The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Aerospace Nation: Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our Aerospace Nation with Gen Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Commander, Air Combat Command.

Whether discussing missions like air superiority, air battle management, electromagnetic spectrum operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or combat search and rescue—the airmen of ACC execute missions that are foundational to modern warfare. Ask any combatant commander and they want more ACC airpower. However, years of budget pressures and non-stop operational deployments have yielded a force that is stretched thin. This decade marks a major wave of modernization to reset units throughout ACC, with many of these investments combining long standing tenets of air warfare with new realities of the information age. Pair those realities with a burgeoning threat environment and it is clear General Wilsbach and his team are looking at a distinct number of challenges and opportunities. What’s beyond certainty is that ACC will be an essential actor in any operation today and tomorrow.

Listen to our thought-provoking conversation with one of America’s top air commanders to learn where ACC is today and where it’s going in the future.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen David N. Miller, Jr., Commander, Space Operations Command

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt Gen David N. Miller, Jr., Commander, Space Operations Command, United States Space Force.

As part of Great Power Competition, the United States today confronts numerous threats to our space capabilities and infrastructure. China has demonstrated the ability to strike ground sites, command and control networks, and satellites in orbit. Ensuring the Space Force is postured for this operational reality is the responsibility of the Space Operations Command (SpOC) under the command of Lt Gen David “Rock” Miller, Jr.

Listen to our event audio for an insightful discussion with Lt Gen Miller about SpOC priorities and current efforts to meet and overcome emerging challenges to our space superiority.

Aerospace Nation: Want Better Results in Ukraine? Senior Leader Views

It’s no secret: whether considering the relative scale of Russia’s military power or confining rules of engagement, Ukraine’s fight to reclaim territory is challenging. Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, and co-author Dr. Christopher Bowie released a new solution-oriented report on the conflict that includes a comprehensive, integrated approach for Ukraine to achieve air superiority. As part of this discussion, Gen Philip M. Breedlove, USAF (Ret.), the 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations; Gen Tod Wolters, USAF (Ret.), the 19th Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations; and Gen Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF (Ret.), former Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, also offered their perspectives..

The report is informed by a recent trip Lt Gen Deptula took to Ukraine to help advise members of their military leadership team. Topics discussed center around strategy and concepts of operation, especially through an airpower lens. A largely ground-centric approach to the conflict has yielded a brutal attrition fight—one that numerically favors Russia. Airpower could provide Ukraine with the edge it needs to gain an advantage over the Russians, break through their front lines, and change the course of the war. Given what is at stake in this fight—especially with China watching—it is crucial to consider alternate courses of action.

With their combined decades of experience and given their unique perspectives on Ukraine, the conversation between Lt Gen Deptula, Gen Breedlove, Gen Harrigian, and Dr. Bowie was incredibly thought-provoking, insightful, and direct. Bottom line, it is time to start focusing on what it looks like to win, and not just avoid losing day-by-day.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Gen Stephen Whiting

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy our Schriever Spacepower Series with Gen Stephen N. Whiting, Commander, United States Space Command, United States Space Force.

Space capabilities, services, and effects are now an indispensable part of daily life and foundational to the structure and operation of the U.S. military. United States Space Command is the Combatant Command charged with ensuring that the American people, and American warfighters in particular, never experience a day without space. That responsibility is more important and more challenging than ever. Increasing threats, growing congestion, and expanding opportunities in the domain add complexity and criticality to Space Command's mission.

Listen to this in-depth discussion with Gen Whiting to learn more about the mission of the newest Combatant Command, its interactions with the Space Force and other services, and how it is leading the way in space.

Paper Release: Digital Engineering: Accelerating the Defense Acquisition and Development Cycle in an Era of Strategic Competition

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy the rollout for our latest report: Digital Engineering: Accelerating the Defense Acquisition and Development Cycle in an Era of Strategic Competition, authored by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, with Brian Morra, Non-Resident Visiting Fellow.

In this event, Ms. Penney discussed her findings with Dave Tremper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Acquisition Integration and Interoperability; Drake Harris, Director, ADP Integrated Systems Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin; and Jeffrey Reed, Director Of Engineering – Digital Transformation, Northrop Grumman Corporation.

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) faces severe capability and capacity shortfalls. Despite the urgent need to rapidly recapitalize the force, modernization lags strategic demands. Digital engineering promises to boost these efforts. Advancements in systems engineering, design, modeling, simulation, and even production can provide benefits across the entire lifecycle of a weapon system. This includes manufacturing, operation, and sustainment.

Said more simply, implementing digital engineering practices has the potential to accelerate the development and fielding of capability. New-start defense acquisition programs can fully exploit these advantages, which will save time and resources. Digital engineering can also benefit legacy weapon systems in more focused areas like sustainment and modernization.

This report explores this crucial topic, helping provide foundational insights and explaining how and when digital engineering will yield best outcomes, while also detailing where returns will be limited.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Lt Gen Philip Garrant

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to Schriever Spacepower Series with Lt Gen Philip Garrant, Commander, Space Systems Command, United States Space Force.

He discussed SSC’s reinvigorated culture and focus on delivering war-winning space capabilities. We also explored the implementation of the new DOD and USSF Commercial Space Strategies and the imperatives of speed and innovation facing the Space Force.

Schriever Spacepower Series: Maj Gen Gregory J. Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Schriever Spacepower Series with Maj Gen Gregory J. Gagnon, Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Intelligence, United States Space Force. He discussed the growing threats to our space capabilities and expanding the use of space by potential adversaries posing increased hazards to joint and coalition operations. Critical to overcoming these challenges is the successful integration of commercial and partner information. The conversation was moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).

Aerospace Nation: Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Aerospace Nation with the Royal Air Force’s Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, Deputy Commander, NATO Allied Air Command. As NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary, the organization’s mission is more important than ever. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, paired with a broader slate of global threats, demand a collaborative approach to safeguard our security interests with member nations. Airpower is a key means through which NATO members can both deter adversaries in times of peace and project decisive power in times of conflict. Member states routinely train for combined operations, with missions like the USAF’s bomber task force exercises and allied participation at Red Flag standing as key examples. The notion of allied NATO airpower is rapidly evolving thanks to a generational wave of modernization with member air forces, much of which is focused on 5th Generation technologies like the F-35 and RPA systems such as the MQ-9. Listen to our conversation with a key leader of NATO’s Allied Air Command to gain fresh insights about the command’s top issues as it adapts to a rapidly changing security environment.

Aerospace Nation: Lt Gen David A. Harris

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to enjoy Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen David A. Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures, Headquarters, United States Air Force.

Lt Gen Harris shared his thoughts on developing Air Force strategy and concepts, delivering an integrated force design, conducting strategic assessments of the operating environment through wargames and workshops, and achieving timely and effective operational capabilities required for tomorrow’s Airmen to fight and win.

Bottom line, the Air Force is in the middle of a generational evolution when it comes to developing operational concepts, fielding technologies, and pursuing new levels of force integration. Lt Gen Harris leads the crafting of the future force design that keeps U.S. airpower well ahead of the threat. This is a video you will not want to miss!

Closing Keynote: MG Brian W. Gibson, Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy U.S. Space Command

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 closing keynote speaker was MG Brian W. Gibson, Director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy U.S. Space Command.