The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum 2023  April 5, 2023, Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA. Opening Keynote: Gen B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations: As Chief, Gen Saltzman serves as the senior uniformed Space Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of all organic and assigned space forces serving in the United States and overseas.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the next session of our Operational Imperative Series on Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD. Join us for a panel discussion with the Air Force leaders collaborating on this imperative: Maj Gen R. Scott Jobe, Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command; Maj Gen Heather L. Pringle, Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory; Maj Gen Evan C. Dertien, Commander, Air Force Test Center; and Brig Gen Dale R. White, Air Force Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft. Autonomy, combined with 6th generation weapon system performance, is what our nation needs to meet the challenges of the future threat environment. Our panelists provide substantive insights on NGAD, ranging from requirements definition and program management to leading-edge engineering approaches and technology development.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation with Gen Mark D. Kelly, Commander of Air Combat Command, and Gen James B. Hecker, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, U.S. Air Forces Africa, and Allied Air Command. Europe and Africa encompass a region marked by distinct security considerations, whether discussing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, expanding NATO membership base, or continued threat posed by violent extremists in parts of Africa. Air Combat Command is a key force provider for U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, with General Kelly and his team ensuring the right mix of capability and capacity are trained and available in theater. This conversation explores these security challenges and how we go about meeting requirements through the virtues and value afforded by airpower.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout of our newest research paper: Understanding the B-21 Raider: America’s Deterrence Bomber by Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments. Gunzinger was joined by Maj Gen Jason R. Armagost, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Air Force Global Strike Command to discuss the opportunities the B-21 program presents. They discussed the need to rebuild a U.S. bomber force that can provide theater commanders with the range, capacity, and precision they need to defeat peer aggression, and then sustain operations to secure the peace. The B-21 also plays a key role as part of the nation’s nuclear triad.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation with Gen Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander, Pacific Air Forces and Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. General Wilsbach discussed the nature of modern adversary threats, cooperation with allies and partners, and how our forces are preparing to overcome operational challenges in this vast and unique theater.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation with Lt Gen James C. Slife, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. Against the backdrop of quickly changing security threats, General Slife discussed the latest on Air Force global operations, force management, training, and readiness. The event was moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Schriever Spacepower Forum with Dr. John F. Plumb, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. Dr. Plumb joined us to discuss his perspective on space infrastructure, space capabilities and defining the threat environment.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Lt Gen James Dawkins, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration and Maj Gen Michael Lutton, Commander, Twentieth Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command. The Generals discuss the importance of the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise to the Nation’s security, how the global nuclear landscape has changed, and how the Air Force is progressing on recapitalizing its nuclear forces.

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to our Aerospace Nation event with Gen Tod D. Wolters, USAF (Ret.), former Commander, U.S. European Command and former NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to listen to the rollout for our newest research paper: The Next Frontier: UAVs for Great Power Conflict – Part I: Penetrating Strike by Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow for UAV and Autonomy Studies and Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Maj Gen Scott Jobe, Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command; Brig Gen Dale R. White, Program Executive Officer for Fighters and Advanced Aircraft, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command; David R. Alexander, President, Aircraft Systems Group General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.; along with Steve Fendley, President, Unmanned Systems Division at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions join the discussion moderated by Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.