Defense & Aerospace Report Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Feb 05, 26] Season 4 E5 Blue’s Qs
Feb 5, 2026
Doug Birkey, Executive Director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, gives a quick readout from a major AirPower Forum. He covers Air Force readiness and the push to restore spares, maintainers, pilots, and training. He discusses tensions between fighting today and investing for tomorrow, base defense and joint coordination, AI and human-machine teaming, and force design for long-range and Pacific operations.
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Forum Held Despite Weather And Scheduling Woes
- Mitchell had to reschedule the forum from November and scramble after an ice storm.
- Doug Birkey praised Air Force PA and the team for flying in speakers despite travel disruptions.
Readiness Is The Overriding Priority
- The Mitchell forum showcased a unified Air Force message: readiness must come first.
- Leaders said modernization suffered because funds were shifted away from readiness for too long.
Spend Across Modernize, Ready, And Grow
- If budgets rise, invest across three fronts: modernize, restore readiness, and grow the force.
- Doug Birkey urged Congress to fund a multi-year campaign, not a one-off surge.