The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies is proud to present The Aerospace Advantage, with former Air Force weapons school instructor and Thunderbird Lt Col (ret) John “Slick” Baum as the host. Every week, Slick 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.
Episodes
Saturday Jun 10, 2023
Episode 132 — Humans Are More Important Than Hardware: SOF Truth #1
Saturday Jun 10, 2023
Saturday Jun 10, 2023
Episode Summary:
In Episode 132 of the Aerospace Advantage, Humans Are More Important Than Hardware: SOF Truth #1, John “Slick” Baum chats with longtime AFSOC pilot Col Sarah Brehm, veteran defense leader Mr. Jim “Hondo” Geurts, and AFSOC Special Tactics Officer Lt Col Steve Cooper about the United States Special Operations Command’s core values, what they call SOF Truths.
These tenets have defined the culture of SOCOM since 1987, which means they’ve connected special operators across different service components for generations—and this includes Air Force Special Operations. The first SOF Truth declares that “humans are more important than hardware.” However, given that technology permeates today’s battlefields more than ever, what does this really mean? To this point, how does the Department of Defense emphasize the importance of our human capital when the budget is geared toward the procurement of new hardware? We also explore how this ideal applies to the broader conventional force.
Credits:
Host: John "Slick" Baum, Senior Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Col Sarah Brehm, Air Force Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Guest: James "Hondo" Geurts, Former Acquisition Executive for the Navy, USMC, and USSOCOM; Distinguished Fellow, Business Executives for National Security
Guest: Lt Col Steve Cooper, Special Tactics Officer, National Security Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
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