for the future fight.

Integrating space capabilities across Europe and Africa present unique and growing challenges in two complex regions. As Commander of U.S. Space Forces Europe and Africa, Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton has the lead role in supporting both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command with space capabilities ranging from intelligence to navigation and communications to space electronic warfare. Join the Mitchell Institute for this important conversation with a Space Force warfighter on the leading edge.

The most important element of any military organization is its people. Within the Space Force, the responsible to train and prepare Guardians rests on Space Training and Readiness Command. To learn more about the STARCOM efforts to prepare Guardians for the warfighting domain of space, the Mitchell Institute is excited to host an in-depth discussion with the STARCOM leadership team, Maj Gen Tim Sejba and Chief Master Sergeant Karmann-Monique Pogue. Together, they are shaping the education, training, doctrine, and testing vital to ensuring Guardians have the skills and equipment to overcome any threat.

As the United States faces increasingly sophisticated threats, the importance of resilient, persistent space sensing has never been greater. Remote sensing, including detecting and tracking missile launches and monitoring weather and the EM spectrum comprises a $23 billion portfolio. Leading this critical mission is Brigadier General (S) Robert Davis, the Program Executive Officer of the Space Sensing Directorate at Space Systems Command. Join the Mitchell Institute for an important discussion on this critical portfolio.

America’s warfighting advantage depends on an innovation edge. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a key leader in that realm. Created in response to the launch of Sputnik in 1957, DARPA works to ensure America never again faces a strategic technical surprise. Their programs focus on the fundamental research required to establish proof of concept. This work is especially important given the scale and scope of the technology we face in an era defined by peer competition. Join us as we chat with DARPA Deputy Director Rob McHenry to learn more about his team’s current focus areas and key trends they see in the current security environment.

Join us for a conversation with Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE). As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Bacon chairs the subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation, while also serving on the Tactical Air and Land Forces and the Strategic Forces subcommittees.

Rep. Bacon is a retired Air Force brigadier general who served 29 years in assignments including Director of ISR Strategy, Plans, Doctrine and Force Development; command of 55th Wing and the 435th Air Base Wing; Chief of Special Operations and Intelligence Information, Multi-National Force, Iraq; and Commander, 55th Electronic Combat Group. This will be an incredibly informative conversation focusing on defense through a Congressional lens.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kelly D. Hammett to the Schriever Spacepower Series. The ability to rapidly develop and field new capabilities is essential to maintaining our nation’s strategic advantage. As head of one of the Space Force’s three acquisition organizations, Dr. Hammett leads the critical mission of delivering groundbreaking operational space capabilities that protect assets on orbit, while also defending joint and allied operations from space-enabled attack.

Join Mitchell Institute’s Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt. Gen. Shawn N. Bratton for a conversation about the newly released Space Warfighting Framework. We will explore specific areas from the framework and how they will shape future Space Force priorities and enhance the understanding of what it takes to secure the space domain.

Join us as we rollout our newest research study, authored by the Mitchell Institute’s Col. Mark A. Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.), Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments. The event will feature guest speaker Maj. Gen. Joseph D. Kunkel, Director of Force Design, Integration, and Wargaming, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures.

The U.S. Air Force is fielding a future counterair force that is sized and shaped to achieve the degree of air superiority required to defeat China in a Pacific conflict. The Air Force is developing collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) as part of that force to achieve its counterair mission requirements. This will require the Air Force and its industry partners to continue to mature technologies that are key to developing CCA that can operate in a highly collaborative fashion with other aircraft. CCA will act as force multipliers that complement—but do not replace—the service’s F-22s, F-35s, and future F-47s. This collaborative combination will pose a diverse threat that is more difficult for adversaries to accurately characterize and counter in highly dynamic, time-compressed operational environments.

For these advantages to be realized, they’ll require adequate personnel, fuel, theater airlift, etc. Logistics are a key requirement to inform key performance parameters, including the mix of CCA the Air Force acquires and how they are employed.

This report summarizes insights from the third in a series of Mitchell Institute exercises that explored the potential for CCA with autonomous technologies to perform as counterair force multipliers. Its recommendations are derived from the assessments of teams of Air Force and industry planners, operational experts, and technologists on potential CCA use cases and logistics required to generate CCA sorties during a major Pacific conflict.

United States Space Command stands on the front line of operations in, from, and to space. By providing joint and combined effects to deter, and if necessary, defeat aggression around the world and in space, USSPACECOM has rapidly grown to be one of the most critical organizations in our nation’s defense. The Mitchell Institute is pleased to welcome to the Schriever Spacepower Series LTG Tom James, Deputy Commander for United States Space Command. His unique and distinguished background will offer valuable insights on space superiority, space fires, Golden Dome, and the continued delivery of unparalleled spacepower advantage.

Launch and the assured access to space are foundational to space superiority and leveraging the unique benefits of the space domain. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen leads the Space Force team that is charged with providing assured access to space. This is an incredibly dynamic mission area—with new entrants, evolving requirements, and threat realities changing the scale and scope of space launch and range operations. Join us to hear Brig. Gen. Panzenhagen as she shares her insights on this crucial mission.

Central to the fight for space superiority is the need to preserve access to critical space services such as communications and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). These foundational capabilities enable all military operations and are essential to our nation’s nuclear deterrence.

The Mitchell Institute is thrilled to welcome to the Schriever Spacepower Series Mr. Cordell DeLaPena, the Program Executive Officer responsible for military communications and PNT. Mr. DeLaPena has a long history of excellence in acquisition and the delivery of unmatched space systems. He will provide deep insight on status and plans of his $22 billion communication and PNT portfolio and provide perspectives on the evolving space acquisition landscape.

Former U.S. Strategic Command commanders, Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Gen. Robert Kehler USAF (Ret.) and Adm. Charles A. Richard USN (Ret.) set the record straight on nuclear deterrence. Given Russia’s nuclear saber rattling, China’s nuclear break-out, and America’s nuclear triad reset, this conversation is more important than ever.

Today, a plethora of misinformation, falsehoods, and deliberate distortions concerning nuclear deterrence are espoused as “truth” in public forums. They are written in editorial pages, spoken on the news, and even touted by some members of Congress and their staffs. Left unchallenged, these statements run the risk of becoming accepted as factual by the American public. We must never underestimate the importance of the nuclear deterrent; it is the bedrock on which every element of U.S. national security depends.

Read Original Policy Paper Here: https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/on-u-s-nuclear-deterrence/

Read Follow-On Policy Paper Here: https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/defending-the-record-on-u-s-nuclear-deterrence/

The Mitchell Institute is excited to welcome Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman to the next Schriever Spacepower Series. Please join us for this insightful look at the latest Space Force priorities and initiatives. Our discussion will center on the criticality of space superiority and review the progress the Space Force is making to ensure it has the capabilities and combat-ready Guardians to achieve it.

Panelists:
• Lt Gen Dale White, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force

• Maj Gen Joseph D. Kunkel, Air Force Futures

• Brig Gen Ryan Keeney, Air Force Futures

• Chris Flynn, Pratt & Whitney

• Renee Pasman, Lockheed Martin

Panelists:
• Col Timothy M. Helfrich, Senior Materiel Leader, Advanced Aircraft Division,
Air Force Materiel Command
• Mike Shortsleeve, Vice President, Strategy Business Development, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
• Diem Salmon, Vice President for Air Dominance & Strike, Anduril Industries
• Mike Benitez, Senior Director of Strategic Product Development, Shield AI
• Robert Winkler, Vice President, Corporate Development and National Security Programs, Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Lieutenant General David A. Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff for Air Force Futures, was the lunch keynote speaker at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies' inaugural Airpower Futures Forum. Lt. Gen. Harris and the Air Force Futures team are working to ensure that the US has the right mix of new technologies, capabilities, and personnel to address whatever the future may hold.

Speakers:

Col Larry Fenner, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing

Nick Bucci, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

Paul DeLia, L3Harris

Chris Moeller, BAE Systems

Speakers:
Lt Gen Michael Koscheski, Air Combat Command
Maj Gen Jason Armagost, 8th Air Force
Doug Young, Northrop Grumman Aeronautic Systems
Billy Ray Thompson, RTX

General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, was the opening keynote speaker at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies' inaugural Airpower Futures Forum. Gen. Allvin brings a depth of both experience and thoughtful leadership to his position as the 23rd Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

The Department of the Air Force faces a crisis. Decades’ worth of insufficient budgets has slowed essential modernization, necessary capacity and key personnel investments. Air Force and Space Force leaders have warned of these risks for years. However, resource decisions were largely out of their control. As a result, the U.S. Air Force now operates the oldest and smallest aircraft inventory in its history. Combined with a lack of spare parts, an enduring pilot shortage, and falling pilot experience levels, the Air Force finds itself in a precarious condition that portends a national security disaster. The U.S. Space Force, meanwhile, is struggling to meet growing demand for the essential capabilities it provides. One of the biggest challenges: scale. The Space Force is constrained by its size and must grow as rapidly as possible.

The cost to recover the Air Force’s decline and adequately fund the growth of the Space Force will require an increase of at least $45 billion annually for at least the next five years. The Department of the Air Force underpins and enables warfare in every domain, not just air and space. Prioritizing these capabilities can help the Trump defense team achieve its objective of “pursue peace through strength” but doing so requires a new way of doing business and in particular not the conventional stove-piped, “salami slice” budget cutting approach. Using cost-per-effect assessments to make optimal decisions, the new administration can achieve the best use of the nation’s resources. There is no time left to delay reversing the Department of the Air Force’s current course. The fixes must start now, or the United States risks losing the next major war.

The Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) convened its inaugural space workshop in October 2024. The workshop assembled 55 subject matter experts from across the national security space landscape to examine the Chief of Space Operations’ theory of Competitive Endurance against a set of potential challenges over the next 25 years of competition. The Space Endurance Workshop provided participants with a venue to define the actions, conditions, and effects necessary for the United States, our allies, and partners to preserve U.S. and Coalition leadership in space.

