In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney and Mitchell Institute Executive Director Doug Birkey welcome Matt Pess, Chief Engineer on the Enhanced Power and Cooling (EPCAS) program at Collins Aerospace to discuss how the F-35 stays "cool" under pressure.
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Every week, Heather “Lucky” Penney will take 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.
In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney and Lt Gen Dave Deptula welcome the Chief of the Swedish Air Force Major General Jonas Wikman. The three discuss the history of the Swedish Air Force and its integration into the NATO Alliance.
In this episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney chats with Col Angela Ochoa, Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing. The Airmen of the 89th are best known for flying the nation's most senior and elected leaders, including the President of the United States on Air Force One.
In this special episode, Heather "Lucky" Penney sits down with Lt Gen Michael A. Loh, Director of the Air National Guard and Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella, USAF (Ret.), Former Deputy Chief of Staff, USAF. The three chat about the importance of the Guard and its role in the Total Force.
Ep. 181 - The Rendezvous
Defense Budget, Space Update, CCA Decision, and PLA Reorg
In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss the DoD Budget, Space, CCAs, and PLA Reorganization.
The UK is a close and aligned ally to the U.S. The Mitchell team chats with the head of the Royal Air Force, ACM Sir Richard Knighton. Topics discussed include lessons learned from Ukraine, projecting power into the Pacific, deterrence in the modern era, space as a contested domain, and much more!
Electronic warfare is a crucial subject matter. The Mitchell team is joined by Col Chris “Trigger” Fernengel and Lt Col Chris “Shocker” Adams of the Space Force in order to discuss the risks, capabilities, and limitations of space electronic warfare.
U.S. adversaries continue to pursue acts of aggression that have been responded to by the Air Force airmen. The Mitchell team speaks with 9th AF/ US Air Forces Central Command Commander Lt Gen Alexus “Grynch” Grynkewich to understand the scale and scope of current operations, and desired objectives through a leadership lens.
Once the undisputed leaders in hypersonic technology, the U.S. now face adversary competition in the realm. The Mitchell team chats with Dr. Michael Brown (AFRL) and Mark Rettig (GE Aerospace) on how and why our defense community must respond.
Ep. 176 - The Rendezvous
Assessing the FY25 Defense Budget and Spacepower Deep-Dive: The Rendezvous
In this Rendezvous episode, we explore key takeaways from the FY2025 Air Force and Space Force budget requests and top take aways Space Force, Space Command, and industry leaders shared at last week’s Mitchell Institute Spacepower Security Forum.
The Mitchell team is joined by AMC Commander Gen Mike Minihan in order to discuss the topic of air mobility and how it is vital for any modern military operation. This episode emphasizes on why failure isn't an option in regards to this subject.
It’s no secret that the Air Force and Space Force are in the middle of a massively transformative era. The Mitchell team engages in a critical conversation with Lt Gen Rick Moore (USAF) and Lt Gen Shawn Bratton (USSF) regarding the breakdown of this year's budget and how it will help build tomorrow's airpower and spacepower.
John “Slick” Baum chats with former U-2 pilot Maj Gen H.D. “Jake” Polumbo, USAF (Ret.), the highest-ranking officer to fly the Dragon Lady in combat, and long-time experienced MQ-9 pilot Lt Col Johnny Duray, who has risen through the ranks as a line pilot to a commander in the RPA world. This episode focuses on the ISR evolution by exploring the U-2, a Cold War icon manned ISR aircraft, and the uncrewed ISR mission through the lens of the MQ-9 Reaper, which can execute ISR, while also employing kinetic strike capabilities and a range of other functions.
John “Slick” Baum chats with Scott Forney, the President of Electromagnetic Systems at General Atomics, along with Col Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.), and Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), from our Mitchell Institute team. The Space Force is developing its satellite constellations to meet new mission demands, evolving their architecture to address a rapidly burgeoning threat environment. No longer does the Space Force want to be overly reliant on large “fat juicy target” satellites, which, if destroyed or incapacitated, would yield outsized impacts to broader mission functions.
Ep. 171 - The Rendezvous
Congressional Update, Department of the Air Force Reorg, and Effective Deterrence in the Middle East
In this Rendezvous episode, we discuss the Department of the Air Force’s newly-announced reorganization—all part of their effort to optimize the Air Force and Space Force for great power competition. The team then explores what it means to deter in the Middle East.