The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Opening Keynote: Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations (2024)

The Mitchell Institute hosted its Third Annual Spacepower Security Forum on March 27, 2024—Washington DC’s premiere gathering of spacepower leaders. The insightful discussions shed light on the key trends in national security space and what they portend for the defense community as a whole. The opening keynote speaker was Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force.

Research Paper Release: The Need for Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Disruptive Air Warfare

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our rollout for our newest paper: The Need for Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Disruptive Air Warfare by Mark A. Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, with Maj Gen Lawrence A. Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Mitchell's Director of Research, and Bill Sweetman. This discussion featured Robert Winkler, Vice President, Corporate Development and National Security Programs, Kratos Defense, and Curtis Wilson, Senior Director, Emergent Missions, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. The event was moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

This report is a product of the Mitchell Institute’s wargames and related research that involved expert participants from the Air Force warfighter communities, defense technologists, and industry. It strongly supports the Air Force’s proposition that CCA will help mitigate the Air Force’s existing—and growing—capability and capacity gaps that threaten its ability to achieve air superiority in a conflict with the pacing threat. However, while CCA may provide affordable mass to bolster an otherwise dwindling inventory of crewed combat aircraft, CCA combined with crewed 5th and future 6th combat aircraft have the potential to disrupt China’s A2/AD operations and then deny and impose costs as called for by the National Defense Strategy. The stakes for creating this new, hybrid force design have never been higher, given China’s unchecked campaign to field new A2/AD weapon systems and proliferate them to other actors that threaten the security of the United States and its allies and friends.

Policy Paper Release: The Quantum Advantage: Why it Matters and Essential Next Steps

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy the rollout for our newest policy paper: The Quantum Advantage: Why it Matters and Essential Next Steps by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow. She was joined by Dr. Michael Hayduk, Deputy Director, Air Force Research Lab Information Directorate and Laura Thomas, Chief of Staff, Infleqtion. The event was moderated by Lt Gen Dave USAF (Ret.) Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute. Quantum information science and technology (QIST) is a major focus of defense innovation, yet few in the defense community really understand what is needed to mature these technologies into valuable warfighter capabilities. U.S. policy makers often jump to quantum computing when speaking of QIST advantages. Yet, other quantum applications are advancing at a pace that can fix known defense vulnerabilities and capability gaps within the next five years—things like timing, navigation, sensing, and radio frequency reception. Because many applications are defense specific, DoD needs an investment strategy that goes well beyond research and development. This series of reports by Heather Penney helps to demystify the science behind quantum technologies, explain why securing a lead in this field matters to warfighters, and recommend next steps U.S. defense leaders should take to achieve a quantum advantage.

Policy Paper Release: Securing Cislunar Space and the First Island Off the Coast of Earth

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our rollout for our newest policy paper: Securing Cislunar Space and the First Island Off the Coast of Earth by Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies. He was joined by Thomas A. Lockhart Jr., Director, Capability and Resource Integration, U.S. Space Command, Dr. Joel B. Mozer, former United States Space Force Director of Science, Technology and Research, and Jim Bridenstine, former NASA administrator. The event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

This paper discusses how the United States and China are locked in a race to harness the scientific, economic, and national security benefits related to the exploration of the Moon and the region of space affected by the gravity of both the Earth and Moon, known as the cislunar regime. The USSF and U.S. Space Command must have the capabilities to secure growing interests in this region and help the United States and our allies win the race. Losing means we risk the authoritarian territorial mindset of China becoming the established norm, impeding freedom of operations, and threatening peaceful endeavors, just as we are seeing in the South China Sea.  Modest, early investment is crucial to winning this race and reduces the future need for larger investments to overcome an advantage ceded to China.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen DeAnna Burt

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt Gen DeAnna Burt, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear.

Lt Gen Burt discusses the state of space operations and initiatives to assure continued access to and use of the space domain in the face of increasing kinetic, non-kinetic, and cyber threats. This event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

Policy Paper Release: Winds of Change: Environmental Monitoring for an Era of Peer Competition

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest policy paper: Winds of Change: Environmental Monitoring for an Era of Peer Competition by Tim Ryan, Senior Fellow for Spacepower Studies, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) .

The discussion was joined by Col Patrick C. Williams, Director of Weather, U.S. Air Force, and Lt Col Joseph L. Maguadog, Materiel Leader, EO/IR Weather Systems, Space Systems Command. The discussion was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, MI-SPACE.

The U.S. military requires a more effective, reliable, and resilient space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM) capability. The ability to employ forces, launch munitions, and coordinate actions in the terrestrial battlespace depends on environmental conditions. However, the weather mission is often taken for granted, and the current space-based weather satellites are old, fragile, and in dire need of reset. This report explores the SBEM mission, explains the Space Force’s future vector, and discusses how new mission demands, like JADC2, are impacting this undertaking.

Aerospace Nation: Mr. Thomas J. Lawhead

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Mr. Thomas J. Lawhead, acting Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures.

Mr. Lawhead discussed how his organization embodies “the voice of tomorrow’s airmen,” with the mission of ensuring that the Air Force is organized, trained, and equipped to successfully face competitors with confidence in future conflicts. Mr. Lawhead also covered the most impactful trends forecasted by Air Force Futures and how they inform long-term force planning and capability requirements.

Aerospace Nation: Lt Gen Kevin B. Kennedy

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Lt Gen Kevin B. Kennedy, Commander, Sixteenth Air Force; Commander, Air Forces Cyber, and Commander, Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Air Force). Lt Gen Kennedy discussed the priorities of the Sixteenth Air Force regarding cyber and electronic capabilities, along with their associated operational concepts and strategies.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Dr. Lisa Costa

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to Schriever Spacepower Series with Dr. Lisa Costa, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO).

Dr Costa discussed how the United States Space Force is leveraging digital technologies such as Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (MS&A) and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) to increase the effects generated by a lean Guardian workforce. This event was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

Aerospace Nation: Gen Luca Goretti

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to Aerospace Nation with Gen Luca Goretti, Chief of Staff, Italian Air Force. Gen Goretti discussed Italian Air Force priorities regarding technologies, operational concepts, and associated strategies.

Our two air forces operate common systems like the F-35 and MQ-9, plus the two air forces have shared security interests around the globe. This creates a key allied relationship rooted in the advocacy of using airpower to provide options for our nation’s leaders to address security challenges. The partnership of the U.S. and Italian Air Force is a model for building synergy in an allied relationship. Hear from one of the leading airpower voices in Europe.