Four Star Forum

The Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, says it may take decades for nuclear attack submarines to deploy for the country of Australia. The subs are part of an agreement the US, Australian, and British governments announced September 15th. Admiral Harry Harris (US Navy ret.) is former commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command. He’s former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Admiral Harris explains what the agreement means for US interests in the Pacific, for the participants, for other allies, and for potential adversaries like China.

Task force 1-194 is working the evacuation of State Department and military personnel from Afghanistan this week. That unit is a National Guard unit from Minnesota. It’s on-site at Karzai International airport in Kabul, at the heart of the action. General Craig McKinley (USAF ret.) is former Chief of the National Guard Bureau and former member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On this episode, he explains the Guard's role in Afghanistan, Iraq, other overseas operations, and deployments here at home.

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.

Visit by General Lester L Lyles to Glenn Research Center - General Lester L Lyles is greeted by NASA Center Director Donald J Campbell.

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.