Episode Summary:

The F-117 Nighthawk: it’s one of the biggest game changers in the history of airpower. Ever since the dawn of military aviation, airmen sought to strike deep within enemy territory. The problem: increasingly sophisticated integrated air and missile defense networks. The F-117 changed the rules of the game by leveraging lessons learned from Vietnam and combining stealth technology with precision strike munitions. The world learned this on night one of the Desert Storm air campaign. To mark this incredible achievement, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum just placed an F-117 on display for the public.

Join us to hear from those who were present during the early days of the program, flew the jet, helped employ it, and the particulars surrounding the restoration and display of Smithsonian’s newest aircraft.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Guest: Dr. Richard Hallion

Guest: Dr. Michael Hankins

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #History #Airpower

Episode Summary:

Jimmy Stewart’s example of military service in World War II and the Cold War speaks volumes about the integrity, commitment, and values that defined one of Hollywood’s most famous actors. A new movie, Jimmy, brings this history to the big screen. Join us as we speak with Jimmy Stewart’s daughter and the movie’s executive producer, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, plus Aaron Burns, the film’s director. We explore Stewart’s wartime performance in the context of those eras of airpower history in which he served. As a public figure who was present during some of the most formative years of the Air Force, his record of service stands as an inspiration for future generations of airmen.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Kelly Stewart-Harcourt

Guest: Aaron Burns

Links:

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Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #History #Airpower

Episode Summary:

This week, we discuss the election results and the implications they will have for the Department of the Air Force and national security writ large. We also explore the Air Force’s new fighter report, plus the importance of the F-35 multi-year framework. Our team reviews DIA’s latest threat assessment for space. Experts then explain the importance of the Space Force activating a component under Special Operations Command as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with AUTOWARCOM.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Matthew King, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #History #Airpower

Episode Summary:

Readiness is one of the biggest challenges facing the Air Force as Airmen strive to meet surging demand with an aircraft inventory that is old and small. Service leaders have prioritized boosting readiness, which involves buying more spare parts, qualifying more suppliers, retaining more seasoned maintainers, and continue to buy new aircraft. To be truly successful, we also need to master the various readiness data sets so that we can better understand when, how, and why aircraft are facing issues…while also gaining better insights about what fixes will deliver the best results. We chat with Melissa Sutherland, executive vice president and airpower market lead at Booz Allen, to learn more about how AI might help crack this challenge.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Melissa Sutherland, Executive Vice President, Air Power Market Lead, Booz Allen Hamilton

Links:

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Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AI #readiness

Episode Summary:

The effectiveness of Air Force airpower ultimately comes down to how the service presents forces to the combatant commanders. Post-9/11 operations saw units sliced and diced based on smaller unit type codes and individual Airmen to meet various mission taskers. While this approach may have bridged operations for Afghanistan and Iraq, it's inadequate for the demand signals the service sees today and as it prepares for for high-end conflict. Join us as we chat with Brig. Gen. Chris Hammond to learn about the Air Force's new force presentation concept: Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0--a concept that focuses on the wing-echelon as a unit of action. Brig. Gen. Hammond currently serves as Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff, where leads the Implementation Task Force, which is responsible for the development and standup of the Unit of Action defining the Air Force’s future force presentation model.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Brig. Gen. Christopher Hammond, Special Assistant to the Air Force Chief of Staff

Links:

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Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AirForce

Episode Summary:

This week, we assess what’s going on in our nation’s capital as elections grow near and the window for passing legislation is closing. We also discuss the SECAF's announcement regarding weapons in space, plus his thoughts on the future of AI. Our team reviews the latest fighter aviation news—from F-35 combat readiness rates to the proposed F-16G. Experts then explain what's going on with munitions--from FAM to JATM and JASSM. The EA-37 also takes center stage, with the retirement of the EC-130H. Last but not least, if Sun Tzu said, "Know thy enemy," then why is the Air Force shuttering its China Aerospace Studies Institute?

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts & Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director & Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Todd "Sledge" Harmer, Senior Vice President, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AirForce #SpaceForce #Rendezvous

Episode Summary:

The Global Position System (GPS) is deeply engrained in modern life, both civil and military. It's so ubiquitous that most people take it for granted. This technology is the worldwide “gold standard” for precision space-based positioning, navigation, and timing. These functions underpin everything from mobile networks and power grids to global financial transactions and modern farming. They also facilitate a broad range of military operations. However, our adversaries understand these dependencies and seek to hold the GPS enterprise at risk. Join our in-depth discussion with Christina Mancinelli, the Vice President of Global Communications & Navigation at Lockheed Martin, as we learn how the United States is investing in this critical mission to ensure necessary functions continue, even when under attack.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director & Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)

Guest: Christina Mancinelli, Vice President, Global Communications & Navigation, Lockheed Martin

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Space #GPS

Episode Summary:

On August 1, 1943, 178 B-24s flew an incredibly daring strike against Axis oil refineries in Ploiești, Romania. The mission saw the loss of 54 bombers and nearly 500 airmen. Five individuals received the Medal of Honor, and a further 56 were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Join us as we chat with author Adam Makos regarding his newest book, Tidal Wave, the history surrounding the Ploiești bombing raid, and the crew of the B-24 Chattanooga Choo Choo. Not only do we talk about this important history, but we also learn more about how Adam approaches his airpower history research and writing projects.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Doug Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Adam Makos, Author

Links:

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of

Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #History #Airpower