Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney talks to Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Charles Galbreath, Todd “Sledge” Harmer, Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, JV Venable, and Jeff Rowlison about the top defense issues this month in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Our team digs into newly released FY26 budget details. There are some key issues to track for both the Air Force and Space Force. Seeking to retire 340 aircraft, while only procuring 76 is a high-risk strategy. Will Congress buy...
Jul 05, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 244
Episode Summary: This week, we're shining a spotlight on the men and women of the 11th Space Warning Squadron (SWS). They provide theater missile warning to warfighters around the world. Given the nature and intensity of the threat environment, they have been incredibly busy. The 11 SWS is the inaugural recipient of the General Atomics United States Space Force Unit of the Year Award. Join Heather Penney, Charles Galbreath, and Jennifer "Boots" Reeves as they chat with 11 SWS commander Lt Col Am...
Jun 28, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 243
Episode Summary: We’re bringing you a special edition of the Aerospace Advantage to discuss Saturday’s strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities. Everyone has read the news by now—the story of the 7 B-2s flying from Whiteman Air Force Base, numerous aerial refuelings along the way, air superiority aircraft joining the raid, tomahawk missiles fired from a submarine, and significant support from space assets. This episode brings key insights and observations from our team members—each of whom...
Jun 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 242
Episode Summary: This week we’re taking a deep dive into deterrence, specifically deterring China from using force in space. Air University’s China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), in partnership with the Center for Naval Analysis (CNA), just released a new report exploring this topic. Results suggest that the U.S. security establishment has serious room for growth. Their experts analyzed ten different factors that assessed how the U.S. can deter China, but only two were rated in a favorable ...
Jun 21, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 241
Episode Summary: Combat operations in Ukraine and the Red Sea clearly demonstrate the impact of small lethal drones as portable precision-guided munitions. Some have suggested that their use has made such a change in the character of war that a new category of airspace must be introduced. Casting it as the “air littoral,” they claim the military should move beyond traditional notions of air superiority. Others recognize the significance of lethal drones have their greatest impact on traditional ...
Jun 14, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 240
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney talks to Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Charles Galbreath, and Anthony "Lazer" Lazarski about the top defense issues this month in Washington, D.C. and beyond. They unpack how the FY26 defense budget is unfolding—what is good and where is it falling short? The factors involving reconciliation versus the standard budget are throwing in some unpredictable factors to consider. They also discuss Golden Dome from a challenges and opportun...
Jun 07, 2025•57 min•Season 5Ep. 239
Episode Summary: With threats surging around the world, the Air Force must figure out how to reset and do it fast. They can’t just buy more of what the service fielded in past decades. Fighting and winning tomorrow will require new operational concepts and technologies that’ll give airmen an edge. That’s where CCA come into the mix. They’re designed to bring new capabilities, more capacity, and empower new ways of fighting. But just like the rest of the Air Force aircraft inventory, just buying ...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 238
Episode Summary: Fighting and winning in the twenty first century requires next gen electronic attack capabilities. Designing that technology and developing effective concepts of operation demands operational analysis. Heather Penney discusses this reality with Lt Gen David “Kooler” Krumm, USAF (Ret.) of BAE Systems. It comes down to empowering strategists, operational leaders, and technology experts to better understand how these functions can best empower overarching tactics, techniques, proce...
May 24, 2025•53 min•Season 5Ep. 237
Episode Summary: Join us to learn more about the latest developments in Chinese airpower and spacepower developments. Heather Penney and Mike "JDAM" Dahm discuss a wide range of topics, including an update on China’s 6th generation fighters and recent PLA exercises in the Taiwan Strait. They discuss what is happening with more missing PLA generals and dynamics between Xi Jinping and Vladamir Putin. The INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Paparo just testified on the Hill about China’s military and the P...
