Back to the Future: The Origins of Homeland Air and Missile Defense — Ep. 259

Episode Summary:

When the Soviet Union gained atomic weapons technology in the early days of the Cold War, U.S. homeland defense catapulted to the top of America’s security priorities. The idea that Soviet bombers, and later ICBMs, could strike American targets demanded a response. Two primary pathways took shape: 1) strategic deterrence via the nuclear triad, and 2) an incredibly robust set of homeland air defense investments to defeat a hostile Soviet strike. With air and missile defense once returning as a major point of focus given mounting threats, it is important to explore America’s homeland air defense systems from the early Cold War. The paradigms they harnessed are still quite relevant to architecting a modern set of air and missile defense capabilities taking shape via the Golden Dome program.

Join us as we explore this critical issue with Mitchell Institute experts Brig. Gen. Houston “Slider” Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Heather “Lucky” Penney, and Doug Birkey, along with Air Force air battle manager Lt. Col. Alex “Big Bobby” Wallis.

Credits:

Host: Heather "Lucky" Penney, Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Producer: Shane Thin 

Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey

Guest: Brig. Gen. Houston Cantwell, USAF (Ret.), Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower Studies, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Guest: Lt. Col. Alex Wallis, Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow Alumni

Guest: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

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