On this episode of Books to Battles, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb sits down with General Adrian Spain, Commander of Air Combat Command, to discuss the challenges facing today’s Combat Air Forces. General Spain shares his perspectives on readiness, modernization, and preparing Airmen for future conflict, as well as the operational problems that demand greater attention. He also discusses the books and ideas shaping his thinking as a senior Air Force leader.

In the second installment of our Fiction-a-Month series, Books to Battles turns to Robert Heinlein’s classic The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. We explore the novel’s depiction of revolution, resistance, political organization, and the strategic challenges facing a weaker actor confronting a more powerful adversary. Along the way, we connect Heinlein’s lunar rebellion to key concepts from the SAASS Military Theory course and consider what fiction can teach us about strategy and war.

In this episode of Books to Battles, Tobias Bernard Switzer discusses his new RAND report, Air Power, Not Air Forces, and the lessons drawn from U.S. efforts to build partner aviation capabilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. Switzer argues that future security force assistance should prioritize generating effective combat airpower over replicating Western-style air force institutions, emphasizing affordable capabilities, sustainable support, and organizational approaches better suited to partner needs.

Join co-editors Dr. Wes Hutto and Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb for a discussion of The Three-Body Problem and International Relations, a new edited volume exploring what Cixin Liu's acclaimed science fiction trilogy can teach us about international relations and strategy. They discuss the book's origins, the value of fiction as a teaching tool, and how themes such as deterrence, diplomacy, strategy, and power help illuminate today's most pressing security challenges.

In this episode of Books to Battles, Col. Cory Hollon speaks with Dr. Peter Layton, a retired Royal Australian Air Force officer and grand strategist, about his concept of heterogeneous air power. Layton argues that the rising cost and complexity of manned combat aircraft has created a resilience problem for middle-power air forces, particularly in a prolonged war of attrition. Drawing on the Russia-Ukraine war, he examines how rockets, missiles, drones, and manned aircraft can combine to create an air force with greater resilience, scalability, and mass. The discussion explores the implications for air superiority, control of the air, precision warfare, industrial capacity, force design, and the future of air strategy and theory.

In the first installment of our Fiction-a-Month miniseries, Dr. Wendy Whitman Cobb is joined by Lt Col Rachel Reynolds to explore Joe Abercrombie’s The Heroes. Together, they examine the novel’s insights on leadership, war, and strategy, connecting its themes to SAASS 601, Foundations of Strategy, and contemporary military thought.

For more information on this podcast and the series, please visit us at https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/SAASS/Podcast/.

In this episode, Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col. Hollon sit down with Lt Gen Jason Armagost, Deputy Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command and the Class XXXV graduation speaker. They discuss strategic thinking, military leadership, and the enduring value of intellectual curiosity. Drawing on his experiences as a commander, Stanford fellow, and lifelong reader, Lt Gen Armagost reflects on the role of liberal arts education, the relationship between theory and practice, and the importance of cultivating creativity and critical thinking within military organizations. The conversation explores reading as a tool for professional development, examines challenges posed by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, and considers how future leaders can avoid technological determinism while adapting to a changing character of war. The conversation concludes with a discussion of recommended books, strategic education, and the challenges facing the next generation of air and space leaders.

STICK AROUND FOR THE SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT

After the discussion with Gen Armagost, Dr. Whitman Cobb and Col Hollon welcome Lt Col Rachel Reynolds back to the show to introduce a new mini-series that looks at each class during the year through a work of fiction. The team will discuss the assigned book on the last Wednesday of every month throughout the next school year.

This is the last show for this season. Thank you to all who have tuned in and especially those who have reached out to offer feedback and suggestions. We look forward to seeing you in the next school year, starting at the end of June!

Books to Battles: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/SAASS/

Email: bookstobattles@au.af.edu

In this special episode of Books to Battles, members of SAASS Class XXXV take over the podcast to reflect on their experiences at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies as they prepare to graduate. The students discuss why they chose SAASS, their impressions of the program, the challenges of the reading and thesis process, and the intellectual growth they experienced throughout the year. They also highlight the impact of the Germany staff ride, memorable courses and books, and the value of engaging with classmates and faculty from diverse professional and international backgrounds. Throughout the episode, the students emphasize how SAASS shaped the way they think about strategy, history, and military problem-solving.