The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Lt. Gen. Shawn N. Bratton | Schriever Spacepower Series

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.

Logistics While Under Attack: Key to a CCA Force Design

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.

LTG Thomas L. James | Schriever Spacepower Series

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.

Brig. Gen. Kristin L. Panzenhagen | Schriever Spacepower Series

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.

Mr. Cordell A. DeLaPena | Schriever Spacepower Series

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.

Setting the Nuclear Deterrence Record Straight: Commanders’ Perspectives

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/ 

Gen B. Chance Saltzman | Schriever Spacepower Series

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.

Delivering Tomorrow’s Force: From Concept to Operational Capability | Airpower Futures Day

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

CCA: Realizing Tomorrow's Airpower Today | 1st Annual Airpower Futures Forum

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

Keynote: Lt. Gen. David A. Harris | 1st Annual Airpower Futures Forum

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.