Books to Battles

In this episode, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb and Col. Cory Hollon interview Lt Gen (Ret.) David Deptula about the role of air and space power in modern warfare and national security. Deptula discusses the mission of the Mitchell Institute, emphasizing the need to better educate policymakers and the public on the strategic importance of air and space capabilities. The conversation addresses contemporary debates over air superiority, the impact of drones and precision-guided munitions in Ukraine, and critiques arguments that these developments diminish the relevance of airpower. Throughout, Deptula argues that control of the air remains a fundamental condition for effective joint operations and highlights the importance of innovation, resilience, and clear strategic thinking.
Mitchell Institute Website: mitchellaerospacepower.org
If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at [email protected]

Books Mentioned
Shyam Sankar and Madeline Hart, Mobilize: How to Reboot the American Industrial Base and Stop World War III (Bombardier Books, 2026)
Jack Broughton, Thud Ridge: Flying the F-105 Thunderchief in Combat Over Vietnam (Crecy Publishing Ltd., 1969)
Martin Caidin, Black Thursday: The Story of the Schweinfurt Raid (E.P. Dutton & Co., 1960)
USAF Doctrine Page: https://www.doctrine.af.mil/
Mitchell Institute Reading List: mitchellaerospacepower.org/aerospace-power-reading-list/

The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.

We’re pulling an episode out of the vault this week. We’ll be revisiting the June 2025 attacks on Iran in Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER. And while this week is a re-run, we’ve got a couple of exciting guests lined up for the next couple of weeks. Keep watching this space! And if you could, like, subscribe, comment, and/or tell a friend - it all helps us reach a broad audience of national security and air and space power experts and advocates.
Original Notes
In this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. David Sorenson and Dr. Carl Forsberg of the Air War College join our hosts to analyze the recent strikes against Iran, examining their strategic objectives, regional implications, and potential ripple effects on global security. Drawing on their expertise in Middle East politics and military strategy, they unpack the historical context of Iranian relations with the United States and Israel, the events leading up to the strikes, and the decision-making calculus behind the strikes

On this episode of Books to Battles, we explore NASA’s Artemis program and the upcoming Artemis II mission. We discuss its strategic significance, technological milestones, and implications for sustainable lunar return and great power competition, highlighting how Artemis shapes the future of human spaceflight and international partnerships beyond Earth orbit.

On this episode of Books to Battles, we explore SAASS 665, Space Power, with Dr. Jim Tucci and Dr. Derrick Frazier. The episode examines how the course bridges theory and practice, tracing the evolution of military space thought, key strategic debates, and the role of space in modern warfare.

In this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col Hollon welcome Dr. Paige Reid to discuss the SAASS thesis process and where students currently stand in the project timeline. The conversation explains how students move from an initial research puzzle to a refined strategic argument through research, writing, and faculty mentorship. The hosts explore common challenges in the thesis process—including writer’s block, research rabbit holes, and refining an argument—as well as the academic skills students develop along the way. The episode also highlights how completed theses contribute to the broader body of professional military education scholarship and occasionally evolve into published research.
If you have questions, comments, or episode recommendations, please email us at [email protected]
The opinions expressed here are those of the hosts or the guests and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of the Air Force, the Depart of Defense, or the United States Government.