Know the Past...Shape the Future--The Official Podcast of AFHF

PART II Join our host Matt Jolley as he explores the creation and employment of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator in combat. Gen John Jumper and James "Snake" Clark, discuss the events that took place across the country to arm the unmanned reconnaissance drone and transform it into a lethal, stealthy, precise combat asset. Episode Cover Image: Rick Herter’s,  Taking the Shot , depicts an M...

Join our host Matt Jolley as he explores the creation and employment of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator in combat. Gen John Jumper and James "Snake" Clark, discuss the events that took place across the country to arm the unmanned reconnaissance drone and transform it into a lethal, stealthy, precise combat asset. Episode Cover Image: Rick Herter’s, Taking the Shot , depicts an MQ–1 Preda...

In our season finale, Matt Jolley goes behind the scenes of the new Netflix documentary Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds with director Matt Wilcox and former Thunderbird Commander Colonel Justin Elliott. The film reveals the human side of the Thunderbirds—the pursuit of excellence, the progression, and the very real hardships behind the precision you see in the sky. The team’s message is resonating e...

Mr. Stephen L. Kitay, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. In this role he is responsible for establishing policy and guidance to assure U.S. and allied warfighters the benefits of space capabilities and to help guide the Department’s strategy for addressing space-related issues. He also leads Departmental activities in int...

Join Matt Jolley and retired USAF Col. Jack David Fischer (born January 23, 1974) in their discussion of the birth of the Space Force. Jack is an American engineer, test pilot and a former NASA astronaut. Fischer was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20 and qualified as an astronaut in 2011. He made his first spaceflight in April 2017, as a flight engineer for Expeditio...

Join Col Stu Pettis, USAF (ret), as he talks to our host, Matt Jolley about the birth of the Space Force. Col Pettis was the last USAF, Chief of Space Operations when it was still an O-6 position. A Space Force had been discussed for decades within the Air Force space structure but suddenly became a reality in 2019 with the scratch of a pen at Andrews AFB. This is the first of a multi-part series...

On 10 November 1994, SECAF Dr. Sheila Widnall and CSAF Gen. Ronald Fogleman, challenged the USAF Scientific Advisory Board to look into the future of air, space and computational technology and create a broad, forward-looking study in one year’s time. Dr. Widnall’s challenge was powerful “…this is not another Air Force internal requirement scrub to justify the Air Force science budget. Rather, it...

On 10 November 1994, SECAF Dr. Sheila Widnall and CSAF Gen. Ronald Fogleman, challenged the USAF Scientific Advisory Board to look into the future of air, space and computational technology and create a broad, forward-looking study in one year’s time. Dr. Widnall’s challenge was powerful “…this is not another Air Force internal requirement scrub to justify the Air Force science budget. Rather, it...

On 10 November 1994, SECAF Dr. Sheila Widnall and CSAF Gen. Ronald Fogleman, challenged the USAF Scientific Advisory Board to look into the future of air, space and computational technology and create a broad, forward-looking study in one year’s time. Dr. Widnall’s challenge was powerful “…this is not another Air Force internal requirement scrub to justify the Air Force science budget. Rather, it...

Robert Arnold recalls family stories and personal experiences with the pioneers of American aviation technology. As the grandson of not only Gen Hap Arnold but also American aeronautical engineer, Donald Douglas. Robert shares memorable lessons learned and little know behind the scenes connections that have shaped not only the USAF but aviation history for the past century.

Join host Matt Jolley as he discusses the role of one of the first aeronautical scientists in America--Professor Theodore von Karman, with Dr. Michael Gorn (author of The Universal Man: Theodore von Karman's Life in Aeronautics). Together with Gen Hap Arnold, he helped to establish the technological foundations of today's USAF and USSF.

Join Lt Col Dik Daso, USAF (ret), PhD, Executive Director of the Air Force Historical Foundation, as he introduces you to Gen Hap Arnold, Professor Theodore von Karman and early aviation technology. Dr Daso also discusses AFHF programing for 2025 and introduces new AFHF developments in research, membership and leadership.

Born at Patrick Air Force Base and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Jan Davis has been surrounded by aviation and space her entire life. She followed up her biomedical engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology with a mechanical engineering degree from Auburn University and a Ph. D. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. During her career, she worked for Texaco and for NASA befor...

Follow Dr. Davis as she retraces her path to the stars. Nancy Jan Davis (née Smotherman; born November 1, 1953) is a former American astronaut. A veteran of three space flights, Davis logged over 673 hours in space. She is now retired from NASA. She flew on STS-47, STS-60, and STS-75. Davis became an astronaut in June 1987. Her first assignment was in the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branc...