The Space Force must proactively lead cooperative efforts with Allies and international and commercial Partners to fully integrate and synchronize capability development and operations in a deliberate manner to ensure the most effective and efficient use of resources for all
Over a protracted competition with China, the ability of the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command, Allies, and Partners to have a spacepower advantage hinges on maintaining popular support and national will
To gain support and sustain national will, the Space Force must actively and continually articulate why it exists and what it does to Congress, the American people, and even to Guardians
Given existing policy, budget, and personnel realities, the Space Force’s Theory of Competitive Endurance provides a stable way forward but may create unintended consequences that undermine a warfighting mentality and Guardian identity
Systemic issues exist within the Space Force and Department of Defense threatening the success of the Space Force in a long-term competition with China, e.g., proper authorities and resources, a lack of clearly defined and understood roles & missions, and a warfighting ethos
Workshop findings reinforced that existing Space Force lines of effort, such as improved domain awareness, architecture resilience, and security classification reform, are critical and must be expanded to overcome a range of challenges that the United States might face throughout an extended competition
For the Space Force to succeed as a military service, defensive and offensive counterspace operations must be normalized with warfighting operations to gain superiority like those in all other domains performed by the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps

Bottom line, the U.S. Air Force does not have enough pilots to sustain a credible combat force in peacetime, much less during a prolonged high-intensity conflict. History demonstrates that without depth of experienced aircrew, air forces collapse in major conflicts because they cannot continue operations as losses mount. While this crisis extends across the entire pilot force, the shortfall in fighter pilots is especially dire. Solving these challenges will require the Air Force to grow the size of both its aircraft inventory and pilot force, while simultaneously increasing the experience levels of its combat pilots across its Total Force.

Hostile actions by Russia, Iran, and China clearly show that the United States is struggling when it comes to shaping the national security environment and deterring adversaries. The U.S. military no longer has the capability and capacity to defend the rules-based international order that has long been the cornerstone of its foreign policy. Absent a reset, this failure of deterrence could very well lead to a war between the United States and China.

Deficiencies of the 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Reform Act severely restrict the ability on the services to prioritize long-term strategic threats in favor of the immediate, non-combat demands of the combatant commands and civilian defense bureaucracy. Too often, long-term defense procurement strategies and requirements are neglected given these dynamics. The resulting failure of U.S. forces to prudently modernize and recapitalize have emboldened America’s adversaries to use violence to pursue their expansionist goals, setting the United States on a path toward a great power war. To prevent this and retain the current rules-based world order, it is time for a new vector.

Whether discussing Operational Imperatives, advancing new technologies like Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), launching Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition, or overseeing dramatic advancement in Space Force capabilities, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s tenure will continue to shape the Air Force and Space Force for decades into the future.

Hear from the Secretary as he reflects upon his accomplishments, while also exploring what challenges require continued attention.

There’s no question about it: the Indo-Pacific is one of the most impactful theaters around the globe today. Threats posed by adversaries like China and North Korea, challenges and opportunities involved with allies and partners, plus unique factors involved with projecting airpower across a region so large combine to make this area of responsibility incredibly unique.

Listen to learn more about airpower and the Indo-Pacific as we chat with Gen Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of Pacific Air Forces; and Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Global Strike Command uniquely embodies the notion of combat power anytime, anywhere. In command of two legs of the nuclear triad, as well as conventional long-range strike capabilities, Global Strike Command provides decisive combat effects that are foundational to the U.S. for deterrence strategy.

After 5 years as a service, the U.S. Space Force continues to evolve not only its operations, but also its personnel management strategies. First-of-a-kind legislation has all eyes on the Space Force as it merges part-time and Active-duty military members. As the smallest and newest service, the Space Force is on the cutting edge of multiple personnel initiatives. Ms. Katharine Kelley, the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital, walks us through the challenges and opportunities in the people realm of standing up a new military branch.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is at the forefront of revolutionizing how the Department of Defense acquires, develops, and deploys next-generation space capabilities. SDA is a key element of a space architecture that is more agile and resilient than any before.

Dr. Derek Tournear, the Director of the Space Development Agency, provides updates on SDA’s progress and future plans.

As our youngest military branch, the U.S. Space Force is still rapidly evolving to meet the challenges of an increasingly contested space domain. At the heart of this evolution is the newly established U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S), which serves as the Space Force service component to U.S. Space Command, the newest combatant command.

Listen to our conversation with Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, the inaugural commander of S4S, as he takes us through the journey of its stand-up, its make-up, and a look to its future.

The Indo-Pacific region encompasses over half the world’s population, accounting for 60% of global GDP. China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and Taiwan are all key players in the region—and the world. But destabilizing behavior by China and North Korea threaten a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific was established two years ago to ensure commanders in the region have access to the space capabilities they need. As a component of INDOPACOM, its job is to ensure space capabilities and effects are integrated into joint and combined military operations with allies and partners.

Listen to our in-depth discussion with Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, commander of U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific.

Since 1960, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has developed, acquired, launched, and operated our nation’s eyes and ears in space. Maintaining a spacepower advantage requires the NRO and Space Force to work closely together. This not only helps address the increasing threats posed to defense and intelligence satellites but is also essential as critical U.S. warfighting functions, such as ground-moving target indication, transition to the space domain.

Join us for an insightful discussion with Dr. Troy Meink, Deputy Director of the NRO, as we examine the NRO’s relationship with the Space Force and learn more about how the NRO is changing to meet emerging challenges in the space domain.

Strong alliances and robust space capabilities underpin global stability. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its growing emphasis on the importance of the space domain exemplify both facts. For the past 75 years, NATO has been the pinnacle alliance for the United States and the front line of deterrence against Russia. Now, as we see Russia and China cooperating militarily and weapons around the globe can threaten the space capabilities critical to NATO, the challenges NATO faces are greater than ever. Join us for an in-depth discussion with Maj. Gen. Devin R. Pepper to learn how NATO is responding to the rapidly evolving and complex global security environment.

Celebrating from Peterson Space Force Base, we dive into an in-depth discussion with a panel of senior USSPACECOM leaders, including Gen Whiting, Commander; RADM Pennington, Chief of Staff; and Air Commodore Whiteley, the Deputy J5 to learn more about the progress the Command has made, current priorities, and future objectives.

Operational Imperatives, re-optimizing for great power competition, and a security environment experiencing massive change—these are just a portion of the challenges Dr. Grayson has focused on over the past few years. Given his time at DARPA, the Intelligence Community, and the technology world, Dr. Grayson brings an incredibly unique perspective. With the scale and scope of his portfolio, he is shaping future vectors for air and space power that will be felt for decades. Join us for an insightful discussion with Dr. Grayson to better understand where the Department of the Air Force is headed and why.

The airmen at U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa are charged with addressing some of the most complex security challenges on the globe. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has dramatically altered the security calculus in the region and beyond. At the same time, in Africa, the U.S. is facing a complex mix of challenges: everything from violent extremism to the increasing influence of both China and Russia. Airpower is vital to empower smart policy options and strategies in both regions.

The Air Force is at the epicenter of generational transformation. The security environment is posing severe risks the likes of which have not been seen in decades; the force is in the middle of a massive modernization cycle—including two legs of the nuclear triad and NC3; the information age is radically redefining elements of how missions are executed; and the attributes required for individual Airmen to meet mission objectives continue to evolve. All of this is occurring at a time of extreme budget pressure, high COCOM demand, and challenges tied to recruiting and retention. This is a no-fail era for the Air Force. The decisions made in the coming years will radically impact options available to future leaders for decades.

Key Takeaways:
- SmallSats will be an essential element to deliver space superiority within the construct of Competitive Endurance

Improvements in space domain awareness and responsible counterspace operations are possible with SmallSats
The low cost, rapid development timelines, and versatility of SmallSats can keep the Space Force ahead of competitors and adversaries
Changes to space acquisition, operations, and sustainment will enable the full adoption of SmallSats into the space architecture

With China engaged in a nuclear break-out, Russia upgrading its nuclear capabilities, plus Iran and North Korea aggressively pursuing their nuclear ambitions—a credible, capable, and safe U.S. nuclear deterrent is more important than ever. The imperatives are clear: to deter adversaries, reassure allies, and provide national leaders with key options whether in peacetime or war. That is why it is so important the U.S. pursue modernization for all three legs of its nuclear triad, including command and control. While present capabilities remain viable, their advanced age and the evolution of the threat environment demand new solutions. This is especially true for the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missile and bomber legs of the triad. Lt Gen Gebara is a key defense leader in this effort.

Brig Gen Michael “Jekyll” Winkler, USAF (Ret.), the Deputy Director for Air and Cyberspace Operations of the Pacific Air Forces, and Mitchell's J. Michael Dahm explore how the Department of Defense and Congress can and must prepare the Air Force to fight from their forward air bases to generate combat effects while under attack.

Link to the report

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our Aerospace Nation with Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander, Air Combat Command.

Whether discussing missions like air superiority, air battle management, electromagnetic spectrum operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or combat search and rescue—the airmen of ACC execute missions that are foundational to modern warfare. Ask any combatant commander and they want more ACC airpower. However, years of budget pressures and non-stop operational deployments have yielded a force that is stretched thin. This decade marks a major wave of modernization to reset units throughout ACC, with many of these investments combining long standing tenets of air warfare with new realities of the information age. Pair those realities with a burgeoning threat environment and it is clear General Wilsbach and his team are looking at a distinct number of challenges and opportunities. What’s beyond certainty is that ACC will be an essential actor in any operation today and tomorrow.

Listen to our thought-provoking conversation with one of America’s top air commanders to learn where ACC is today and where it’s going in the future.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt Gen David N. Miller, Jr., Commander, Space Operations Command, United States Space Force.

As part of Great Power Competition, the United States today confronts numerous threats to our space capabilities and infrastructure. China has demonstrated the ability to strike ground sites, command and control networks, and satellites in orbit. Ensuring the Space Force is postured for this operational reality is the responsibility of the Space Operations Command (SpOC) under the command of Lt Gen David “Rock” Miller, Jr.

Listen to our event audio for an insightful discussion with Lt Gen Miller about SpOC priorities and current efforts to meet and overcome emerging challenges to our space superiority.

