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.
Episodes
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
Episode Summary:
Global Reach, Global Power—you can’t exercise that without Air Force bombers. We explore the long-range strike mission with Lt. Col. Ryan “Duke” Stillwell. He’s spent most of his career flying the B-1, including time at the weapons school, and he just wrapped up command of the 9th Bomb Squadron at Dyess AFB.
What factors have shaped the modern bomber inventory into its current form in recent years? What are the current and anticipated future demands for the mission? How do we expect long range strike to evolve in the future and why?
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Lt. Col. Ryan "Duke" Stillwell, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Links:
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Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/
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#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Bombers
Saturday Jan 24, 2026
Saturday Jan 24, 2026
Episode Summary:
The global security environment is nearing a fever pitch, but China remains the pacing military challenge for the United States. The central issue shaping that challenge is China’s threat to Taiwan. Can Taiwan defend itself against coercion or invasion from China’s People’s Liberation Army? Join us for an in-depth assessment as Heather Penney explores this critical topic with Mitchell Institute Senior Fellow Mike Dahm, who just returned from an extensive trip to Taiwan. These are insights you will not 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: J. Michael "JDAM" Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China 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 #China #Taiwan
Saturday Jan 17, 2026
Saturday Jan 17, 2026
Episode Summary:
One of the most cutting-edge topics in combat airpower is collaborative mission autonomy. This is the technology that teams a crewed aircraft, like an F-35 or B-21, with an uncrewed aircraft, like a CCA. Collaboration promises to unlock greater mission effects than what either plane could realize on its own. Heather Penney explores this with Steve Fino and Ryan Bunge from Collins Aerospace.
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Ryan Bunge, Vice President & General Manager, Strategic Defense Solutions, Collins Aerospace
Guest: Steven "Munch" Fino, Principal Technical Fellow & Technical Director for Autonomy, Collins Aerospace
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 #CCA
Saturday Jan 10, 2026
Saturday Jan 10, 2026
Episode Summary:
Space superiority is essential to U.S. national security. Achieving that requires the Department of War to conduct a review of space roles and missions to clarify institutional responsibilities and prioritize cross-domain capability investments. Jennifer Reeves discusses her recommendations from her new policy paper, Charting a Path to Space Superiority: The Cross-Domain Imperative, with Director of Global Space Operations, Maj. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir.
Bottom line: for decades, space has predominantly focused on terrestrial activities…now, it’s time to see how capabilities on earth can support warfighting demands on orbit.
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
Guest: Jennifer "Boots" Reeves, Senior Resident Fellow for Spacepower Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
Guest: Maj. Gen. Anthony J. Mastalir, Director of Global Space Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Space Command
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 #MilitaryStrategy
Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Saturday Jan 03, 2026
Episode Summary:
In this episode, members of the Mitchell team share some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years. JV Venable almost ejects from an OV-10, Lt. Gen. David. A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) juggles a serious inflight emergency over enemy territory, Lt. Gen. Burton Field, USAF (Ret.) recalls a lesson learned from his early flying days in the Viper, and Heather Penney talks about air racing. These are some incredible stories 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: J. Michael Dahm, Senior Fellow for Aerospace and China Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Guest: Mark Funzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Guest: Kyle Pumroy, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, MI-SPACE
Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
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 #Politics
Saturday Dec 27, 2025
Saturday Dec 27, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this episode, members of the Mitchell Institute team chat about some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.) talks about what it’s like to launch in the Space Shuttle, and Kyle Pumroy explains what it was like to pioneer the delivery of spacepower on the front lines of Afghanistan, and Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.) takes us into his F-16 cockpit while supporting combat operations in combination with an AC-130.
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (Ret.), Explorer Chair, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)
Guest: Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Guest: Kyle Pumroy, Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, MI-SPACE
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 #AirForce #History #Stories
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this episode, members of the Mitchell team share some of their most memorable experiences from their time in uniform. You normally hear us talking about policy and budget issues, but over the holiday season, we decided it was time to kick back and reflect upon the high adventures of past years. JV Venable almost ejects from an OV-10, Lt. Gen. David. A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.) juggles a serious inflight emergency over enemy territory, Lt. Gen. Burton Field, USAF (Ret.) recalls a lesson learned from his early flying days in the Viper, and Heather Penney talks about air racing. These are some incredible stories 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: Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.), President and CEO, Air & Space Forces Association
Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior 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 #history #stories #AirForce
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Saturday Dec 20, 2025
Episode Summary:
The air war over Vietnam in 1972 was incredibly intense, with campaigns like Linebacker I and II defining the fight. Join us as we chat with Ace Colonel Chuck DeBellevue, USAF (Ret.) as he recounts the bravery and unique abilities of Major Bob Lodge, a fighter pilot from the famed 555th Fighter Squadron who made the ultimate sacrifice over North Vietnam. Lodge’s contributions were legendary—developing cutting edge tactics, harnessing new technologies, and personally taking the fight to the enemy in ways that were truly above and beyond. This conversation stands as a special tribute.
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Host: Tobias Naegele, Editor-in-Chief, Air & Space Forces Magazine
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Col. Charles DeBellevue, USAF (Ret.), Flying Ace
Read:
Bob Lodge and the Making of Air Force Vietnam Aces
Links:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of
Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies
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LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/
#MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #Vietnam #History
Saturday Dec 13, 2025
Saturday Dec 13, 2025
Episode Summary:
The U.S. Air Force doesn’t have enough airlift. Today’s inventory is half the size of what it was in the Cold War, but current demands are far higher and more complex. This isn’t just an Air Force problem; it impacts the entire Department of War. Join us as Heather “Lucky” Penney talks with former AMC commander Gen. Mike Minihan, USAF (Ret.) and Mitchell Institute Non-Resident Fellow Col. Rob Owen, PhD, USAF (Ret.) about this challenge and what we should do to fix it.
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Gen. Michael Minihan, USAF (Ret.), Former Commander, Air Mobility Command
Guest: Col. Robert Owen, USAF (Ret.), Professor, Department of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
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 #mobility #airforce
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
Saturday Dec 06, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this episode, our team explores the top defense issues in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Where do the defense bills stand? What’s up with the new Air Force fighter force structure report, plus Secretary of War Hegseth’s acquisition speech? We also explore Gen. Wilsbach’s new priorities, F-35s to Saudia Arabia, as well as Lt. Gen. White’s nomination for a new job as DRPM. The conversation also covers the Space Force, including Vector 2025, the creation of Combat Forces Command, and new developments regarding their test and validation requirements.
Credits:
Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Guest: Jennifer "Boost" Reeves, 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: Jeff "Rowli" Rowlison, Vice President of Space & Intel Programs, American Defense International
Guest: Anthony “Lazer” Lazarski, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Post-Credits Discussion:
Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)
Guest: Charles Galbreath, Director and Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, The Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE)
Guest: Kyle "Puma" Pumroy, 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
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 #politics