In this episode of NucleCast, host Adam speaks with Lieutenant Colonel Gary Glover about the evolving landscape of the Air Force, particularly in relation to nuclear force design and modernization efforts. They discuss the importance of advanced education for military officers, the implications of hypersonic weapons on nuclear command and control, and the broader national security challenges facing the United States.

Lieutenant Colonel Garrett Glover is the Chief of AFGSC Futures Division, Air Force Global Strike Command, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at USAFA, and a Senior Fellow with the Institute for National Security Studies.

Colonel Glover was commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 2009. He has held key positions within the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile community, including Instructor, Evaluator, Flight Commander, and Assistant Director of Operations. As Executive Officer for the Office of Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, he played a pivotal role in the successful execution of a $5 billion Stockpile Stewardship Program, supporting $25 billion in nuclear sustainment initiatives.

He served as a Presidential Nuclear Strike Advisor and Assistant Deputy Director of Operations at the National Military Command Center, translating presidential intent into nuclear strike options and leading a joint inter-agency team focused on both nuclear and conventional global military operations. In this role he oversaw the execution of the National Military Command System on behalf of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Additionally, he served as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director for Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations (J-36) on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. He spent a year as a DoD Nuclear Technical Lab Fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CA.

Prior to his current position, he served as the Chief Nuclear Strategist of Headquarters, Air Force Global Strike Command.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Global Strike Command and Force Design

07:29 The Importance of Advanced Education for Officers

15:23 Hypersonics and Nuclear Command Control

25:50 Wishes for National Security and Education

Socials:

• Follow on Twitter at @NucleCast
• Follow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcast
• Subscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
• Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278
• Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to [email protected]