It’s no secret: whether considering the relative scale of Russia’s military power or confining rules of engagement, Ukraine’s fight to reclaim territory is challenging. Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and co-author Dr. Christopher Bowie released a new solution-oriented report on the conflict that includes a comprehensive, integrated approach for Ukraine to achieve air superiority. As part of this discussion, Gen Philip M. Breedlove, USAF (Ret.), the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations; Gen Tod Wolters, USAF (Ret.), the 19th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations; and Gen Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF (Ret.), former Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, also offered their perspectives..

The report is informed by a recent trip Lt Gen Deptula took to Ukraine to help advise members of their military leadership team. Topics discussed center around strategy and concepts of operation, especially through an airpower lens. A largely ground-centric approach to the conflict has yielded a brutal attrition fight—one that numerically favors Russia. Airpower could provide Ukraine with the edge it needs to gain an advantage over the Russians, break through their front lines, and change the course of the war. Given what is at stake in this fight—especially with China watching—it is crucial to consider alternate courses of action.

With their combined decades of experience and given their unique perspectives on Ukraine, the conversation between Lt Gen Deptula, Gen Breedlove, Gen Harrigian, and Dr. Bowie was incredibly thought-provoking, insightful, and direct. Bottom line, it is time to start focusing on what it looks like to win, and not just avoid losing day-by-day.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our Schriever Spacepower Series with Gen Stephen N. Whiting, Commander, United States Space Command, United States Space Force.

Space capabilities, services, and effects are now an indispensable part of daily life and foundational to the structure and operation of the U.S. military. United States Space Command is the Combatant Command charged with ensuring that the American people, and American warfighters in particular, never experience a day without space. That responsibility is more important and more challenging than ever. Increasing threats, growing congestion, and expanding opportunities in the domain add complexity and criticality to Space Command's mission.

Listen to this in-depth discussion with Gen Whiting to learn more about the mission of the newest Combatant Command, its interactions with the Space Force and other services, and how it is leading the way in space.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy the rollout for our latest report: Digital Engineering: Accelerating the Defense Acquisition and Development Cycle in an Era of Strategic Competition, authored by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, with Brian Morra, Non-Resident Visiting Fellow.

In this event, Ms. Penney discussed her findings with Dave Tremper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Acquisition Integration and Interoperability; Drake Harris, Director, ADP Integrated Systems Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin; and Jeffrey Reed, Director Of Engineering – Digital Transformation, Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) faces severe capability and capacity shortfalls. Despite the urgent need to rapidly recapitalize the force, modernization lags strategic demands. Digital engineering promises to boost these efforts. Advancements in systems engineering, design, modeling, simulation, and even production can provide benefits across the entire lifecycle of a weapon system. This includes manufacturing, operation, and sustainment.

Said more simply, implementing digital engineering practices has the potential to accelerate the development and fielding of capability. New-start defense acquisition programs can fully exploit these advantages, which will save time and resources. Digital engineering can also benefit legacy weapon systems in more focused areas like sustainment and modernization.

This report explores this crucial topic, helping provide foundational insights and explaining how and when digital engineering will yield best outcomes, while also detailing where returns will be limited.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt Gen Philip Garrant, Commander, Space Systems Command, United States Space Force.

He discussed SSC’s reinvigorated culture and focus on delivering war-winning space capabilities. We also explored the implementation of the new DOD and USSF Commercial Space Strategies and the imperatives of speed and innovation facing the Space Force.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Schriever Spacepower Series with Maj Gen Gregory J. Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, United States Space Force. He discussed the growing threats to our space capabilities and expanding the use of space by potential adversaries posing increased hazards to joint and coalition operations. Critical to overcoming these challenges is the successful integration of commercial and partner information. The conversation was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Aerospace Nation with the Royal Air Force’s Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander, NATO Allied Air Command. As NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary, the organization’s mission is more important than ever. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, paired with a broader slate of global threats, demand a collaborative approach to safeguard our security interests with member nations. Airpower is a key means through which NATO members can both deter adversaries in times of peace and project decisive power in times of conflict. Member states routinely train for combined operations, with missions like the USAF’s bomber task force exercises and allied participation at Red Flag standing as key examples. The notion of allied NATO airpower is rapidly evolving thanks to a generational wave of modernization with member air forces, much of which is focused on 5th Generation technologies like the F-35 and RPA systems such as the MQ-9. Listen to our conversation with a key leader of NATO’s Allied Air Command to gain fresh insights about the command’s top issues as it adapts to a rapidly changing security environment.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen David A. Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures, Headquarters, United States Air Force.

Lt Gen Harris shared his thoughts on developing Air Force strategy and concepts, delivering an integrated force design, conducting strategic assessments of the operating environment through wargames and workshops, and achieving timely and effective operational capabilities required for tomorrow’s Airmen to fight and win.

Bottom line, the Air Force is in the middle of a generational evolution when it comes to developing operational concepts, fielding technologies, and pursuing new levels of force integration. Lt Gen Harris leads the crafting of the future force design that keeps U.S. airpower well ahead of the threat. This is a video you will not want to miss!

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. The closing keynote speaker was MG Brian W. Gibson, Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy U.S. Space Command.

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. The third panel comprised Brig Gen Devin R. Pepper, Deputy Commanding General, Operations, and Vice Commander, Space Operations Command; Dr. Kelly Hammett, Director & PEO, Space Rapid Capabilities Office; Robert “Otis” Winkler, Vice President, Corporate Development and National Security Programs, Kratos Defense; Mike Neylon, Director, Space Protection & Control, Raytheon; and Dr. John “Patsy” Klein, Senior Fellow and Strategist at Falcon Research, Inc., Adjunct Professor at George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute, and Georgetown University’s Strategic Studies Program. Moderated by Col Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence.

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. The second panel comprised Lt Gen Douglas A. Schiess, Commander, U. S. Space Forces-Space and Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander; Maj Gen Gregory Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, United States Space Force; Brig Gen James Smith, Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear; Scott Forney, President, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems; and Kevin Giammo, Director of Space Surveillance and Environmental Monitoring, Northrop Grumman. Moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. Fireside chat with Dr. John F. Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy and Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. The first panel comprised Dr. Derek Tournear, Director of the Space Development Agency; Col Scott Klempner, Deputy PEO, Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power, Space Systems Command; Joe Laurienti, CEO, Ursa Major; and Johnathon Caldwell, Vice President & Deputy General Manager, National Security Space, Lockheed Martin. Moderated by Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. The opening keynote speaker was Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our rollout for our newest paper: The Need for Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Disruptive Air Warfare by Mark A. Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, with Maj Gen Lawrence A. Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Mitchell's Director of Research, and Bill Sweetman. This discussion featured Robert Winkler, Vice President, Corporate Development and National Security Programs, Kratos Defense, and Curtis Wilson, Senior Director, Emergent Missions, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The event was moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

This report is a product of the Mitchell Institute’s wargames and related research that involved expert participants from the Air Force warfighter communities, defense technologists, and industry. It strongly supports the Air Force’s proposition that CCA will help mitigate the Air Force’s existing—and growing—capability and capacity gaps that threaten its ability to achieve air superiority in a conflict with the pacing threat. However, while CCA may provide affordable mass to bolster an otherwise dwindling inventory of crewed combat aircraft, CCA combined with crewed 5th and future 6th combat aircraft have the potential to disrupt China’s A2/AD operations and then deny and impose costs as called for by the National Defense Strategy. The stakes for creating this new, hybrid force design have never been higher, given China’s unchecked campaign to field new A2/AD weapon systems and proliferate them to other actors that threaten the security of the United States and its allies and friends.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy the rollout for our newest policy paper: The Quantum Advantage: Why it Matters and Essential Next Steps by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow. She was joined by Dr. Michael Hayduk, Deputy Director, Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate and Laura Thomas, Chief of Staff, Infleqtion. The event was moderated by Lt Gen Dave USAF (Ret.) Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute. Quantum information science and technology (QIST) is a major focus of defense innovation, yet few in the defense community really understand what is needed to mature these technologies into valuable warfighter capabilities. U.S. policy makers often jump to quantum computing when speaking of QIST advantages. Yet, other quantum applications are advancing at a pace that can fix known defense vulnerabilities and capability gaps within the next five years—things like timing, navigation, sensing, and radio frequency reception. Because many applications are defense specific, DoD needs an investment strategy that goes well beyond research and development. This series of reports by Heather Penney helps to demystify the science behind quantum technologies, explain why securing a lead in this field matters to warfighters, and recommend next steps U.S. defense leaders should take to achieve a quantum advantage.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our rollout for our newest policy paper: Securing Cislunar Space and the First Island Off the Coast of Earth by Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies. He was joined by Thomas A. Lockhart Jr., Director, Capability and Resource Integration, U.S. Space Command, Dr. Joel B. Mozer, former United States Space Force Director of Science, Technology and Research, and Jim Bridenstine, former NASA administrator. The event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

This paper discusses how the United States and China are locked in a race to harness the scientific, economic, and national security benefits related to the exploration of the Moon and the region of space affected by the gravity of both the Earth and Moon, known as the cislunar regime. The USSF and U.S. Space Command must have the capabilities to secure growing interests in this region and help the United States and our allies win the race. Losing means we risk the authoritarian territorial mindset of China becoming the established norm, impeding freedom of operations, and threatening peaceful endeavors, just as we are seeing in the South China Sea. Modest, early investment is crucial to winning this race and reduces the future need for larger investments to overcome an advantage ceded to China.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt Gen DeAnna Burt, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear.

Lt Gen Burt discusses the state of space operations and initiatives to assure continued access to and use of the space domain in the face of increasing kinetic, non-kinetic, and cyber threats. This event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest policy paper: Winds of Change: Environmental Monitoring for an Era of Peer Competition by Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) .

The discussion was joined by Col Patrick C. Williams, Director of Weather, U.S. Air Force, and Lt Col Joseph L. Maguadog, Materiel Leader, EO/IR Weather Systems, Space Systems Command. The discussion was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, MI-SPACE.

The U.S. military requires a more effective, reliable, and resilient space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM) capability. The ability to employ forces, launch munitions, and coordinate actions in the terrestrial battlespace depends on environmental conditions. However, the weather mission is often taken for granted, and the current space-based weather satellites are old, fragile, and in dire need of reset. This report explores the SBEM mission, explains the Space Force’s future vector, and discusses how new mission demands, like JADC2, are impacting this undertaking.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Mr. Thomas J. Lawhead, acting Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures.

