Four Star Forum

The collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s takeover of the country have dominated headlines around the world this week. General Joseph Votel (USA ret.) is President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security. He’s former commander of U-S Central Command and Special Operations Command. He reviews how we got here, what we learned, and what we should do next to make sure we don't make the same mistakes in the future.

A new Chinese space station could be the first of a number of competitors for the International Space Station the U-S collaborates on, with Russia, Japan, Canada, and the European Union. Private companies are looking at building in space too. General Lester Lyles (USAF ret.) is former Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He's now the chair of the NASA Advisory Council. In this episode, Gen. Lyles takes you across the landscape of the "space enterprise": military, civilian, and commercial space. He also details how the U.S. space enterprise interacts with allies, partners, and adversaries.

China is getting even more aggressive in its expansion in the Pacific. One huge factor in countering China may be one of the US’s best allies today, and one of China’s rivals for thousands of years. Admiral Jonathan Greenert (USN ret.) is former Chief of Naval Operations. On this episode, he details what is changing in the way Japan is positioning and preparing itself, and how that country doing so.

The pandemic’s resurgence is causing some jurisdictions to extend or reinstate mandates on masks, social distancing, and other measures. Those jurisdictions are rethinking the way they’re responding to the disaster the pandemic has become. Admiral Thad Allen (USCG ret.) is former Commandant of the Coast Guard. He led the response to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On this episode, he details the missing tool for more effective disaster response; who should build and own that tool; and how to implement it whether the disaster is natural or manmade.

A group of Iranian war ships is headed toward Russia this week to join a Navy parade in St. Petersburg. Protesters are demonstrating across Iran about a drought in one region of that country; and thousands of oil workers are on strike in that country for better pay and better working conditions. Adm. Bill Gortney (USN ret.) is former United States Northern Command and former commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command. He served three tours of duty in the Central Command area of operations that includes the Middle East. He reviews the possibilities of dealing with the threat from Iran. He's also a veteran Navy aviator, and he told me why the air fleet should be a greater factor in the service's capabilities projections.

The Biden administration will release its National defense strategy in 2022, along with a series of other strategy documents that detail the war - or wars - the defense department is preparing for, and expecting to fight. One of the leaders that focused on the wars of the future during his time in uniform is Gen. David Goldfein (USAF ret.). He was the 21st Chief of Staff of the Air Force (2016-2020). The Space Force, and the concepts behind Joint All Domain Command and Control, took hold under his tenure. Gen. Goldfein discusses what the data-driven fight of the future will look like. Gen. Goldfein also draws on his time in command in Afghanistan to assess the exit of the military from that country.

The politicization of the military is one of the most controversial in the national security community right now. Because of that, I’ve encountered a number of military leaders of all backgrounds and services who are reluctant to share their views on national security and geopolitical issues, for many different reasons. My guest on this episode is definitely not in that camp. Admiral James Stavridis (USN ret.) is former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. He’s an Operating Executive of The Carlyle Group, and Chair of the Board of Counselors of McLarty Associates. He’s a columnist for TIME Magazine and Chief International Security Analyst for NBC News.  His new book is "2034: A Novel of the Next World War" along with Elliot Ackerman. Adm. Stavridis discusses why officers should, and indeed have a responsibility to, engage in the marketplace of ideas; and why his book's timeline for war with China might be too long.

The debate is starting in Washington over appropriations and authorizations for the national security community in the coming fiscal year. That debate includes the Defense Department, but it also includes Congress, think tanks, and other stakeholders who contribute to the process of making U-S national security decisions. General Norton Schwartz (USAF ret.) is President and CEO of the Institute for Defense Analyses. He’s former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. He has a different take on the national security landscape, and what it needs to sustain itself into the future.

The Department of Defense has begun the difficult process of swinging its attention from counterinsurgency to great power competition. The most recent evidence of that shift is the 2021 Annual Threat Assessment of the U-S Intelligence Community. Admiral Sandy Winnefeld (USN ret.) is former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He’s my guest this week to look at how well the Department is positioned to manage the challenges of Great Power competition presented by competitors who have not rested on their laurels over the past two decades.  Is the Department's current trajectory up to the task, or is fundamental change needed?

President Biden completed his first meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. About the same time two Iranian ships that reports indicate were headed for Venezuela have changed course. No one is suggesting those events are connected, but those Iranian ships in the Atlantic Ocean remind the world that Iran wants to project power all over its region - and that its connections to Russia are strong. General Chuck Wald (US Air Force ret.) is President of the Jones Group Middle East. He’s former Deputy Commander of United States European Command. In this episode, he surveys the landscape in the Middle East now, and assesses the current and future allies and partners that could work with the United States to effectively contain Iran.

The new Defense Department budget request includes a dramatic reimagining of the Air Force. The force wants to retire more than 200 aircraft… and buy fewer fighter aircraft than Congress has imagined in the past. General Hawk Carlisle, USAF retired, is former Commander of Air Combat Command… and before that… commander of Pacific Air Forces. He’s now the President and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association. On this episode, Gen. Carlisle describes the inventory, personnel, and capability the service needs to contribute to the joint force. He also reveals his favorite airplane in the Air Force's fleet.

The Commander of U.S. Africa Command, Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, says a Chinese naval base in Djibouti has a pier that will accommodate an aircraft carrier. It’s the latest move by China to establish itself as a naval power all over the world. And it’s another marker of China’s attempt to assert itself on the African continent. General Carter Ham (USA ret.) is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of the U-S Army. He’s former Commander of U-S Africa Command. In this episode, he examines the continent of Africa, the US's closest allies there, and the potential to both counter China and expand our own partnerships and alliances on the continent.

The National Defense Strategy is due for an update. But Great Power Competition is likely to continue to be its focus, since America’s competitors keep spreading influence around the world. Russia is militarizing the Arctic; China is building bases, or trying to, all around the world. Adm. Foggo examines the landscape DoD officials both civilian and uniformed face today, and how that might inform the next NDS.

Episode 2 - Adm. Paul Zukunft, USCG ret., 25th Commandant of the US Coast Guard. Each of the military services is working on, or has released, an Arctic strategy. The service with the greatest forward presence in the Arctic is the Coast Guard. Admiral Zukunft will discuss the strategic importance of that region, and why you’re probably hearing more about the Arctic now than you ever have before. Who are our allies and adversaries in a region of the world that will look much different in 20 years than it does today?

Episode 1 - Gen. Larry Spencer, USAF ret., former Vice Chief of Staff, US Air Force. Sec. Austin recently ordered a "stand down" to address and combat extremism in the ranks. And the broader discussion on race and diversity has permeated the Defense Department, especially at the flag and general officer level. Gen. Spencer will discuss how to grow diversity in the flag and general officer corps, and a reasonable timeline to see the results of the effort; and how to effectively evaluate and implement the results of the stand down.