The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Operational Imperative Series: Resilient Basing, Sustainment, and Communications

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).

Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen John E. Shaw

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.

Policy Paper Release: Accelerating 5th-Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge

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.

Policy Paper Release: Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense

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).​​​​

Policy Paper Release: Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air and Missile Threats to the Homeland

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.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Gen David D. Thompson

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.

Aerospace Nation: Gen Charles Q. Brown Jr.

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.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen Stephen N. Whiting

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.

Aerospace Nation: Lt Gen Leah Lauderback

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.

Policy Paper Release: Scale, Scope, Speed, and Survivability: Winning the Kill Chain Competition

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.