The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

The Mitchell Institute is honored to welcome Chief of Space Operations, General Douglas Schiess, to the Schriever Spacepower Series. At a pivotal moment for America's newest military service, General Schiess is leading the Space Force as it accelerates the development of combat-ready capabilities, strengthens its warfighting posture, and expands its role in joint operations. Join us for a timely c...

Today the demand signals placed on the Air Force are surging across every combat command. From ongoing combat operations in CENTCOM, to meeting the demand for airpower in other theaters, Airmen have never been busier. At the same time, the service is undergoing a generational modernization effort. At the center of all this action is Air Force Materiel Command. Join us for a conversation you won’t...

Space is no longer operating quietly in the background—it is shaping military operations every day. In this edition of the Schriever Spacepower Series, Brig. Gen. Todd Benson discusses how the Space Force is delivering combat power across the U.S. Central Command theater. From missile defense and regional deterrence to commercial capabilities and coalition operations, this conversation offers a ra...

The Air Force is modernizing just about all of its major mission areas: next-generation aircraft, two legs of the triad and NC3, weapons, command and control, and more. This means the folks at Edwards Air Force Base and the rest of the test enterprise are charging hard. Join us for a conversation with Brig Gen Massaro that you won’t want to miss.

The nation that can move information faster, more securely, and more reliably will hold a critical advantage in future conflict. Join the Mitchell Institute's Explorer Chair Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), General Atomics’ Brent Marquand, and Mitchell Institute's Senior Resident Fellow Jennifer Reeves for a discussion on the technologies, architectures, and decisions shaping the future of mili...

Join the Mitchell Institute as we host Brig. Gen. Timothy Helfrich, Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command. We will be discussing service plans for the development, production, fielding, sustainment, and modernization of the Air Force fighter portfolio, which includes the A-10, F-15, F-16, F-22, F-4...

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...

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 Forc...

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...

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 W...

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. W...

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 Secr...

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,...

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...

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–in...

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...

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...

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 Multinatio...

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 Ex...

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...

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 op...

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, de...

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 r...

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 e...