Mr. Lawhead discussed how his organization embodies “the voice of tomorrow’s airmen,” with the mission of ensuring that the Air Force is organized, trained, and equipped to successfully face competitors with confidence in future conflicts. Mr. Lawhead also covered the most impactful trends forecasted by Air Force Futures and how they inform long-term force planning and capability requirements.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Lt Gen Kevin B. Kennedy, Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber, and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force). Lt Gen Kennedy discussed the priorities of the Sixteenth Air Force regarding cyber and electronic capabilities, along with their associated operational concepts and strategies.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to Schriever Spacepower Series with Dr. Lisa Costa, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO).

Dr Costa discussed how the United States Space Force is leveraging digital technologies such as Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (MS&A) and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) to increase the effects generated by a lean Guardian workforce. This event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to Aerospace Nation with Gen Luca Goretti, Chief of Staff, Italian Air Force. Gen Goretti discussed Italian Air Force priorities regarding technologies, operational concepts, and associated strategies.

Our two air forces operate common systems like the F-35 and MQ-9, plus the two air forces have shared security interests around the globe. This creates a key allied relationship rooted in the advocacy of using airpower to provide options for our nation’s leaders to address security challenges. The partnership of the U.S. and Italian Air Force is a model for building synergy in an allied relationship. Hear from one of the leading airpower voices in Europe.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to Schriever Spacepower Series with Maj Gen Christopher Povak, Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office.

General Povak joined us to discuss the latest details regarding how the NRO develops, acquires, launches, and operates the latest space-based intelligence assets. This event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Aerospace Nation with Brig Gen Michael Zuhlsdorf, Deputy Director, Resource Integration - Engineering, Logistics, and Force Protection; Col James Hartle, Associate Director of Logistics, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection; Col Patrick Launey, Chief, Logistics Readiness Division and Logistics Readiness Officer Career Field Manager, Directorate of Logistics; and Mr. Todd Serres, Associate Chief, Command and Control and Integrated Air and Missile Defense Division within the Training and Readiness Directorate/DCS Operations.

As the leads for Secretary Frank Kendall’s fifth operational imperative, “Defining optimized resilient basing, sustainment, and communications in a contested environment,” Brig Gen Zuhlsdorf, Col Hartle, Col Launey, and Mr. Serres joined us to share their perspectives on these key topics, with particular focus on the U.S. Air Force's approach to Agile Combat Employment (ACE).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Schriever Spacepower Series event with Lt Gen John E. Shaw, Deputy Commander, U.S. Space Command.

Gen Shaw discussed the various challenges facing U.S. Space Command in its mission to protect and defend critical space systems from the growing threats posed by China and Russia, as well as provide insights into the Command’s plans for its continuing support to the joint fight around the world.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest policy paper: Accelerating 5th-Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge by Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret.), former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow; Douglas Birkey, Mitchell Institute Executive Director; and Eric Gunzinger, former F-35 Program Manager for Flight Simulation Test and Evaluation. They were joined by Gen Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa; and Commander, Allied Air Command. The event was moderated by Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest policy paper: Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense by Charles Galbreath. He was joined by Maj Gen David N. Miller Jr., Director of Operations, U.S. Space Force and Robert Atkin, Vice President, Special Space Systems, General Atomics. The event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, (MI-SPACE).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen the rollout of our newest policy paper: Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air and Missile Threats to the Homeland by Dr. Caitlin Lee. Dr. Lee was joined by Gen Glen D. VanHerck, Commander, United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command. The event was moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF, (Ret.) Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The U.S. military’s ability to detect, track, and defeat a long-range aviation and cruise missile strikes emanating from the Arctic has degraded significantly since the height of the Cold War. This is particularly concerning given Chinese and Russian activities in the region.

Improved U.S. and allied domain awareness can go a long way in bolstering deterrence against conventional air and cruise missile threats. Adversaries will be disinclined to launch strikes on the U.S. homeland if they know the United States is anticipating an attack and creating options to dissuade it. It comes down to empowering U.S. leaders with decision-quality information more quickly than adversaries to underwrite a comprehensive “missile defeat” strategy.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Schriever Spacepower Series event with Gen David D. Thompson, Vice Chief of Space Operations. Gen Thompson discussed challenges and opportunities facing the Space Force in the broader context of the threat environment and America’s security requirements in space.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to Aerospace Nation with Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Gen Brown discussed the lessons from his tenure as Air Force Chief, the challenges of building capability and capacity under budget constraints, and the critical importance of America’s Airmen in great power competition.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Schriever Spacepower Series event with Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting, Commander of Space Operations Command. Gen Whiting discussed the space domain’s criticality to national security, the latest in space technologies and tracking, and space’s role in winning our kill chain competitions.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen Leah G. Lauderback, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Cyber Effects Operations. Lt Gen Lauderback discusses what it means to successfully fight and win in the information age with the full spectrum of ISR and cyber tools the USAF brings to the equation.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest policy paper: Scale, Scope, Speed, and Survivability: Winning the Kill Chain Competition by Heather Penney. She was joined by Brig Gen Richard A. Goodman, Commander, 57th Wing.

In this report, Penney explains how “kill chain” is an enduring framework for the process of securing battlespace effects. Often, this means putting a bomb or missile on target, all while the adversary is attempting to do the same against U.S. forces. Winning this kill chain competition matters. Due to the rapid advance and proliferation of technology in an era of peer competition, the dominance of U.S. kill chains is eroding. This report proposes four principles—scale, scope, speed, and survivability—to successfully guide Air Force efforts as they develop capabilities and operational concepts that can successfully deter and, if necessary, prevail against the People’s Liberation Army. This research report helps lay out key considerations necessary for understanding how to build kill chains that can win now and into the future.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to the Schriever Spacepower Series with Maj Gen Shawn N. Bratton, Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command. Maj Gen Bratton joins us to discuss Space Force training, education and doctrine, and STARCOM’s contributions to space warfighting.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen Richard G. Moore, Jr., Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, United States Air Force and Lt Gen Philip A. Garrant, Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs, and Requirements, United States Space Force. The general officers discussed the nature of modern adversary threats, cooperation with allies and partners, and how our forces are preparing to overcome operational challenges in this vast and unique theater.

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023
April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA.

Closing Keynote: Dr. Lisa A. Costa, SES, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO), USSF:
Dr. Lisa A. Costa, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the first permanent Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) of the United States Space Force. In this role, she is charged with unlocking and harnessing innovation to leverage increased speed and advantage.

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023
April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA.

A Vision for Proliferated Orbits and Small Satellites:Space Force leaders have repeatedly discussed the advantages they expect to accrue by placing a larger number of smaller, simpler satellites into orbit as part of integrated, collaborative low earth orbit constellations. Not only does this promise to deliver capability in a faster, lower-cost fashion, it also eliminates single points of failure. This panel will discuss this vision and provide an update regarding how Space Force leaders are seeing this concept evolve—driven both by operational requirements and the threat.

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

Brig Gen Timothy A. Sejba, Program Executive Officer, Space Systems Command
Brig Gen Timothy A. Sejba is the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power and the PEO for Battle Management, Command, Control, and Communications, Space Systems Command. He directs two diverse portfolios of over 60 programs and $12B+ encompassing a wide-range of mission areas, which include space domain awareness, space control, strategic warning and surveillance, defensive cyber operations, innovation and prototyping, and operational and tactical command and control systems.

Col Eric Felt, Director of Space Architecture and Integration, USSF
Col Eric Felt is the Director of Space Architecture & Integration of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition & Integration.

Robert Atkin, Vice President of Asymmetric Systems Group, General Atomics-EMS
Robert Atkin is the Vice President of the Asymmetric Systems Group with GA-EMS. Prior to this he was the President and CEO of Tiger Innovations Inc. which specialized in developing spacecraft and space-related systems for a broad range of US Government customers and particularly small, lightweight and low-power innovative solutions.

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

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023
April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA.

Lunch Keynote: Dr. Derek Tournear, Director, Space Development Agency:
SDA is responsible for unifying and integrating the Department’s space development efforts, monitoring the Department’s threat-driven future space architecture, and accelerating fielding of new military space capabilities necessary to ensure U.S. technological and military advantages in space.

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023
April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA.

Space’s Role in North American Defense: Missile Warning and Tracking:
Adversaries are increasingly developing long-range strike missiles that legacy ground-based radars are unable to track in the time needed to provide warning and cue defenses. They are also fielding anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons to degrade or destroy existing U.S. space-based missile warning sensors. This panel will explore operational concepts and associated technologies required to address these threats.

Moderator: Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella, Jr, USAF (Ret.), Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Lt Gen DeAnna M. Burt, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, USSF
As the Chief Operations Officer, Lt Gen Burt has overall responsibility for Operations, Sustainment, Cyber, and Nuclear Operations of the United States Space Force.

Edward Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris
Ed Zoiss is responsible for business strategy, financial performance, successful execution and growth for the segment. This segment includes an extensive portfolio of solutions in intelligence, surveillance, space systems, space superiority, electronic warfare, mission avionics, wireless solutions and C4I systems.

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

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023

April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA.

A Mission to Protect and Defend Assets in Space:
Space is no longer a peaceful domain, but instead a region increasingly contested both kinetically and non-kinetically by U.S. adversaries. As in any other domain, it is not sovereign, and forces must be able to protect U.S. freedom of action. This demands that the U.S. national security space community, particularly Space Command and the Space Force, consider new strategies, operational concepts, and associated technologies that will ensure desired effects can be secured in the face of hostile adversary action on orbit. This panel should consider discussing concepts that will be highlighted in response to the FY23 NDAA language requiring an unclassified study on this subject.

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

Maj Gen David N. Miller, Director of Operations, Training and Force Development, USSPACECOM
As the J3, Maj Gen Miller is responsible for executing full-spectrum space operations, maintaining credible space deterrence capabilities, providing analytical planning support, combatant command’s participation in joint and combined exercises, and for the education, training, and assessments of assigned and attached space forces.
Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, Mitchell Insitute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.) is the Explorer Chair at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE). General Chilton served for 34 1/2 years in the Air Force, was a three-time astronaut, and was Commander of U.S. Strategic Command.

