The Aerospace Advantage

Latest Episodes:

Command and Control Air Battle Management: The Air Layer Still Matters — Ep. 282 Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

As the United States military works to ensure its forces can effectively employ military power in an increasingly dangerous threat environment, it is imperative that its command-and-control air battle management (C2ABM) enterprise is postured for success. The ability to ensure forces are positioned at the right time and place to best secure the desired effects, while avoiding undue risk, is crucial and will make the difference between winning and losing in future conflicts. Current C2ABM capabilities are too old, are increasingly fragile, lack sufficient capacity, and are too vulnerable. Heather “Lucky” Penney and Doug Birkey explore this topic with air battle managers Lt. Col. Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis and Lt. Col. Grant “SWAT” Georgulis . The time for change is now. U.S. forces must always retain a tactical decision advantage.

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: Lt. Col. Alex "Big Bobby" Wallis, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow Alumni

Guest: Lt. Col. Grant "SWAT" Georgulis, Air Force Senior Developmental Education Fellow Alumni

Visit: c2coord.com

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #air #battlemanagement

Frontline Spacepower: Command Perspectives from U.S. Space Forces-Central — Ep. 281 Mar 14, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Since the end of the Cold War, Central Command (CENTCOM) has been front and center for U.S. combat operations, with space playing an ever-increasing essential role in daily operations. That’s why the Space Force stood up its first component command, U.S. Space Forces-Central (SPACECENT), in this combatant command. We discuss the history, current operations, and future of SPACECENT with its first commander, Col Chris “Tool” Putman.” Learn about how spacepower provided key contributions to defending Isreal from Iranian air and missile strikes, empowered Operation Midnight Hammer, and more. All these experiences have major implications for tactics, planning, operational employment, and integration of spacepower.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Col. Chris "Tool" Putman, USSF (Ret.), Former Commander, U.S. Space Forces - Central (SPACECENT)

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #militaryleadership

Operation Epic Fury: Key Insights and Analysis — Ep. 280 Mar 07, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Join Mitchell Institute fellows for an in-depth conversation to better understand the strategic, operational, and tactical factors surrounding Operation Epic Fury. Heather Penney leads an unrivaled set of experts for an important dialogue that will help make sense of the conflict—from Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Deptula explaining how to design an air campaign and Charles Galbreath exploring spacepower’s contribution to the fight, to Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Houston Cantwell looking into the challenges involved with prosecuting high value targets and JV Venable discussing the realities of fighting an air war in the Middle East. This is an opportunity to better understand the ongoing operations that you won’t want to miss.

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 A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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

Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

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

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #iran #middleeast #war

Top Spacepower Insights: AFA’s Warfare Symposium — Ep. 279 Feb 28, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Join Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) for their key takeaways from this week's Warfare Symposium, in Aurora, Colorado. Get the key takeaways about Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink’s focus on acquisition, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman's take on growing and modernizing the service, and much, much more. Charles, Jen, and Kyle also dig into insights from the panels and more from behind-the-scenes and what you didn’t hear on stage.

Credits:

Host: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

Guest: Kyle "Puma" Pumroy, Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #warfaresymposium

Want Effective AI? It'll Take Contextualized Mission Data — Ep. 278 Feb 21, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Autonomy and artificial intelligence are going to have a massive impact upon aircraft, mission systems, weapons, battle management, and other command and control functions. But it isn’t enough to just write the algorithms for the autonomy and AI—we’ll need to train them to effectively coordinate with human teammates, rapidly adjust to a dynamic threat environment, adhere to commander’s intent, and afford sufficient insight for legal and reliability analysis. All of that involves capturing and curating data to promote warfighter context and relevant mission data. Lean more about this as Heather Penney chats with a team of AI experts and former warfighters, including Robert “Bobaloo” Rickard and Mark “Drifter” Valentine.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Robert “Bobaloo” Rickard, Founder & CEO, RCG, Inc.

Guest: Mark “Drifter” Valentine, Global Head of National Security Strategy, Skydio

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AI #Data #MilitaryTechnology

Air Superiority: It Takes More Fighters — Ep. 277 Feb 14, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Since the end of the Cold War, Air Force resource shortfalls have hit the fighter inventory hard. Want proof? The Air Force was supposed to procure 750 F-22s, but only got 187. The F-35 inventory was supposed to be double what we currently field on flightlines. Added to that, the service continually cut the legacy inventory of F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s …but COCOM demand never slowed down. Fewer tails carry more sortie demand, which is a recipe for burnout. It’s time for a course correction. Many voices who have helped carry this message, but few are as important as the Air National Guard. We explore this crucial topic with Brig. Gen. Shannon “Sinjin” Smith, Commander of the Idaho Air National Guard.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Brig. Gen. Shannon "Sinjin" Smith, Commander, Idaho Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho

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

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rendezvous #government #capitolhill

National Defense Strategy, Budget News, and Spacepower Update: The Rendezvous — Ep. 276 Feb 07, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

In this episode, our team explores the top defense issues in Washington, D.C. and beyond. What are the key details in the defense appropriations legislation that was just signed into law, and what are the important considerations when it comes to the new National Defense Strategy? We also explore the push for acquisition reform in the Department of the Air Force, plus Secretary Hegseth’s focus on the industrial base. The team also covers the latest in spacepower—everything from the SDA tracking layer to congestion with launch.

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 A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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

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

Guest: Jeff Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International

Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rendezvous #government #capitolhill

Global Reach, Global Power: B-1 Flightline Update — Ep. 275 Jan 31, 2026

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Episode Summary:

Global Reach, Global Power—you can’t exercise that without Air Force bombers. We explore the long-range strike mission with Lt. Col. Ryan “Duke” Stillwell. He’s spent most of his career flying the B-1, including time at the weapons school, and he just wrapped up command of the 9th Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB.

What factors have shaped the modern bomber inventory into its current form in recent years? What are the current and anticipated future demands for the mission? How do we expect long range strike to evolve in the future and why?

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Lt. Col. Ryan "Duke" Stillwell, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Bombers

Pacific Threat Update: Taiwan Assessment — Ep. 274 Jan 24, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

The global security environment is nearing a fever pitch, but China remains the pacing military challenge for the United States. The central issue shaping that challenge is China’s threat to Taiwan. Can Taiwan defend itself against coercion or invasion from China’s People’s Liberation Army? Join us for an in-depth assessment as Heather Penney explores this critical topic with Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow Mike Dahm, who just returned from an extensive trip to Taiwan. These are insights you will not want to miss.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies

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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #China #Taiwan

Collaborative Mission Autonomy: The Key to Next Gen Airpower — Ep. 273 Jan 17, 2026

Show notes

Episode Summary:

One of the most cutting-edge topics in combat airpower is collaborative mission autonomy. This is the technology that teams a crewed aircraft, like an F-35 or B-21, with an uncrewed aircraft, like a CCA. Collaboration promises to unlock greater mission effects than what either plane could realize on its own. Heather Penney explores this with Steve Fino and Ryan Bunge from Collins Aerospace.

Credits:

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

Producer: Shane Thin

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Ryan Bunge, Vice President & General Manager, Strategic Defense Solutions, Collins Aerospace

Guest: Steven "Munch" Fino, Principal Technical Fellow & Technical Director for Autonomy, Collins Aerospace

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