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Artwork for The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

aerospacenation
China
Russia
U.S. Air Force
Space Force
NATO
Air Power
United States Space Force
U.S. Space Force
Great Power Competition
United States Air Force
Ukraine
Artificial Intelligence
Department Of Defense
Air Force
B-21
Military Strategy
Space Operations
Space Domain Awareness
Iran
Long-Range Strike

The Mitchell Institute hosts some of the most senior leaders and thought influencers of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, and Department of Defense for an intimate hour-long discussion on the pressing issues of the hour as well as long-term strategic visions. The live sessions are attended by a broad swath of individuals from the Department of Defense, Capitol Hill, defense industry, and acade... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Latest Episodes

Combat Forces Command is responsible for generating, presenting, and sustaining combat-ready space control, global operations, and combat service support forces capable of defending the nation’s interests in, from, and to space. Lt. Gen. Gagnon’s ins... more

Autonomy and AI dominate the defense debate. Whether talking about next generation collaborative combat aircraft, command and control decision making aids, or cyberspace tools–there’s no question that these technologies are reshaping national securit... more

Lt. Gen. Steve Whitney serves as the Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, J-8. In this position, he oversees the development of capabilities, conducts studies and assessments, and evaluates plans and programs for the Chairman of the J... more

Through authorization and appropriation, Congress holds the definitive power to shape military growth and readiness. As the nation’s youngest and smallest service, it is vital for the Space Force to have effective advocacy on the Hill. Leading this e... more

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Recent Guests

Gregory J. Gagnon
Lieutenant General, Commander of Space Forces Command, U.S. Space Force
U.S. Space Force
Episode: Lt. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon | Schriever Spacepower Series
Frank Kendall
Former Secretary of the Air Force, author of Lethal Autonomy
Former U.S. Department of Defense (Air Force)
Episode: Autonomy and AI Assessment with Honorable Frank Kendall
Steven Whitney
Lieutenant General, Director of Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment on the Joint Staff (J-8)
Joint Staff
Episode: Lt. Gen. Steven Whitney | Aerospace Nation
Nikki Frankino
Brigadier General, Legislative Liaison for the Space Force
Space Force
Episode: Brig. Gen. Nikki R. Frankino & Ms. Melissa D. Blakesly | Schriever Spacepower Series
Melissa Blakesly
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison
Space Force / Department of the Air Force
Episode: Brig. Gen. Nikki R. Frankino & Ms. Melissa D. Blakesly | Schriever Spacepower Series
Trevor Hock
Director of Strategic Development for Space Systems and Technologies at General Atomics, Electromagnetic Systems
General Atomics
Episode: Space Superiority Through the Spectrum of Conflict: Findings and Recommendations from the Conflict in Space Workshop
Johnny Lamontagne
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff
United States Air Force
Episode: Gen. John D. Lamontagne | Aerospace Nation
August Pfluger
Member of Congress for Texas' 11th District, former fighter pilot
U.S. Congress (Republican); former U.S. Air Force pilot
Episode: Congressman August Pfluger | Aerospace Nation
Kyle Pumroy
Senior Resident Fellow at the Mitchell Institute's Space Power Advantage Center of Excellence
Mitchell Institute
Episode: Military Human Spaceflight: A Key Component to American Space Superiority

Hosts

Kevin Chilton
Host providing introductions and guiding discussion, frequently focusing on Space Power and national security
Jennifer Reeves
Senior policy expert and host for space power discussions
Dave Deptula
Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; episode introducer and policy commentator

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 27 ratings
  • Great podcast low volume levels

    I find the podcast informative about the current political climate and priorities that the joint forces faces. The host and speakers are extremely knowledgeable in the area and I look forward to hearing the podcast rollout whenever they drop. My only critique is at the volume levels in this podcast are so low that I have to crank the stereo in my car all the way up to listen to it, even on headphones. I have to raise the volume very high.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CosinePiMinus1
    United States4 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Air and Space power is essential to our Natsec. This podcast and the Mitchell Institute do their job well.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Classicrocklover238
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Volume issues have been raised by listeners, suggesting production improvements could widen accessibility.
Audience values informed, practitioner-focused analysis with real-world implications for policy and industry sponsorships.
Content is viewed as essential for understanding air- and space-power priorities and defense budgeting.
The show's guests are consistently senior figures, which reinforces credibility and relevance for decision-makers.
Listeners praise the depth and expertise of the discussions, noting strong policy and military insights.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lt. Gen. Steven Whitney | Aerospace Nation
Q: What is the new Joint Force Requirements Process and how does it differ from JSIDs?
JSIDs is dead as a formal process; the Joint Force Requirements Process represents a significant reform that pushes tactical requirements to the services, brings strategic considerations into the JROC, and ties resource opportunities to joint operational problems, encouraging sponsorship of joint solutions regardless of service origin.
Lt. Gen. Steven Whitney | Aerospace Nation
Q: How is the J-8 approaching the challenge of maintaining readiness if 28 funding drops from 27 levels?
We planned investments in 27 with long-term strategic value to set up for 28, understanding that future funding will likely be lower; we will adjust through conversations with Congress and services to preserve necessary capabilities while managing trade-offs across programs.
Lt. Gen. Steven Whitney | Aerospace Nation
Q: Could you explain the role of the J-8 in the development of the FY27 budget and how it interacts with CAPE and the Comptroller?
The J-8 represents the Joint Force's needs and speaks to the requirements that the force needs; we work with CAPE and the Comptroller as co-leads with CAPE leading the budget build, ensuring that capability and requirements drive funding decisions and that balance is found between readiness, modernization, and cost.
Autonomy and AI Assessment with Honorable Frank Kendall
Q: How might autonomy apply to airlift and logistics, and when does removing humans stop providing benefit?
Autonomy can reduce cost and training burdens on larger platforms, but benefits scale with platform size; for heavy lift or large surface platforms, autonomy can yield meaningful efficiency gains, yet it must demonstrate clear cost-effectiveness and ensure safety and accountability.
Autonomy and AI Assessment with Honorable Frank Kendall
Q: Where in the kill chain does the operator turn the lethal responsibility over to autonomous technology?
A human exercises executive and battle-management control over autonomous forces, applying engagement rules, while the tactical decision points may be fought by the machine under human supervision; the human remains ultimately accountable for the force's behavior and compliance.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thorough, policy- and strategy-focused series that centers on national security aspects of air and space power, multi-domain operations, and long-term modernization. Episodes frequently feature senior military leaders, policy researchers, and industry partners who discuss force design, budgeting, interoperability with allies, and emerging technologies. Noteworthy is the strong emphasis on practical implications for defense budgeting, joint operations, and space domain awareness, often mixed with behind-the-scenes perspectives from the Mitchell Institute and top defense establishments. The format typically combines expert interrogation with audience Q&A, yielding detailed takes on complex modernization programs, policy shifts, and strategi... more

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1. The Aerospace Advantage
2. School of War
3. Irregular Warfare Podcast
4. Defense & Aerospace Report
5. Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Gregory J. Gagnon
2. Frank Kendall
3. Steven Whitney
4. Nikki Frankino
5. Melissa Blakesly
6. Trevor Hock
7. Johnny Lamontagne
8. August Pfluger

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