Stacy Kubicek, Vice President & General Manager for Mission Solutions, Lockheed Martin
Stacy Kubicek is Vice President and General Manager for the Mission Solutions line of business within Lockheed Martin Space. In this role, she is responsible for approximately 4,400 employees and an annual sales base of over $1.5B in support of government defense and intelligence agencies.

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023 April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA.

Opening Keynote: Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations:As Chief, Gen Saltzman serves as the senior uniformed Space Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of all organic and assigned space forces serving in the United States and overseas.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the next session of our Operational Imperative Series on Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD. Join us for a panel discussion with the Air Force leaders collaborating on this imperative: Maj Gen R. Scott Jobe, Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command; Maj Gen Heather L. Pringle, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory; Maj Gen Evan C. Dertien, Commander, Air Force Test Center; and Brig Gen Dale R. White, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft.

Autonomy, combined with 6th generation weapon system performance, is what our nation needs to meet the challenges of the future threat environment. Our panelists provide substantive insights on NGAD, ranging from requirements definition and program management to leading-edge engineering approaches and technology development.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation with Gen Mark D. Kelly, Commander of Air Combat Command, and Gen James B. Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa, and Allied Air Command.

Europe and Africa encompass a region marked by distinct security considerations, whether discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, expanding NATO membership base, or continued threat posed by violent extremists in parts of Africa. Air Combat Command is a key force provider for U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, with General Kelly and his team ensuring the right mix of capability and capacity are trained and available in theater. This conversation explores these security challenges and how we go about meeting requirements through the virtues and value afforded by airpower.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest research paper: Understanding the B-21 Raider: America’s Deterrence Bomber by Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments.

Gunzinger was joined by Maj Gen Jason R. Armagost, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Air Force Global Strike Command to discuss the opportunities the B-21 program presents. They discussed the need to rebuild a U.S. bomber force that can provide theater commanders with the range, capacity, and precision they need to defeat peer aggression, and then sustain operations to secure the peace. The B-21 also plays a key role as part of the nation’s nuclear triad.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation with Gen Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander, Pacific Air Forces and Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. General Wilsbach discussed the nature of modern adversary threats, cooperation with allies and partners, and how our forces are preparing to overcome operational challenges in this vast and unique theater.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen James C. Slife, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. Against the backdrop of quickly changing security threats, General Slife discussed the latest on Air Force global operations, force management, training, and readiness. The event was moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Schriever Spacepower Forum with Dr. John F. Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. Dr. Plumb joined us to discuss his perspective on space infrastructure, space capabilities and defining the threat environment.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Lt Gen James Dawkins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration and Maj Gen Michael Lutton, Commander, Twentieth Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command. The Generals discuss the importance of the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise to the Nation’s security, how the global nuclear landscape has changed, and how the Air Force is progressing on recapitalizing its nuclear forces.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Gen Tod D. Wolters, USAF (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. European Command and former NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout for our newest research paper: The Next Frontier: UAVs for Great Power Conflict – Part I: Penetrating Strikeby Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow for UAV and Autonomy Studies and Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Maj Gen Scott Jobe, Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command; Brig Gen Dale R. White, Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command; David R. Alexander, President, Aircraft Systems Group General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.; along with Steve Fendley, President, Unmanned Systems Division at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions join the discussion moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Aerospace Nation event with Lauren Knausenberger, Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Air Force, which includes both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.

Ms. Knausenberger leads two directorates and supports 20,000 cyber operations and support personnel around the globe. She provides oversight of the Air Force’s Information Technology portfolio including the Information Technology investment strategy from networks to cloud computing, Enterprise policies, information resources management, IT innovation initiatives, information assurance, and related matters for the Department of the Air Force. As Chief Information Officer (CIO), Ms. Knausenberger delivers cyber security, and enforces Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act laws. She integrates Air Force warfighting and mission support capabilities by networking and securing air, space, and terrestrial assets. Ms. Knausenberger also leads career management initiatives for 10,000 IT/Cyber civilian personnel across all human resources facets from recruiting to professional development.

Watch the Mitchell Institute’s virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Gen James H. Dickinson, Commander, U.S. Space Command for an update on the wide variety of challenges and opportunities facing U.S. Space Command in its mission of protecting and defending vital space systems against the growing threat from Russia and China 100km and up, as well as insight into the Command’s way ahead for its continuing warfighting support mission on Earth.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Maj Gen Shawn N. Bratton, Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command. Maj Gen Bratton joined us to discuss Space Force Training, Education and Doctrine and STARCOM’s contributions to space warfighting.

Listen to the Mitchell Institute’s rollout for our newest policy paper: Decades of Air Force Underfunding Threaten America’s Ability to Win by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, and Mark A. Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Joining the discussion is former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella Jr, USAF (Ret.).

Due to technical difficulties during recording, some audio from the event was lost.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/?hl=en

mitchellstudies #AerospaceNation #airpower #airforce #usaf #budgeting #defense

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Nuclear Deterrence Forum with RADM Scott W. Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, USN. The admiral joins us to discuss the Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine and D-5/2 ballistic missile modernization programs.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/?hl=en

mitchellstudies #AerospaceNation #nuclear #navy #usn

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Dr. Christopher Scolese, 19th Director, National Reconnaissance Office. Dr. Scolese joins us to discuss NRO, United States Space Force and U.S. Space Command collaboration, current threats, and space acquisitions.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/?hl=en

mitchellstudies #AerospaceNation #space #nro

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Aerospace Nation on with Evelyn N. Farkas, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia; Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow and Director of Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute; Seth Jones, Senior Vice President, Harold Brown Chair, and Director of International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS); and Heather Penney, Senior Fellow for Airpower Studies, Mitchell Institute.

The early success Ukrainian forces enjoyed over invading Russian units in the Kyiv region is now giving way to brutal, incremental territorial losses elsewhere in the country. Putin may be paying a steep price for these advances, but he’s ultimately locking in desired conquests. It’s time for the US and the coalition partners to change their approach when it comes to the scale and scope of military capabilities they are providing Ukraine—especially when it comes to airpower. Failing to pursue this course risks allowing Russia to cement its gains. This portends a dangerous precedent in Europe and around the globe writ large—including lessons China may garner from the conflict. The risk calculus must change from “What happens if we provide certain types of support?” to “What happens if we don’t?” Moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, Mitchell Institute.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

mitchellstudies #AerospaceNation #ukraine

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute hosts our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum with Frank Calvelli, in his debut public speaking event as the new Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. Mr. Calvelli discusses topics such as his five themes to ensure space acquisitions are achieved on cost and on schedule and synergy with the NRO and SDA. He also shares his thoughts on how the Space Force links to Secretary Kendall’s operational imperatives.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Aerospace Nation with Brig Gen Jeffery D. Valenzia, Department of the Air Force Advance Battle Management System Cross Functional Team Lead and Brig Gen John M. Olson, USSF JADC2/ABMS Lead, Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations and the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer for the Department of the Air Force. They discuss their perspectives on how to achieve the Air Force’s vision for “operationally-optimized” ABMS/JADC2.

This session marks the first in a series that will explore Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s Operational Imperatives.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our rollout for our newest policy paper: Orbital Vigilance: The Need for Enhanced Space-Based Missile Warning and Tracking by Christopher Stone, Senior Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

For decades, U.S. space-based missile warning and ground based radars have provided our nation’s leaders with early warning of missile threats at home and abroad. Now that our adversaries have begun to field and use hypersonic and maneuvering missile systems, it is crucial to ensure we can detect an track these threats. This demands new solutions.

Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and former STRATCOM commander; Colonel Miguel A. Cruz, Commander of Delta 4, the Missile Warning command of the U.S. Space Force; Dr. Davin Swanson, Chief Engineer in Space and C2 Systems, Raytheon Intelligence and Space; and Christopher Stone will discuss why DOD must adopt a new force design that multiple satellites across different orbital regimes to maintain a continuous chain of custody of these new threats, and cue missile defenses.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en #MitchellStudies #AerospaceNation #Space #Spacepower

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Lt Gen William J. Liquori, Jr., Deputy Chief of Space Operations, Strategy, Plans, Programs, Requirements, and Analysis. Lt Gen Liquori joins us to discuss the latest regarding service strategy and ways the Space Force is planning to address the threats of today and tomorrow.

Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

MitchellStudies #AerospaceNation #Space #Spacepower

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Lt Gen Stephen Whiting, Commander of Space Operations Command. Gen Whiting joins us to discuss the latest in Space Force developments across the various mission areas, both warfighting and warfighting support, in the pursuit of space superiority.

Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

MitchellStudies #AerospaceNation #Whiting #Space #Spacepower

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce the launch of our new Center for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Autonomy Studies (MI-UAS), a research center dedicated to elevating and informing the national debate on UAVs, autonomy and the future of conflict.

Meet Dr. Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow for UAV and Autonomy Studies and head of MI-UAS, she discusses the future of this crucial area with Dr. Tim Grayson, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, and David Ochmanek, Senior International/Defense Researcher at the RAND Corporation and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Development.

Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

MitchellStudies #AerospaceNation #UAV #RPA #airpower

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Brig Gen Michael A. Valle, Assistant Adjutant General – Air and Commander, Florida Air National Guard and Brig Gen Steven J. Butow, Primary Advisor to the Adjutant General – Air and Commander, California Air National Guard. They discuss the importance of the Guard’s role with the Space Force and why a Space National Guard is required for addressing the reality of space as a warfighting domain.

Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #spaceforce #spacepower #nationalguard

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Congressman Jim Cooper, U.S. Representative for Tennessee’s 5th congressional district. Congressman Cooper, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, and one of the co-sponsors of the Space Force Establishment Act, joins us to discuss his views on the current state of the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command and what will be needed to ensure the U.S. is able to achieve and sustain space superiority in an era of great power competition.

Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #spaceforce #spacepower #congressman

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our rollout for our newest policy paper: Building Alliances and Competing with China: The Imperative for UAV Export Reforms by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Paul Scharre, Vice President and Director of Studies, Center for a New American Security joins the discussion.

