Aerospace Power: An Imperative for National Security
An Imperative
for the Nation
The Mitchell Institute is the only aerospace power-focused think tank in the nation’s capital. The Institute informs the national security debate, educates about the essential role of aerospace power, and cultivates aerospace-minded talent.
Featured
Space
10.10 Schriever Spacepower Series: Maj Gen Christopher Povak
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies invites you to join Schriever Spacepower Series with Maj Gen Christopher Povak, Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office, Tuesday, October 10 at 10:00 am EST. General Povak joins us to discuss the latest details regarding how the NRO develops, acquires, launches, and operates the latest space-based intelligence assets. This event will be moderated by Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE).
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Space
Space Force faces disproportionate impact from a shutdown or CR
Breaking Defense | September 28, 2023 | Charles Galbreath and Tim Ryan
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Airpower
Episode 147 — No Bucks, No Buck Rogers: Leadership Conversation with Lt Gen Rick Moore
In Episode 147 of the Aerospace Advantage, No Bucks, No Buck Rogers: Leadership Conversation with Lt Gen Rick Moore, Mitchell’s Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.) explores the fiscal realities facing the USAF. As the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs at Headquarters Air Force, Lt Gen Rick Moore oversees building the budgets that are ultimately submitted to top Department of the Air Force leaders, DoD, and the Hill. We frequently talk about
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Space
Why the military is integral to America’s return to the moon
Defense One | September 22, 2023 | Charles Galbreath
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Content
In the News & Commentary
The Mitchell Institute’s editorials, media articles featuring Mitchell expertise, and other content.
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Aerospace Nation Interview Series
The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Interview Series.
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Publications
Read Mitchell Institute Research Studies, Policy Papers, and the latest entries in the Mitchell Forum Paper series.
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming events feature thoughtful commentary from decisionmakers, thought leaders, and other authoritative voices from the aerospace power community.
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In the News and Commentary
All News
Space Force faces disproportionate impact from a shutdown or CR
Breaking Defense | September 28, 2023 | Charles Galbreath and Tim Ryan
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Why the military is integral to America’s return to the moon
Defense One | September 22, 2023 | Charles Galbreath
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Press Release – J. Michael Dahm joins the Mitchell Institute as Senior Resident Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies
Arlington, Virginia | September 14, 2023 The Mitchell Institute is pleased to announce that J. Michael Dahm has joined the Mitchell Institute as a Senior Resident Fellow. His addition to the Mitchell team reflects the institute’s ongoing drive to confront what Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has characterized as the most pressing issue facing the United States’ Air and Space Forces: “China, China, China.” Mike Dahm is a retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer
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Press Release – Mitchell Institute Announces the 2022 General Atomics RPA Squadron of the Year
On September 11, the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies was pleased to present the General Atomics RPA trophy for 2022 to the Scorpions of the 2nd Special Operations Squadron from Hurlburt Field, Florida at AFA’s annual Air, Space, & Cyber Conference.
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Interview with Gen Deptula on the Value of Airpower and F-16s to Ukraine
Ukrainian National Television | September 7, 2023 | Daniel Tkiie
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No service can fight on its own: JADC2 demands move from self-sufficiency to interdependency
Breaking Defense | August 30, 2023 | Barry Rosen
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It’s time to accelerate integration of commercial space tech into the US Department of Defense
TechCrunch | August 29, 2023 | David Deptula and Patrick Zeitouni
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Get Ukraine The Airpower It Needs Before It’s Too Late
Forbes | August 17, 2023 | Dave Deptula
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Issues
Airpower
No matter the mission, from air superiority and long range strike to air mobility and command and control, a broad range of missions executed in the air provide vital options at the strategic, operational, and tactical realms.
Space
National security space activities are essential facets of any military operation, while also creating conditions essential for the civilian economy.
Acquisition
Empowering actors at all levels with a smart set of options at the right time and place demands procuring the most effective, efficient, and resilient set of tools.
Strategy
Meeting national security requirements today and tomorrow requires insightful, creative approaches that prioritize America’s strengths, while not projecting undue vulnerability.
Budgeting
Resource investment must prioritize investments that will yield best value for the Air Force, Space Force, and national security establishment as a whole.
Nuclear
Strategic deterrence is the bedrock of the national security enterprise thanks to the virtues and value of the triad.
Publications
All Publications
Accelerating 5th Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge
Arlington, VA | June 29, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Accelerating 5th Generation Airpower: Bringing Capability and Capacity to the Merge by Lt Gen Joseph Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Senior Fellow at The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies; Douglas Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute; and Lt Col Eric Gunzinger, USAF (Ret.). The Air Force faces a severe fighter aircraft
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Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense
Arlington, VA | June 26, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Building U.S. Space Force Counterspace Capabilities: An Imperative for America’s Defense by Charles Galbreath, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies at the Mitchell Institute. Space is on the front line of America’s strategic competition with China. Capabilities in this domain are essential to the U.S. military’s ability to deter threats
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Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air & Missile Threats to the Homeland
Arlington, VA | June 22, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Bolstering Arctic Domain Awareness to Deter Air & Missile Threats to the Homeland by Caitlin Lee, Senior Fellow at the Mitchell Institute. The Arctic has remained an attractive attack vector for both U.S. and Russian long-range aviation and missiles since the earliest days of the Cold War. The growing Arctic
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Scale, Scope, Speed & Survivability: Winning the Kill Chain Competition
Arlington, VA | May 3, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Policy Paper series, Scale, Scope, Speed & Survivability: Winning the Kill Chain Competition by Heather Penney, Senior Resident Fellow at the Mitchell Institute. In this report, Penney explains how the “kill chain” is an enduring framework for the process of securing battlespace effects. Often, this means putting a bomb or missile on target,
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Collaborative Combat Aircraft Need Data to Train for Combat
Arlington, VA | April 13, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies announces a new entry in its Forum Paper series, Collaborative Combat Aircraft Need Data to Train for Combat, by Lt Col Jesse Breau, USAF; Keeley Erhardt, MIT; and Maj Joshua Reddis, USAF. AI-powered software pilots have the potential to fulfill the U.S. Air Force’s quest for affordable tactical airpower capacity; however, the foundational requirement for data to enable air combat autonomy algorithms
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Back to the Future: Balloons in the Modern Security Paradigm
Arlington, VA | March 17, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies announces a new entry in its Forum Paper series, Back to the Future: Balloons in the Modern Security Paradigm by Dr. Greg Canavan and Dr. John Browne. It is clear from the coverage and commentary on the recently downed Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon that it caught America’s defense establishment on the back foot. These and other of China’s recent activities appear to
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Understanding the B-21 Raider: America’s Deterrence Bomber
Arlington, VA | March 23, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is pleased to announce a new entry in its Research Studies series, Understanding the B-21 Raider: America’s Deterrence Bomber by Mark Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments at the Mitchell Institute. Today’s U.S. bomber force falls short of having the penetrating strike capacity needed to meet the objectives of the 2022 National Defense Strategy. Thirty years of successive inventory cuts
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C2 Series: Clearing the Fog and Friction of Command and Control
Arlington, VA | January 9, 2023 — The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is proud to announce three new Forum Papers in a series on command and control (C2) by Col Frederick “Trey” Coleman, the commander of the 505th Command and Control Wing. With an Air Force still pondering how it can accelerate change (or lose), as well as grappling with the requirements to realize a Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept, these short
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About the
Mitchell Institute
The Mitchell Institute is an independent, nonpartisan research organization established to provide fact-based policy options, inform debate, and empower our nation’s leaders.
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