On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Jerry McGinn, the director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, and Bill Alderman of Alderman & Company, a boutique firm specializing in aerospace and defense mergers and acquisitions, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s executive orders on reforming defense acquisition, defense acquisition and a maritime strategy; how such orders shape the actions of smaller firms in the aerospace and defense industrial base; the outlook for military spending and whether higher material costs in the wake of the president’s tariff decisions could undermine the Pentagon’s buying power; how big contractors squeeze their smaller suppliers in the name of “partnering for success,” and how the big-small dynamic is changing; the inability of US leaders to think strategically, for example, on building rare earth mineral capacity; and more.

On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a commissioner on the bi-partisan, bi-cameral National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the commission’s final report released last week, “Charting the Future of Biotechnology.”

On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Becca Wasser and Phil Sheers of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report they coauthored “From Production Lines to Front Lines: Revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base for Future Great Power Conflict.”

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how President Trump’s actions are being regarded worldwide and in terms of America’s popularity; how different regions see the United States and whether the decline in popularity will reflect as a decline in influence; how Americans see his breakneck actions and how a large portion of the electorate appreciate that someone in elected office is actually doing what he would said he would do on the campaign trail; why Democrats strategy to leave the field to Trump or quarrel among themselves is a bad strategy; Canadian views on Trump’s drive to break the country’s economy to compel it to become America’s 51st state; and how the US president’ rhetoric has reinvigorated the popularity of Canada’s Liberal Party.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer, the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Ukraine’s retreat from 450 of the 500 square miles its forces occupied in Russia’s Kursk region; what’s next for the war as Washington pressures Kyiv to a ceasefire; whether Ukraine can survive without US aid and European support; prospect of European troops in Ukraine; whether Vladimir Putin can claim victory in Ukraine;; impact of the war on Russia and Russian support for the conflict; and the Trump administration’s decision gutting the Voice of America as well as Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Peter Van Praagh, the president of HFX, the group that organizes two annual security conferences — the Halifax International Security Forum and the new HFX Taipei Forum — joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how President Trump’s will impact US power, global influence and economic prosperity; whether Ukraine can survive against Russia without US help as Washington aligns increasingly with Moscow; how China regards the realignment; takeaways from the recent HFX Taipei Forum; prospect that democracies in Europe, North America and Asia will increasingly come together in a new bloc; whether the international institutions forged by the United States in the unique circumstances after World War II can be reinvigorated if Washington now chooses the undermine them; and why Canada and Canadians are so alarmed and offended by Trump’s rhetoric and actions.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Mark Montgomery, a retired US Navy rear admiral who is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Cyber Solarium 2.0 executive director, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the best way for the Trump administration to redirect between 6 and 8 percent of finding a year for five years to new priorities; what the administration should be prioritizing and where it can take more risk, for example, in Air Force nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and free-fall weapons; the continued need for manned combat aircraft and adding the Army and Navy to the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program; the wisdom of erecting a “Golden Dome” air and missile defense system over the United States; the problematic nature of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order that the National Security Agency stop planning and executing offensive cyber operations against Russia; the Trump administration’s betrayal of Ukraine and drive to end the war on Russia’s terms; whether Kyiv can continue to fight when Washington cuts aid and Moscow ramps up military pressure; prospect that Taiwan may be part of a “grand bargain” Trump seeks with China and how increasing defense spending to 3 percent of GDP could give Taipei a reprieve; the impact of the firings of top officers and who might replace Adm. Lisa Franchetti as Chief of Naval Operations after the service’s first female leader was recently sacked.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon Europe and Russia chief during the Obama administration who is now the executive director of McCain Institute at Arizona State University, and Dr. Eugene Rumer, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia on the National Intelligence Council who is now the director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s drive to end the Ukraine war including voting against a UN resolution blaming the war on Russia; how the betrayal of Ukraine and shakedown of Kyiv for its natural resources is resonating worldwide; how smaller nations can stand up to Russia and China without US help; worries across Asia as nations worry Trump’s “grand bargain” with China will jeopardize their security; takeaways from the HFX Taipei forum 20-21 Feb. in the Taiwanese capital; how Putin’s “win” in Ukraine change the Russian leader’s popularity at home; and an update on the war.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon Europe and Russia chief during the Obama administration who is now the executive director of McCain Institute at Arizona State University, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s drive to end the Ukraine war without Ukrainian or European participation, rehabilitate Vladimir Putin and sharply criticize allies; why “grand bargains” to mollify adversaries like Russia and China won’t stop their territorial or global power aspirations; how the strategy of appeasement will impact US relationships worldwide, especially in the Indo-Pacific; the reality that reverting from a rules-based order based on common values to one of spheres of influence and reciprocal tariffs will make the world poorer and increase the prospect of conflict; whether lawmakers will push back on Trump’s moves and rhetoric; and what to expect from the HFX Taipei forum 20-21 Feb. in the Taiwanese capital. The McCain Institute is partnered with HFX, annually awarding the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum. Awarded by Sen. McCain’s son, Jack McCain, the 2024 prize went to Russian democracy and rights advocate Vladimir Kara Murza who was jailed in Russia for two years, and the 2020 prize to former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing Wen.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Richard Andres, a professor at the national defense university and the former adviser to the secretary of the Air Force and commander of US Cyber Command, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the report for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies he cowrote with former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Buzz Mosley, USAF Ret., and Mitchell’s Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF Ret.; why jointness has prioritized today’s readiness over strategic planning and the need to return more authority to the military services to accelerate innovation and program execution.