The era of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) proliferation is here, yet the United States’ policy largely blocks exporting these capabilities to allies and partners. As a result, nations important to U.S. interests are increasingly turning to other countries for their RPA requirements – often, China – and the U.S. risks falling behind as global leaders in this capability. The net result is that the U.S. could see key relationships weaken and influence wane in the very regions it seeks to promote stability and core American interests. Operations in Ukraine, which see Turkish TB2 UAVs helping turn the tide, not more capable U.S.-built systems, stands as the most illustrative recent example.

It is time for the administration to update U.S. RPA export policies. This can be done in ways that affirm the U.S. commitment to non-proliferation goals, regional stability, and other international norms.

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AerospaceNation #Airpower

Thank you for your continued support!

Listen to the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies' virtual Aerospace Nation event with Christopher J. Ristich, Director, Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation office, and the Transformational Capabilities Office, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The discussion explores AFRL’s new WARTECH initiative. WARTECH is a process that both facilitates and leverages collaboration between technologists and warfighters. It formulates and selects big-leap technology solutions that gain warfighting capabilities needed for the Air Force’s future force design. This transformational initiative is backed by the Department of the Air Force with a significant share of the AFRL budget. If you want to understand how the Air Force is pursuing transformation that rapidly impacts the warfighter, you need to tune into this discussion.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AerospaceNation

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to check out our Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense Forum event with David Trachtenberg, Vice President of the National Institute for Public Policy and Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. We discuss Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling, how to address growing Chinese nuclear stockpiles, and the future of nuclear deterrence.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AerospaceNation #Nuclear

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Aerospace Nation event for a discussion on evolving events in Ukraine, the performance of the Russian military, NATO, U.S. responses, and implications for the future, between Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, USAF (Ret.), the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations, and Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AerospaceNation #Ukraine

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and Executive Director of the Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff.

It is no secret that the Chinese threat is driving the Department of Defense strategic thinking, operational concepts, force sizing considerations, and associated technological investments. Join us as we speak with the lead Air Force commander responsible for helping meet today’s requirements, while also chart a vector to ensure airpower is best aligned to meeting future demands in the Pacific.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AerospaceNation

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense Forum event with Barry Pavel, Senior Vice President and Director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and Matthew Kroenig, Deputy Director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. They join us to discuss implications new technologies are having upon nuclear deterrence and how the U.S. should adapt its operational concepts, strategies, and associated capabilities. Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Nuclear

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Audrey Schaffer, Director for Space Policy at the National Security Council. Ms. Schaffer joins us to discuss the latest in U.S. space policy and strategy development from the National Security Council/White House perspective. Gen Kevin P. Chilton (Ret.), Explorer Chair at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE), moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is an increasingly competitive domain. The joint force creates effects both in the EMS and through the EMS into all other warfighting domains. If we lose the fight in the EMS, we will lose the fight in all other domains. Our spectrum warfare panel represents all aspects of the Air Force’s EMS enterprise. They will cover a range of spectrum warfare concepts, plans, and requirements, including a report on the Air Force’s consolidation of EMS capabilities into the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing. Please listen to the discussion with Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute, and his guests:

Maj Gen Daniel L. Simpson, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance,

Col William E. Young Jr., Commander of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing,

Maj Gen Ken Israel (Ret.), Former Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Airborne Reconnaissance

Ken Dworkin, (SES, Ret) Executive Advisor, Electromagnetic Combat – Booz Allen Hamilton

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our rollout for our newest policy paper: Beyond Pixie Dust: A Framework for Understanding and Developing Autonomy in Unmanned Aircraft by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and Maj Christopher Olsen, USAF, with Foreword by Lt Gen David Deptula, USAF (Ret.) They are joined by Jean-Charles Ledé, Commander’s Autonomy Technical Advisor at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Nearly every vision, strategy, and flight plan the U.S. Air Force has released over the past decade identified next-generation unmanned aircraft, autonomy, and artificial intelligence as technologies that are critical to securing a decisive combat advantage in future battlespaces. The Air Force is now developing new operational concepts for teaming manned fighters and bombers with autonomous UAVs—called manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T)—to perform strikes, counterair, electronic warfare, and other missions.

Developing this capability is challenging given the disconnect that often exists between warfighters and engineers. Warfighters have a deep understanding of all tasks in the battlespace that could apply different levels of autonomy in theory. Engineers conversely understand better how to develop the specific algorithms and technologies to enable autonomy, but not how they apply in real-world battlespace applications.

A framework that represents both the warfighter and the engineer perspectives would provide a structure and common understanding for these two communities in creating autonomous systems that deliver needed capabilities. The Air Force needs this framework to better understand autonomous technologies and help guide the enterprise toward future AI-empowered U.S. operations.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to watch a discussion with Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall, who expounds on his seven operational imperatives for the Department of the Air Force. After decades focused on fighting terrorism, the Air Force and Space Force must be reconfigured to address a dramatically changed security environment. The threatening rise of China is of prime concern, while Russia continues to encroach on the interests of the United States and its allies. The course ahead requires clear lines of effort and a strong sense of urgency.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to a discussion with the RAND Corporation’s Lt Gen Frank Klotz, USAF (ret) and Dr. Alexandra Evans to discuss their recent report, Modernizing the U.S. Nuclear Triad, The Rationale for a New Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

Retired Lt Gen Klotz and Dr Evans discuss with retired Lt Gen Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute how the Air Force should more strongly and publicly message: • That our adversaries have not been asleep for the last 30 years and, through nuclear investments and modernization programs, now pose a real strategic risk to U.S. security. • That recapitalization of the ICBM force can no longer be deferred without sacrificing performance and incurring additional costs. • That we need the new capabilities that GBSD will provide to secure the nation’s global interests and defend the homeland.

Read the Report HERE! https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1434-1.html

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) invites you to watch our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with General John W. Raymond. Gen Raymond joins us to discuss what’s ahead for the service in 2022 and beyond. General (Ret.) Kevin P. Chilton, Explorer Chair for Space Warfighting Studies at MI-SPACE moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our rollout for our newest policy paper: Maneuver Warfare in Space: The Strategic Mandate for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion by Christopher Stone, Senior Fellow for Space Studies for the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

In an era where space is an increasingly contested domain, it is crucial to ensure satellites can maneuver to avoid threats and position themselves to best net mission effects. This demands new propulsion solutions. Panelists Dr. Ron Faibish, Senior Director of Strategic Development at General Atomics – Electromagnetic Systems Group; Dr. Micheal Leahy, Director of the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA; and Stone discuss why DOD must adopt a new force design that includes satellites with nuclear propulsion that are of capable of decisive defensive and offensive maneuver warfare operations in space. READ THE PAPER: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/maneuver-warfare-in-space-the-strategic-mandate-for-nuclear-propulsion/

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) invites you to listen to our virtual Schriever Spacepower Forum event with Dr. Derek M. Tournear, Director of the Space Development Agency (SDA). Dr. Tournear joins us to discuss the latest in SDA’s progress on the National Defense Space Architecture, the critical technologies underlying it, and the future of the agency’s efforts with the U.S. Space Force in developing the capabilities needed to protect our critical spacepower advantages. Christopher Stone, Senior Fellow for Space Studies for the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE), moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual rollout for our newest policy paper, The Backbone of JADC2: Satellite Communications for Information Age Warfare by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Mitchell Institute's Explorer Chair for Space Warfighting Studies and Lukas Autenried, Senior Analyst at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE). Defense experts fundamentally agree that Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) will prove critical in future military operations. To put it simply, information and decision superiority will spell the difference between victory and defeat. Satellite communications will serve as the backbone for this vision. Gen Chilton and Autenried will be joined by Stephen Forbes, Blackjack program manager at DARPA, and Dr. David Voss, Director of the Spectrum Warfare Center of Excellence at the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC), to discuss this important topic. Blackjack is a joint DARPA/SSC/AFRL program that is helping pioneer next generation space constellations and SWAC is responsible for developing future force design guidance for the Space Force, including for its SATCOM enterprise.

READ THE PAPER HERE: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/the-backbone-of-jadc2-satellite-communications-for-information-age-warfare/

Links:

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Research Center invites you to listen to our virtual Spacepower Forum event with Delta Commanders, Col Matthew E. Holston, Delta 8 Commander; Col Miguel A. Cruz, Delta 4 Commander; and Col Robert A. Long, Space Launch Delta 30 Commander. These operational space commanders join us to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing Space Force in the missile warning, space launch, and navigation warfare arenas at the operational and tactical level. General (Ret.) Kevin P. Chilton, Explorer Chair for Space Warfighting Studies at MI-SPARC will moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL https://bit.ly/3HIZWyD

The Aerospace Advantage Podcast: https://bit.ly/3CyMkSR

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to check out our live virtual Aerospace Nation event with Gen Jeffrey L. Harrigian, Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa and Allied Air Command and Director, Joint Air Power Competence Centre. With Russian aggression making regular headlines, security issues in the arctic continuing to develop, and instability in Africa continuing to pose challenges, Gen Harrigian and his team are balancing an incredibly difficult set of issues.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL https://bit.ly/3HIZWyD

The Aerospace Advantage Podcast: https://bit.ly/3CyMkSR

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins...

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to watch our virtual Spacepower Forum event with Lt Gen John E. Shaw, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Space Command. Lt Gen Shaw joins us to discuss the development of space warfighting doctrine, what it means to have an AOR in space, and the future of the U.S. Space Command, among other topics. Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A. Gen Chilton is the Explorer Chair for Space Warfighting Studies at Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Research Center (MI-SPARC).

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL https://bit.ly/3HIZWyD The Aerospace Advantage Podcast: https://bit.ly/3CyMkSR Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage

Thank you for your continued support!

Listen to the Mitchell Institute’s rollout for our policy paper: Affordable Mass: The Need for a Cost-Effective PGM Mix for Great Power Conflict by Col Mark Gunzinger (Ret), Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments. Maj Gen Jason R. Armagost, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, Air Force Global Strike Command joins Gunzinger to discuss why the Air Force must develop a “5th generation weapons inventory for a 5th generation force” that will maintain the nation’s precision strike advantage against America’s strategic competitors.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL https://bit.ly/3HIZWyD

The Aerospace Advantage Podcast: https://bit.ly/3CyMkSR

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchellinstituteforaero/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

MitchellStudies #AerospaceNation

Thank you for your continued support!

