NucleCast

In this episode, Adam interviews Kris Osborn, a prominent defense journalist and president of the Center for Military Modernization. They discuss various topics including the U.S. nuclear posture, the implications of low yield weapons, advancements in digital engineering for defense acquisition, infrastructure challenges with the Sentinel and B-21 programs, cybersecurity in modern defense systems, China's military strategy, the ongoing Ukraine conflict, and the future of U.S. defense policy amidst political changes.Kris Osborn is President and Editor in Chief of the Center for Military Modernization, think tank fellow, military technology analyst and former Dept. of the Army civilian working as a writer, information liaison and military expert for the U.S. Army. Osborn is also a former CNN anchor who serves currently as President and Editor-in-Chief of Warrior Maven - a military weapons and emerging technology site for news reports and analysis.In recent years, Osborn also spent time as the Defense Editor of The National Interest and, in addition to leading Warrior Maven, he also currently works as a Professor of English Literature at Northern Virginia Community College.The site - warriormaven.com - began as a start up and now reaches millions with cutting edge weapons, technology and military strategy content. The site regularly features intvs with US military leaders, weapons developers, analysts and military experts.Osborn recently served as Editor-in-Chief of Defense Systems, a military IT/C4ISR/Cyber/Weapons Systems news site. He managed reporters, generated original content and lead the site, often interviewing high level IT/C4ISR/Weapons experts.Prior to this, Osborn served as a Navy & Air Force expert associate editor with Military.com. In this role, Osborn interviewed senior Navy and Air Force leaders, program managers and weapons developers.While an Army civilian just prior to Military.com - Osborn worked as a Highly Qualified Expert (SES level) civilian with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army - Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Here Osborn analyzed weapons programs, wrote for and briefed 3 and 4-star senior leaders and independently authored original weapons and acquisition content for Army academic journals and publications - such as the Army's Weapons System Handbook. He also worked on speeches for senior leaders and ghost-wrote material as a weapons and military acquisition expert.Osborn also served as the Land War reporter for Defense News, and spent more than a decade as a TV news correspondent, anchor and military specialist. He was an anchor and military specialist at CNN Headline News, CNN Correspondent (at Pentagon for a bit) and Fox News Correspondent. In more recent years, Osborn regularly appeared as an expert military guest on MSNBC and Fox News.

In this conversation, General Retired Robin Rand discusses the critical role of personnel in maintaining the U.S. Air Force's strategic deterrent capabilities. He highlights the challenges of operating and maintaining aging military assets, the importance of leadership and motivation in harsh conditions, and the evolving training processes for pilots. Rand emphasizes the significance of the triad in strategic deterrence and praises the quality of today's military personnel, while also acknowledging the sacrifices made by their families.General (Ret) Robin Rand is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Innovation Institute (OADII). In this role, he is the lead executive for the University of Oklahoma’s institute that concentrates on the four national defense strategic research areas of international security policy, modernization and sustainment resilience, cyberspace and information dominance, and spectrum dominance.General (Ret) Rand served for over 40 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, including six overseas assignments, multiple flying assignments and duty as an air liaison officer with the U.S. Army, studies at the Naval War College, Pentagon staff assignments as a policy planner on the Joint staff, principle director for Middle East policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Director Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and eight different command tours. His last Air Force position was Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command where he was responsible for the land and air legs of the Nation’s nuclear triad. He is a command pilot with over 5,100 flying hours, predominately in the F-16, including more than 480 combat hours.Chapters00:00 The Importance of People in Strategic Deterrence02:58 Challenges of Maintaining Diverse Military Assets06:01 Modernization and Maintenance of Aging Systems09:10 Leadership and Motivation in Harsh Conditions11:54 Training and Evolving Technologies in the Air Force14:45 The Triad: Understanding Strategic Deterrence18:09 The Quality of Today's Military Personnel21:10 Family Challenges in Military Deployments23:50 Skills Gained from Military Service27:08 The Collective Effort of Team Air ForceSocials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Tim Nank, a former Naval Intelligence Officer, discusses the complexities and implications of tactical nuclear weapons. He explores the evolution, advantages, and potential use of these weapons in modern warfare, as well as the perceptions surrounding their effects. The conversation delves into the geopolitical landscape, the need for public education on nuclear issues, and the future of nuclear strategy amidst rising tensions globally.Tim Nank, is a consultant for CACI International, an Adjunct Professor at Catholic University and a former intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. He has over 20 years of national level experience in management with national security, intelligence collection and analysis, proliferation analysis, counter terrorism, and operations impacting issues at the highest strategic levels of government. Tim is a former White House Appointee that focused on nuclear weapon non-proliferation and counter-terrorism under President George W. Bush. After that, Tim continued his work in nuclear non-proliferation and counter-terrorism in a variety of intelligence agencies.Additionally, Tim spent 16 years in the US Navy as an intelligence officer in an active duty and reserve capacity. He has served in a variety of different commands such as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and aboard the USS PONCE-15 (AFSB-i). Tim has also been an Adjunct Professor at Trinity University (DC) teaching graduate classes for the School of Business and Graduate Studies and the School of Professional and Graduate Studies. He also consulted for companies such as SAIC, ANSER and Booz Allen Hamilton for a variety of different programs.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Tactical Nuclear Weapons03:11 The Evolution and Advantages of Tactical Nuclear Weapons05:54 Debate on Yield and Usability of Nuclear Weapons09:00 Perceptions of Nuclear Weapons Effects12:05 Geopolitical Implications of Tactical Nuclear Weapons15:00 Future of Tactical Nuclear Weapons17:53 Public Understanding and Education on Nuclear Weapons20:56 Wishes for the Future of Nuclear StrategySocials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]

Jim Howe hosts Gen (Ret.) Robin Rand, the Executive Director of Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense Innovation Institute (OADII) where they discuss the establishment of OADII and it's research is accelerating critical results for our nations security.In his role, General Rand is the lead executive for the University of Oklahoma’s institute that concentrates on the four national defense strategic research areas of international security policy, modernization and sustainment resilience, cyberspace and information dominance, and spectrum dominance.General (Ret) Rand served for over 40 years on active duty in the United States Air Force, including six overseas assignments, multiple flying assignments and duty as an air liaison officer with the U.S. Army, studies at the Naval War College, Pentagon staff assignments as a policy planner on the Joint staff, principle director for Middle East policy for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Director Legislative Liaison for the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and eight different command tours. His last Air Force position was Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command where he was responsible for the land and air legs of the Nation’s nuclear triad. He is a command pilot with over 5,100 flying hours, predominately in the F-16, including more than 480 combat hours.After retiring from the Air Force in Sep 2018, he served as Chief Executive Officer for the Gary Sinise Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings, Board of Directors member for Top Aces Corporation and the Air and Space Forces Association, trustee member for the United States Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation, LEONID board of advisors member, strategic advisor in government relations and public policy for Baker Donelson Law Firm, adjunct contract professor and senior mentor for United States Air Force, and senior consultant for several defense-related organizationsGeneral (Ret) Rand has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Science from the United States Air Force Academy; Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Master of Arts Degree in National Security Policy from the Naval War College.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]