May 17, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 236
Episode Summary: Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) stand forth as one of the most important airpower developments of the twenty-first century. We learn more about CCA by talking to two of the people involved with developing and building them: Mike Atwood from General Atomics and Andrew “Scar” Van Timmeren of Anduril. CCA’s ability to harness the traditional attributes of range, speed, survivability, and a broad range of mission effects with the power of autonomy, artificial intelligence, and m...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 235
Episode Summary: In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss top Air Force and Space Force developments in Washington, D.C., and beyond. Topics include the latest defense budget plus-up via reconciliation and what this means for air and space power. We also discuss INDOPACOM Commander Admiral Paparo’s testimony regarding airpower gaps in the Pacific and Lockheed’s new vision for the F-35 in the wake of Boeing winning the F-47 competition. The team explores two of the Space Force’s new foundational do...
May 03, 2025•58 min•Season 5Ep. 234
Episode Summary: France is America’s oldest ally. We’ve been through a lot: the American Revolution over 250 years ago, two World Wars, and ongoing worldwide military operations. Our two nations have stood side by side when it mattered most. This connection endures. These days, it’s more important than ever, considering China’s rise, Russia’s aggression in Europe, and other elements of instability we see around the globe. A key component of this security relationship depends on robust aerospace ...
Apr 26, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 233
Episode Summary: This week, The Aerospace Advantage takes a break for Easter, but that doesn't mean our listeners need to take a pause. In this week's episode we reach back to a previously recorded conversation where the Mitchell team reflects on the air war over Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and speaks with combat pilot and POW Lt Col Gene Smith, USAF (Ret). Not only did Lt Col Smith fly and fight in some of the most heavily defended airspace in the history of aerial warfare, but he als...
Apr 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 232
Episode Summary: As the Air Force develops the operational construct for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Doug Birkey and Brig Gen Houston "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) urge the service to tap into two decades of lessons learned flying highly sophisticated uncrewed aircraft like the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and RQ-170. Harnessing his experience as an uncrewed aircraft pilot and commander, Cantwell explores the tremendous insights gained through uncrewed operations and the fun...
Apr 12, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 231
Episode Summary: In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss top Air Force and Space Force developments in Washington, D.C., and beyond. We review key themes from Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman's visit with the Mitchell Institute last week, as well as a broad range of spacepower topics, from Chinese “dogfighting” in space to the new lunar landing to new launch contracts and the future of Space Development Agency contracts. On the Air Force side, we discuss how the recent F-47 NGAD ...
Apr 05, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 230
Episode Summary: Heather “Lucky” Penney and Col. Mark "Chili" Howard explore one of the Air Force’s largest, most diverse units: the 55th Wing. Operating from multiple installations, members of the 55th Wing execute everything from the EC-130 and EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack mission to the RC/WC/TC-135 ISR mission and elements of the nuclear command, control, and communications enterprise. They’ve also got a maintenance group, operations group, and medical group. We explore what these A...
Mar 29, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 229
Episode Summary: Heather “Lucky” Penney and Senior Fellow Brig Gen Houston "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) chat with some of the nation’s top remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) commanders about on-going combat contributions and the Air Force’s future development path for this incredible mission. They are joined by Brig Gen Christopher "Reggie" Hammond, Director of RPA and Airborne ISR Capabilities at Headquarters Air Force; Col Timothy "Tilt" Monroe, Wing Commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing; ...
Mar 22, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 5Ep. 228
Episode Summary: Heather “Lucky” Penney and Col Patrick Williams explores one of the most important make-or-break factors in warfare: weather. Environmental conditions control when and how we employ military power…and what enemies can do to us. People tend to take weather assessments for granted, but that’s a mistake. Collecting environmental data, analyzing it, and transforming it into actionable knowledge for an advantage at the tactical, operational and strategic levels is incredibly complex....
Mar 15, 2025•1 hr•Season 5Ep. 227
Episode Summary: The Mitchell Institute team shares insights from the AFA Warfare Symposium, in Aurora, CO—it was the spot for air and space power professionals this week. Hear from Gen Kevin Chilton, USAF (ret), Lt Gen Dave Deptula, USAF (ret), Heather Penney, and Charles Galbreath as they discuss the crucial messages coming from Chief of Space Operations Gen Chance Saltzman and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen David Allvin. We also explore the Air Force’s new force design, the challenges of...