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listern to our virtual Spacepower Forum event with Lt Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, United States Space Force. Lt Gen Saltzman joins us to discuss the challenges posed by adversary space developments, the continued development of Space Force into operations, and the service’s top priorities. General Kevin P. Chilton (Ret), Explorer Chair for Space Warfighting Studies at MI-SPARC, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL https://bit.ly/3HIZWyD The Aerospace Advantage Podcast: https://bit.ly/3CyMkSR Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themitchell... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Ins... LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage Thank you for your continued support!

SHOW LESS

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to check out the release of its new policy paper. Reimagining the MQ-9 Reaper, by Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, on Friday, November 19, 2021, at 10:00 AM EST. Gen Stutzriem will be joined for a panel discussion by Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson Institute, Todd Harrison, Director, Defense Budget Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Caitlin Lee, Associate Director, Acquisition and Technology Policy Center, RAND Corporation.

For the past two decades, Air Force remotely piloted aircraft, including the MQ-9 Reaper, operated in a narrow band of applications in regions like Afghanistan and Iraq. With the rise of peer competitors like China and Russia, threats posed by nuclear ambitious North Korea and Iran, and continuous challenges driven by non-state actors like ISIS and al Qaeda, the U.S. now faces an extremely broad set of threats—all are surging. However, the Air Force is stretched thin with an aircraft inventory that is both old and small, and resources ahead look strained. The Air Force must examine the potential for new uses of the MQ-9 across the threat spectrum. Whether helping protect bases, adding counter maritime capability, continuing to engage terrorist threats, or protecting the homeland, these aircraft are engines of innovation in the hands of Air Force’s most innovative airmen. While the Reaper will not survive over the most defended regions, it can perform critical missions to deter and check adversary actions. Bottom line, aircraft like the MQ-9 are available in plentiful numbers, are relatively new, enjoy low hourly operating costs, and afford a broad range of sensor-shooter capabilities without placing airmen at risk. Reimagining the Reaper in new ways can help fill capability and capacity gaps.

The Mitchell Institute’s rollout for our newest forum paper: From EMD to Milestone C and Beyond: Common Issues that Affect Developmental Programs Transitioning into Production with report author Lt Gen Mark Shackelford, USAF (Ret) as well as Randall Walden, Director and Program Executive Officer for the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and Maj Gen Dwyer Dennis, USAF (Ret), Former Program Executive Officer for C3I and Networks.

DOD and Air Force leaders are unanimous that the United States must be able to deliver critical capabilities rapidly and at affordable costs to maintain deterrence in an era of intensifying great power competition. Unfortunately, past acquisition programs, and particularly aircraft development programs, have often failed to deliver desired capabilities on time and budget. In this timely study, Gen Shackelford examines eight aircraft development programs that encountered challenges at Milestone C, the critical transition period from development to production. He identifies several common issues and offers key insights which may aid future programs to adopt a realistic and proactive approach to delivering needed capabilities on budget and schedule.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the release of its new Research Study, The Future Fighter Force Our Nation Requires: Building a Bridge, by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow.

The U.S. Air Force’s fighter force is in crisis. After three decades of canceled, curtailed, and delayed investment in fighter aircraft modernization, the nation now finds itself with a small, fragile air superiority force. This is not just an Air Force problem, for no form of joint power is viable without control of the sky. Ships at sea, forces on the ground, space control centers, cyber facilities, logistics hubs, and more are simply not survivable when subject to high-intensity attacks from the sky.

Join us to better understand the options the Air Force has to modernize the fighter force in the near term, plus factors it should consider over the long run. There is no silver-bullet answer—this is a matter involving both capability and capacity, and any viable path forward requires a comprehensive set of investments.

Read the report: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/the-future-fighter-force-our-nation-requires-building-a-bridge/

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation where we discuss our latest research, Understanding American Voters’ Perceptions Regarding Strategic Nuclear Deterrence.

For as long as any of us can remember, the debate surrounding strategic nuclear deterrence has been incredibly predictable. The arms control community, on the one hand, and advocates for the nuclear triad, on the other, continue to wield their tried-and-true talking points. You could read a newspaper article from the early 1980s and see many of today’s most popular arguments in play almost word-for-word. However, the security environment, public priorities, and technology have evolved markedly.

Mitchell Institute launched this research effort in partnership with Seven Letter Insight to understand where public perceptions really stand regarding strategic nuclear deterrence far past what the headlines, op-eds, and political comments convey. Understanding public opinion is exceedingly important given the scale and scope of the triad modernization. As a democracy, America’s national security investment will fundamentally reflect what the public desires. The results we discovered were quite surprising. Please join as we share this new data, explain how the research was conducted, and discuss broader implications.

Check out our website! https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/aerospace-nation-understanding-american-voters-perceptions-regarding-strategic-nuclear-deterrence/

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our Nuclear Deterrence & Missile Defense Forum event with Lt Gen Thomas A. Bussiere, Deputy Commander of United States Strategic Command. Gen Bussiere discusses the threat of Chinese and Russian Nuclear stockpiles, the U.S. nuclear modernization effort, the future of U.S. nuclear deterrence and other topics. Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

At its Nuclear Deterrence & Missile Defense Forum, the Mitchell Institute hosts Dr. Stephen Blank, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Research Institute. Dr. Blank discusses how nuclear capabilities influence Russia’s international behavior, its strategic objectives, and its overall nuclear policy & doctrine.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to our virtual Nuclear Deterrence & Missile Defense Forum event with Maj Gen Michael Lutton, the Commander of the Twentieth Air Force and previous Deputy Director for Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations of the Joint Staff. Maj Gen Lutton discusses the need for U.S. nuclear modernization, how our competitors such as China and Russia are changing the nuclear deterrence landscape amongst and other topics. Doug Birkey, Executive Director at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A. Visit our website! https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to the Nuclear Deterrence Forum event with Mr. Gordon Chang, an East Asia expert, and the author of numerous books on China, and Mr. Rick Fisher, a Senior Fellow on Asian Military Affairs at the International Assessment and Strategy Center. Mr. Chang and Mr. Fisher discuss ongoing Chinese nuclear missile silo developments, China's nuclear arsenal and its impact on geopolitics, and China's ambitions with Taiwan, among other topics.

Download Slides: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/event/nuclear-deterrence-forum-gordon-chang-and-rick-fisher/

Visit our website!

https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

The Mitchell Institute hosts a Spacepower Forum event with General David "DT" Thompson, Vice Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force. General Thompson discusses the continued buildout of the U.S. Space Force, including how the Space Force is preparing to defend against adversary advancements in counterspace technologies, ongoing efforts to consolidate space acquisition, and the service’s role in supporting DOD’s JADC2 strategy. Maj Gen (Ret.) Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

Success in tomorrow’s conflicts will largely depend on how warfighters are able to harness and adapt software, data, and algorithms at the unit level. The future must be one in which airmen are empowered to evolve software in a highly dynamic, responsive fashion to meet near-term mission demands.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to listen to the virtual event with Dr. Tim Grayson, Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Strategic Technology Office. This event examined Heather Penney’s new policy paper, Speed is Life: Accelerating the Air Force’s Ability to Adapt and Win, which explores this vision and charts a pathway the Air Force and other services must adopt to succeed in an increasingly complex set of threats.

The old adage, “Speed is life” is no longer just about flying—it’s about rapidly evolving mission tools to fight and win.

The Mitchell Institute hosts Lt Gen David Nahom, the Air Force’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs on Aerospace Nation. Gen Nahom discusses the current budget debates on Capitol Hill and their impact on force readiness and Air Force and Space Force modernization programs. Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to watch our virtual Nuclear Deterrence Forum event with Uzi Rubin, the preeminent scholar on Israeli missile defense and founder of the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Arrow long-range missile defense program. Mr. Rubin discussed the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict and the most recent flare up on conflict in Gaza amongst other topics.

The Mitchell Institute invites you to join our virtual Nuclear Deterrence Forum event with Maj Gen (ret.) Michael E. Fortney, former Vice Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and former Director of Operations and Nuclear Support at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Maj Gen (ret.) Fortney shares his insights into how the GBSD and B-21 programs will enhance our nuclear deterrence capabilities, as well as how the principles of deterrence have not fundamentally changed, despite a rapidly changing global nuclear landscape. Peter Huessy, Director for Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to present the rollout of the Mitchell Institute’s newest study, Building a Force That Wins: Recommendations for the 2022 National Defense Strategy by Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, and Lukas Autenried, Senior Analyst at the Mitchell Institute. They are joined for a panel discussion regarding the report’s findings by Dr. Jim Miller, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Elbridge Colby, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development.

Every four years, each administration must evaluate the global threat picture and develop an overarching framework known as the National Defense Strategy (NDS) that establishes priorities for the size of its forces, new weapon systems investments, and its operating concepts. While the 2018 NDS succeeded in reorienting DOD’s planning and resource priorities toward great power competition, persistent issues remain that, if left unaddressed, increase the risk of failure in the event of future great power conflict.

This report offers recommendations on three of the most critical issues the administration should address as it develops its next National Defense Strategy.

Report: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/building-a-force-that-wins-recommendations-for-the-2022-national-defense-strategy/

The Mitchell Institute host Gen Timothy M. Ray, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command. Gen Ray joins us at a time when the future of the U.S. strategic deterrent is the subject of intense interest and discussion. He will share his insights into the recapitalization and modernization of long-range strike, the sustainment of the bomber fleet, and emerging technologies such as hypersonic weapons, among other topics. Lt Gen (Ret.) Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, will moderate the discussion and facilitate audience Q&A.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Command and Control Imperatives for the 21st Century: The Next Areas of Growth for ABMS and JADC2, by Doug Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute.

The Air Force is at a major juncture in the development of command and control (C2) capabilities. Under the aegis of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) programs, the Air Force is pushing ahead with efforts to modernize its C2 architecture by capitalizing on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Faced with the heightened threat environment created by America’s adversaries, these investments are critical to the Air Force’s ability to operate and win in future conflicts. To maximize the advantages yielded by new technologies, the Air Force must develop a tiered strategy for modernizing its C2 capabilities, one in which the human professional remains at the core.

