The Aerospace Advantage

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 into it? Putting so much of the Space Force’s budget in reconciliation is proving contentious. They also explore comments by DARPA leadership regarding the future of stealth and discuss whether it’s smart to kill the E-7. We wrap with an extensive conversation regarding readiness: the numbers are bleak. 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: Charles Galbreath, 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: Guest: Jeff "Rowli" Rowlison, VP, Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs Read: 1. A spectacular airstrike on Iran — and a sobering warning [https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5372479-air-force-funding-dollars/] 2. Why Airpower Plays A Key Role In Israel’s Military Campaign [https://www.forbes.com/sites/davedeptula/2025/06/23/why-airpower-still-plays-a-key-role-in-israels-military-campaign/] Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #TheHill #Rendezvous #Budget

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 Amanda Manship; Capt Abigail “Fizzle” Flannery, the 11 SWS Weapons Officer; and Sgt Jonathan Stark, a Crew Chief in the 11 SWS. Credits: Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Lt Col Amanda Manship, Commander, 11th Space Warning Squadron, United States Space Force Guest: Capt Abigail "Fizzle" Flannery, Weapons Officer, 11th Space Warning Squadron, United States Space Force Guest: Sgt Jonathan Stark, Crew Chief, 11th Space Warning Squadron, United States Space Force Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] X: https://x.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #AerospaceAdvantage #SpaceForce #Military #Leadership

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 brings unique operational experience to the mix. We discuss strategic context, the operational aspects of the mission, and how this raid should inform policy and budget objectives. We’ve heard enough from the talking heads…it’s time for airpower and spacepower practitioners to join the conversation. 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 "Slider" Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] X: https://x.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Iran #MiddleEast #Nuclear #Bomber

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 light. The rest need more development. While conflict in space is not inevitable, the folks at CNA and CASI found that we’ve got a long way to go when it comes to boosting our ability to deter conflict on orbit. To help us understand the report, its findings, and its recommendations, Charles Galbreath and Jennifer Reeves of the Mitchel Institute chat with Dr. Kevin Pollpeter of CASI, plus Dr. April Herlevi and Elizabeth Barrett of CNA. Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin  Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE) Guest: Dr. Kevin Pollpeter, Director of Research, China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) Guest: Dr. April Herlevi, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Naval Analysis Guest: Elizabeth Barrett, Project Manager, China & Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, Center for Naval Analysis Read: Deterring China's Use of Force in the Space Domain [https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/CASI/Articles/Article-Display/Article/4164901/deterring-chinas-use-of-force-in-the-space-domain/] Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] X: https://x.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #China #Space

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 infantry and armor operations. Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Lt. Col. Grant Georgulis, and Heather "Lucky" Penney dive into an incredibly insightful discussion on these volatile topics. 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: Lt Col Grant "SWAT" Georgulis, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of [https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of] Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ [https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies [https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace [https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace] LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb [https://bit.ly/3nzBisb] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ [https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/] #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #AirSuperiority #Airpower