Mar 08, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 226
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about the latest air and space power developments in Washington DC. We explore President Trump’s defense priorities, including recent top defense leadership changes. The team also provides a Ukraine update and assess where defense issues stand in Congress, especially the budget. Another major development includes Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s defense budget guidance and what it means for t...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 5Ep. 225
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney discusses why the Air Force has a chronic pilot shortfall and solutions to solve it with Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret) and Lt Gen Marc Sasseville, USAF (Ret). Bottom line: the Air Force’s pilot corps is now too small to sustain a healthy combat force that can prevail in a peer conflict and meet the nation’s other national security requirements. Air Force leaders recognize the shortfall and have worked hard to address it, but underlyi...
Feb 22, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 224
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney discusses the latest Chinese security developments with Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow Mike Dahm. Whether discussing the creation of a new service branch focused on space—the PLA’s Aerospace Force; continued development of their nuclear arsenal; or the “Christmas surprise” flight of multiple new combat aircraft—2024 was a busy and consequential one for the Chinese defense establishment. We explore these developments, take a look at what ...
Feb 15, 2025•56 min•Season 5Ep. 223
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney discusses the rising strategic importance of the Arctic with Maj. Gen. Mark Piper, USAF, NORAD Deputy Director of Operations; BGen James Hawthorne, RCAF, NORAD Deputy Director Strategy, Policy and Plans; and Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) of our Mitchell Institute team. With Russia and China aggressively increasing their Arctic military and civilian activities, America must take notice. Although NORAD stands ready to deter and de...
Feb 08, 2025•52 min•Season 5Ep. 222
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell Institute team about air and space power issues through the congressional lens. Not only is Washington DC seeing the arrival of President Trump, but the year is also seeing major changes on Capitol Hill. What will this mean for programs like the F-35, B-21, and Sentinel? Will the Space Force be able to move forward developing offensive and defensive capabilities? Questions also exist regarding the budget....
Feb 01, 2025•59 min•Season 5Ep. 221
Episode Summary: In this episode, Doug Birkey chats with Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.); Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.); Mark Gunzinger; and JV Venable about key considerations that President Trump’s defense team, especially the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force, should be thinking about when it comes to airpower. It's clear that the Air Force needs to modernize faster so it can grow its combat capability and capacity. More cannot be done with less any longer. ...
Jan 25, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 220
Episode Summary: In this episode, Doug Birkey chats with Gen. Kevin Chilton, USAF (Ret.); Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.); Jennifer "Boots" Reeves; and Charles Galbreath about key considerations President Trump’s defense team, especially the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force, should be thinking about when it comes to spacepower. We all know that President Trump created the Space Force in his first term. It’s been just over five years since that key decision. A lot has h...
Jan 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 219
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Maj Gen (Ret) Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem, Col (Ret) Barry “Papa” Murphy, Col (Ret) Robert “Otis” Winkler, and Col (Ret) JV Venable about the Air Force’s current readiness crisis. The severity of the global threat environment demands a fix. This isn't just an Air Force problem. Without effective and reliable airpower, no modern combat operation can succeed. Our guests define the scale and scope of the challenge, leading to a robust ...
Jan 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 218
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Anduril’s Steve Milano—from their Strike and Air Dominance Sector—and our very own Maj Gen (Ret) Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem about what it means to deliver enhanced munitions capabilities at scale. Anyone who has watched security developments around the globe knows that we’ve got serious issues that risk us being out produced on the war materiel front, especially when it comes to munitions. How the U.S. industrial base can expand it...
Jan 04, 2025•51 min•Season 5Ep. 217
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with members of the Mitchell team about some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years. JDAM recounts an ill-conceived field trip to Croatia, Sledge tempts single-engine fate, JV recalls a Christmas story from the desert, Slider tells a “...
Dec 28, 2024•45 min•Season 4Ep. 216
Episode Summary: In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney and members of the Mitchell Institute team discuss allied spacepower with French Space Command Commander Major General Philippe Adam. We talk about it all the time: the U.S. will always operate with allies and partners. With space now standing as an ever-crucial domain and with our adversaries seeking to contest it—the notion of allies and partners working together on orbit is fast becoming a new, essential baseline for successful military...
Dec 21, 2024•43 min•Season 4Ep. 215