This virtual rollout of the Mitchell Institute’s new policy paper, Command and Control Imperatives for the 21st Century: The Next Areas of Growth for ABMS and JADC2, explores how the Air Force can pursue a holistic risk mitigation approach to C2ISR that blends innovation, operationally mature systems, and backup redundancies. Maj Gen (Ret.) Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research of the Mitchell Institute, leads a discussion with author Doug Birkey and Air Force Air Battle Managers Col Nelson “Bigfoot” Rouleau and Maj Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis.

The Mitchell Institute host Dr. Chris Ford, Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, and Dr. Susan Koch, Distinguished Research Fellow with the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at National Defense University, on its Nuclear Deterrence Forum. Dr. Koch and Dr. Ford join us at a critical time as the Biden administration is seeking re-entry into the JCPOA and the threat of nuclear proliferation around the world is on the rise. They share their insights into current international nonproliferation and arms control treaties, China's nuclear buildup, and U.S. nuclear modernization efforts, among other topics.

Dr. Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, joins us at a critical time for the Air Force's modernization priorities. She will shares her insights into the Air Force's science and technology strategy, the evolution of autonomy, and the development of the Advanced Battle Management System.

The U.S. Air Force is the oldest and smallest that it has ever been. The problem isn’t simply budget but acquisition behavior. At the rollout of the Mitchell Institute’s new research report, Building an Agile Force: The Imperative for Speed and Adaptation in the U.S. Aerospace Industrial Base, the authors explore how the Air Force can rejuvenate the aerospace industry to achieve a force that can innovatively outpace peer adversaries. Lt Gen (Ret.) Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute, leads a discussion with co-author Heather Penney and Dr. Tim Grayson, director of DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office, on how the U.S. Air Force can accelerate change and evolve to a more mosaic force.

REPORT: https://www.mitchellaerospacepower.org/single-post/building-an-agile-force

The Space Force recently unveiled new details of its plans to establish Space Systems Command to oversee the new service’s acquisition and launch service—and redesignate Space and Missile Systems Center as its headquarters. Lt Gen JT Thompson shares his insights and perspective on the standup of the new command, as well as how Space Force is working to both improve acquisition and better leverage services available in the commercial space market.

The Mitchell Institute hosts Maj Gen DeAnna Burt, Commander, Combined Force Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command; and Deputy Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force, as part of its Space Power Forum series. A few years ago, the Department of Defense was not even permitted to use the terms “space” and “warfighting” in the same sentence. Today, with threats in space rapidly accelerating, U.S. Space Command is “preparing for the war not yet fought.” General Burt shares her insights on how SPACECOM is thinking about future conflict in space, establishing rules and norms for behavior in space, and promoting greater integration and interoperability both with other COCOMs as well as with partners and allies.

Nuclear modernization is key to maintaining the U.S. nuclear deterrence capability. Dr. Kroenig and Mr. Costlow, two established experts in nuclear deterrence strategy and policy, join the Mitchell Insitute to discuss the modernization of the ICBM force; how our nuclear deterrent affects our allies, partners, and adversaries; and what China and Russia's modernization means for our own nuclear forces.

There is broad consensus on the need to increase the U.S. military’s long-range strike capacity. There is also significant debate over which investments would result in the greatest return for America’s warfighters. The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and the Hudson Institute host a live virtual rollout of our joint policy paper, Understanding the Long-Range Strike Debate. Authors Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; Lukas Autenried, Senior Analyst at the Mitchell Institute; and Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow & Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute present their analysis of this issue. The paper compares the ranges, costs, target suitability, and other attributes of candidate long-range strike capabilities, including surface-launched weapons and those delivered by combat aircraft. Maj Gen (Ret.) Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research at the Mitchell Institute, leads a discussion with the authors on how DOD can maximize its future long-range strike capacity in an era of flat or declining defense budgets while balancing the cost of redundancy with the benefit of greater resiliency.

The Mitchell Institute hosts our virtual Nuclear Deterrence Forum event with Lt Gen James Dawkins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration. Sustaining and modernizing the nuclear enterprise remains one of the most delicate challenges facing the United States today. Gen Dawkins shares his insights into the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program, command and control infrastructure for the nuclear enterprise, and nuclear modernization budget priorities.

Maj Gen Leah Lauderback, Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance at Headquarters U.S. Space Force, joins us on our Space Power Forum. As the newest member of the Intelligence Community, the Space Force's ISR directorate is standing up at a time when the possibilities—and threats—in space are accelerating. Gen Lauderback shares her insights into the challenges of characterizing threats in space, plans for a National Space Intelligence Center, and the value of working with partners and allies.

The Mitchell Institute hosts Gen Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, Commander of Air Mobility Command, on Aerospace Nation. As the Air Force transitions to an era of global competition, the ability to rapidly project and sustain the Joint Force is more critical than ever. Gen Van Ovost, currently nominated to command U.S. Transportation Command, discusses how Air Mobility Command is rethinking the role of Rapid Global Mobility in the battlespace, contributing to the Joint All Domain Command and Control concept of operations, and responding to changes in the global security environment.

Join the Mitchell Institute's Peter Huessy and Mr. Franklin C. Miller, principal at the Scowcroft Group, as they discuss the importance of the ICBM leg of the triad, the need for warhead modernization, and why maintaining a modern nuclear triad is essential to U.S. national security needs of the 21st century.

The Mitchell Institute hosts a live virtual Aerospace Nation series event on Actualizing “Accelerate Change” with Lt Col Mike Benitez, Director of Staff for the Air Force’s 53rd Wing. As staff director for the Air Force’s primary Operational Test wing, Lt Col Benitez has an up-close view of the Air Force’s efforts to realize Chief Brown’s “accelerate change” directive. He shares his insights into the Air Force’s new Black Flag exercise, the F-35’s move to an Agile Software Development framework, and the Joint All Domain Operations concept’s unique attributes. Lt Gen (Ret) Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A

Listen to our live virtual Aerospace Nation panel discussion on Airborne Augmented Reality with long-time SASC staffer Robert “Otis” Winkler and Red 6’s Gen (Ret) Mike Holmes and Dan Robinson. The U.S. Air Force pilot readiness gap is only increasing. The pace of technological innovation and adoption must accelerate rapidly in order to fill the pilot shortage gap and secure U.S. and allied airspace. This discussion examines how augmented reality and artificial intelligence can help transform the way the Air Force prepares pilots for future conflicts and ultimately enhance our national security.

The Mitchell Institute hosted a live virtual Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense Forum event with Dr. Mark Schneider, Senior Analyst at the National Institute for Public Policy. Dr. Schneider joined us at a critical time in the relationship between Washington and Moscow. He shared his insights into Russia’s nuclear modernization programs and doctrine, the importance of the U.S. nuclear triad, and considerations for the Biden administration’s approach to nuclear deterrence strategy. Peter Huessy, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderated the discussion and facilitated audience Q&A.

President Biden’s defense team faces a number of challenges around the globe, but they also have significant opportunities to bolster America’s national security for decades to come. The Mitchell Institute hosts a live virtual Aerospace Nation event on Thursday, March 4 with Lt Gen (Ret) Dave Deptula, Dean, and Mr. Doug Birkey, Executive Director, as they discuss their new policy paper, Aerospace Vectors for the Incoming Biden Defense Team. Maj Gen (Ret) Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies moderates.

Lt Gen James C. Slife, Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), joins us on Aerospace Nation. In the face of threats from a broad range of competitors, the demand for AFSOC capabilities and capacity is pronounced. Gen Slife is responsible for developing those forces to have the skills, resiliency, and relevance they need to compete and win across the spectrum of modern global competitions. Join us as we discuss AFSOC's priorities for the year, the development of emerging technologies for special operations, and the implementation of AFSOC's Strategic Guidance.

Brig Gen Heather Pringle, Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, joins us on Aerospace Nation. The critical technologies under development at AFRL are increasingly important to national security as peer and near-peer competitors continue to chip away at America’s technological warfighting advantage. Brig Gen Pringle shares how AFRL is adapting to this rapidly evolving technology landscape and provides updates on some of the Lab’s most promising research programs.

January 26, 2021.

The Mitchell Institute hosts Gen James Dickinson, Commander of U.S. Space Command, on its Aerospace Nation Space Power Forum. Gen Dickinson’s leadership comes at a critical time as we look forward to the formation of a new U.S. defense strategy and as the importance of space capabilities intensifies as great power competition and warfighting evolves. He shares his insights into the establishment of a new SPACECOM headquarters, the U.S. response to the increasingly contested space domain, and the integration of SPACECOM into the operations of other combatant commands.

January 22, 2021

The Mitchell Institute hosts an Aerospace Nation event with the authors of the new book Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves: The Inside Story of How a Team of Renegades Broke Rules, Shattered Barriers, and Launched a Drone Warfare Revolution. Retired USAF Col Mark Cooter, former CIA case officer Alec Bierbauer, and co-author Michael Marks, give us an inside-look into the story behind the armed Predator program and the dawn of unmanned aerial warfare. Join our discussion as we look at how RPAs became a critical airpower asset. Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves: The Inside Story of How a Team of Renegades Broke Rules, Shattered Barriers, and Launched a Drone Warfare Revolution is available NOW on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Mind-Well-Ourselves-Renegades/dp/151072091X

Never Mind, We'll Do It Ourselves: The Inside Story of How a Team of Renegades Broke Rules, Shattered Barriers, and Launched a Drone Warfare Revolution

January 21, 2021

An experienced aviator and leader, Lt Gen Clark holds a key role in developing the next generation of Air Force officers. Lt Gen Clark shares his insights into how the Academy is preparing cadets to face today's global challenges, the implications of the creation of the Space Force for the Academy, what it means to accelerate change in an educational institution, and other Academy priorities.

January 14, 2021

VADM Johnny Wolfe, Director of the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Program (SSP), is a key leader in the management of the seaborne leg of the U.S. triad. Leveraging his extensive experience, VADM Wolfe shares his insights into the modernization of the Navy’s Fleet Ballistic Missile Weapons Systems, U.S.-UK nuclear deterrence cooperation, and the U.S. Navy-Army joint hypersonic missile development program, among other topics.