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The Aerospace Advantage

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
The Aerospace Advantage
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225 episodes

  • The Aerospace Advantage

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

    14/03/2026 | 42 mins.
    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

    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

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

    #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #militaryleadership
  • The Aerospace Advantage

    Operation Epic Fury: Key Insights and Analysis — Ep. 280

    07/03/2026 | 1h 6 mins.
    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

    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

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

    #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #iran #middleeast #war
  • The Aerospace Advantage

    Top Spacepower Insights: AFA’s Warfare Symposium — Ep. 279

    28/02/2026 | 1h
    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

    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

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

    #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #space #warfaresymposium
  • The Aerospace Advantage

    Want Effective AI? It'll Take Contextualized Mission Data — Ep. 278

    21/02/2026 | 55 mins.
    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

    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

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

    #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AI #Data #MilitaryTechnology
  • The Aerospace Advantage

    Air Superiority: It Takes More Fighters — Ep. 277

    14/02/2026 | 57 mins.
    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

    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

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/

    #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #rendezvous #government #capitolhill

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About The Aerospace Advantage

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is proud to present The Aerospace Advantage, with Heather ”Lucky” Penney as the host. Every week, Lucky takes listeners into the world of aerospace power and help the audience understand what it takes to fly and fight in the sky, while also protecting America’s interests in space. Whether talking to top generals, standing on a flight line full of combat aircraft, looking at a rocket being prepared for launch, or hearing from those who have laid it all on the line in defense of the nation—this podcast will afford unprecedented access and insight into where the combat aerospace community is going and why.
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