The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Building an Agile Force: The Imperative for Speed & Adaptation in the U.S. Aerospace Industrial Base

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

Space Power Forum: Lt Gen JT Thompson, Commander, USSF Space and Missile Systems Center

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.

Space Power Forum: Maj Gen DeAnna Burt

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 Deterrence Forum: Dr. Matthew Kroenig and Mr. Matthew Costlow

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.

Aerospace Nation: Understanding the Long-Range Strike Debate

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.

Nuclear Deterrence Forum: Lt Gen James Dawkins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration

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.

Space Power Forum: Maj Gen Leah Lauderback, Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance at Headquarters U.S. Space Force

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.

Aerospace Nation: Gen Jacqueline D. Van Ovost, Commander of Air Mobility Command

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.

Nuclear Deterrence Forum: Franklin C. Miller

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 21^st century.

Aerospace Nation: Actualizing "Accelerate Change" with Lt Col Mike Benitez

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