#36 - Lt Col (ret) John "Rico" Ballenger (Marine One Pilot)

Joined by Lt Col (ret) John "Rico" Ballenger, a former Marine One pilot, we discussed flying the president around the world, watching Top Gun with President Trump, and the uniqueness of the Marine Corps. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Maj Scott "Ogre" Portue, a F-35 pilot, we discussed the next generation of flying in the Air Force, how technology will be leveraged in the future fight, and the Next Generation Air Dominance Program! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Captain Drea "Mystique" Moffett, an outstanding Huey pilot and experienced aviator, we discussed the challenges of flying an older model aircraft in a modern Air Force, the benefits of being a language enabled Air Force Officer, and the changes coming to the helicopter pilot pipeline! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components. *

Joined by Major Alex “Auggie” Arcidiacono, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with a plethora of experience, we talked about the long-range missions of the C-17, effective action during operation ALLIES REFUGE, training and retention of pilots in the Air Force, the changes we can expect for the C-17 in the future, including a possible offensive setting, and how drones might be involved in the agile combat environment that is the air. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Capt Jimmy Owenby, a UH-60 Black Hawk and UC-35 pilot, we discussed what the differences between flying in the Army and the Air Force, Active Duty vs. Reserves, and the mission of the Black Hawk. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Lt Col Matt “Indy” Ziemann, an Air Force Officer specialized in Intelligence, we discussed what it's like to support special operations through the intelligence realm, the difficulty and intricacies of flying combat missions in that role, and what deployed environments are like with someone who's an expert at them. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Lt Col Collin O'Bryant, an EC-130H Pilot and seasoned veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, we discussed the unique mission set of jamming airborne communications, the differences between conventional airpower and specialized mission sets, and how our relationship with NATO shapes and defines our warfighting capabilities. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components. *

Joined by Major Michael Shaw, a F-16 Wild Weasel Pilot and former instructor at Air Force Weapons School, we talked about the air dominance and power that the F-16 commands in the joint fight, the heritage, meaning, and complexities of the Wild Weasel mission set, and what the future of the F-16 looks like in a conflict with a near-peer adversary. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode!  *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Lt Col (Ret) Joshua Cadice, a former KC-135 and U-2 Dragon Lady Pilot, we talked about the intricacies of aerial refueling, the difficulties of flying an aircraft on the edge of the atmosphere, and what the future of the Air Force looks like in terms of AI and ISR with a near peer adversary. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*

Joined by Col Peter Lee, a F-35A Lightning II & former F-15C Eagle Pilot, we talked about the integration of the F-35 with our allies, the vast differences in mission sets, an officer's role as a political strategist in D.C., and more. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! *Views expressed are not endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or its components.*