The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Nuclear Deterrence Forum: Uzi Rubin

The Mitchell Institute invites you to watch our virtual Nuclear Deterrence Forum event with Uzi Rubin, the preeminent scholar on Israeli missile defense and founder of the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Arrow long-range missile defense program. Mr. Rubin discussed the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict and the most recent flare up on conflict in Gaza amongst other topics.

Nuclear Deterrence Forum: Maj Gen (ret.) Michael E. Fortney

The Mitchell Institute invites you to join our virtual Nuclear Deterrence Forum event with Maj Gen (ret.) Michael E. Fortney, former Vice Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and former Director of Operations and Nuclear Support at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Maj Gen (ret.) Fortney shares his insights into how the GBSD and B-21 programs will enhance our nuclear deterrence capabilities, as well as how the principles of deterrence have not fundamentally changed, despite a rapidly changing global nuclear landscape. Peter Huessy, Director for Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, moderates the discussion and facilitates audience Q&A.

Building a Force That Wins: Recommendations for the 2022 National Defense Strategy

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to present the rollout of the Mitchell Institute’s newest study, Building a Force That Wins: Recommendations for the 2022 National Defense Strategy by Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, and Lukas Autenried, Senior Analyst at the Mitchell Institute. They are joined for a panel discussion regarding the report’s findings by Dr. Jim Miller, former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Elbridge Colby, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development.

Every four years, each administration must evaluate the global threat picture and develop an overarching framework known as the National Defense Strategy (NDS) that establishes priorities for the size of its forces, new weapon systems investments, and its operating concepts. While the 2018 NDS succeeded in reorienting DOD’s planning and resource priorities toward great power competition, persistent issues remain that, if left unaddressed, increase the risk of failure in the event of future great power conflict.

This report offers recommendations on three of the most critical issues the administration should address as it develops its next National Defense Strategy.

Report: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/building-a-force-that-wins-recommendations-for-the-2022-national-defense-strategy/

Nuclear Deterrence Forum: Gen Timothy M. Ray

The Mitchell Institute host Gen Timothy M. Ray, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command. Gen Ray joins us at a time when the future of the U.S. strategic deterrent is the subject of intense interest and discussion. He will share his insights into the recapitalization and modernization of long-range strike, the sustainment of the bomber fleet, and emerging technologies such as hypersonic weapons, among other topics. Lt Gen (Ret.) Dave Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, will moderate the discussion and facilitate audience Q&A.

Command and Control Imperatives for the 21st Century: The Next Areas of Growth for ABMS and JADC2

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Command and Control Imperatives for the 21st Century: The Next Areas of Growth for ABMS and JADC2, by Doug Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute.

The Air Force is at a major juncture in the development of command and control (C2) capabilities. Under the aegis of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) programs, the Air Force is pushing ahead with efforts to modernize its C2 architecture by capitalizing on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Faced with the heightened threat environment created by America’s adversaries, these investments are critical to the Air Force’s ability to operate and win in future conflicts. To maximize the advantages yielded by new technologies, the Air Force must develop a tiered strategy for modernizing its C2 capabilities, one in which the human professional remains at the core.

This virtual rollout of the Mitchell Institute’s new policy paper, Command and Control Imperatives for the 21st Century: The Next Areas of Growth for ABMS and JADC2, explores how the Air Force can pursue a holistic risk mitigation approach to C2ISR that blends innovation, operationally mature systems, and backup redundancies. Maj Gen (Ret.) Larry Stutzriem, Director of Research of the Mitchell Institute, leads a discussion with author Doug Birkey and Air Force Air Battle Managers Col Nelson “Bigfoot” Rouleau and Maj Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis.

 

Nuclear Deterrence Forum: Dr. Chris Ford and Dr. Susan Koch

The Mitchell Institute host Dr. Chris Ford, Former Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation, and Dr. Susan Koch, Distinguished Research Fellow with the Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at National Defense University, on its Nuclear Deterrence Forum.  Dr. Koch and Dr. Ford join us at a critical time as the Biden administration is seeking re-entry into the JCPOA and the threat of nuclear proliferation around the world is on the rise. They share their insights into current international nonproliferation and arms control treaties, China's nuclear buildup, and U.S. nuclear modernization efforts, among other topics.

Aerospace Nation: Dr. Victoria Coleman, Air Force Chief Scientist

Dr. Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, joins us at a critical time for the Air Force's modernization priorities. She will shares her insights into the Air Force's science and technology strategy, the evolution of autonomy, and the development of the Advanced Battle Management System.

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.