On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim join host Vago Muradian discuss Donald Trump’s cabinet picks including China hawks like Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as well as controversial picks like Tulsi Gabbard, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Fox host Pete Hegseth; whether House and Senate Republicans will agree to recess thereby allowing Trump’s nominees to take office without a conventional confirmation process; implications of proposed cull of senior military officers under effort to counter DEI and lack of “warrior” ethos; US allies and partners work to repostion themselves to curry favor with incoming administration including Taiwan’s preemptive proposal to boost defense including and buy US Aegis destroyers and F-35 fighters; Russia’s efforts to influence Trump; what’s next in the Middle East after Israeli leaders propose annexing of parts of West Bank and Saudi Arabia’s Mohamed bin Salman labels Israel’s actions as genocide and Qatar ends mediation role; and Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Airpower begins with airmen. An innovative US Air Force Reserve artificial intelligence system gets the right people into the jobs where they are most needed. Brigadier General Mike McGinley joins us to explain how the system, called GigEagle, makes the military more effective. And we have the week’s headlines in airpower. All powered by GE!

Andy Green, the president of HII’s Mission Technologies division, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss his business’ growth including $12 billion in orders this year as a leading maker of unmanned underwater systems, and top US government provider of artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as Live, Virtual Constructive Training; importance of Mission Technologies HII’s future growth and to offset revised shipbuilding outlook; how AI, ML and LVC technologies are helping improve the company’s performance on ship design, construction and repair; hiring and retaining top talent to continue growth and executing on growing awards; and some recommendations for the incoming administration on how to streamline acquisition processes to field capabilities more quickly.

On today’s Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Peter Van Praagh, the president of HFX — the organizer of the annual Halifax International Security Forum that brings to better government, diplomatic, military, economic and civil society leaders each weekend before Thanksgiving in Halifax, Nova Scotia — discusses the implications of the re-election of former President Trump; the importance of US leadership and the case against isolationism; why it’s vital the international community continue to support Ukraine in its fight for survival; why a loss for Kyiv would be globally destabilizing including encouraging China to attack Taiwan; the importance of allies and partners and whether tariffs and caustic rhetoric could undermine key relationships; the power of disinformation to mobilize voters and citizens; the need for US leaders to make the case why democracy, internationalism and importance of allies; and a look at the agenda of the upcoming forum with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss the Ukraine war as Russian redoubles efforts to make gains as President-election Trump vows to swiftly end the conflict, and whether Ukraine can survive without US assistance; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses the impact of a new Trump administration on US national security, whether control of the White House and Congress increases the prospect for more defense spending or deep cuts as part of a government-wide effort to trim $2 trillion in spending, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Business Roundtable, sponsored by Bell, Dr. Rocket Ron Epstein of Bank of America Securities, Sash Tusa of the independent equity research firm Agency Partners, and Richard Aboulafia of the AeroDynamic advisory consultancy join host Vago Muradian to discuss surging US markets Donald Trump’s election for a second term and another Federal Reserve rate cut as economists warn tariff wars would jeopardize a red hot economy; with Republicans in charge of the White House, the Senate and the House, rising hope that defense spending will increase significantly; worried about America’s reliability, Germany is considering killing its debt brake to boost military spending; in a signal of its own, Britain backs the Global Combat Aircraft Program with Italy and Japan even before it concludes its Strategic Defence Review; Boeing machinists return to work ending a seven-week strike as the company considers selling its Jeppesen navigation business; Bombardier, BWXT, Embraer, Hensoldt, Leonardo, Mercury Systems, Palantir, Rheinmetall, Leonardo post results as Rolls and Chemring issue trading statements; and Spirit AeroSystems warns that its future is in doubt.

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored in part by Hanwha Defense USA, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Donald Trump’s election to another term, what the trouncing of Vice President Kamala Harris means for the Democratic Party, whether Trump’s second term will be more disciplined than his first, the outlook for defense spending with the Senate and House in GOP hands, allies brace for turmoil starting with Ukraine, whether Washington will force Kyiv to immediately end the war or adopt a longer-term lend-lease approach to support Ukraine, outlook for US leadership in the Indo-Pacific, and Bibi Netanyahu’s even freer hand in the region as he fires his defense minister Yoav Gallant.

In this special program, the Defense and Aerospace Report team look at the effect of a new Trump presidency on defense, and point out some areas that could benefit from focus in the new administration. Powered by GE Aerospace!

Michael Bayer, a former chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association, and Arnold Punaro, another former NDIA chairman and Senate Armed Services Committee staff director, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how to ensure a smooth transition from the Biden administration to a second Trump administration, how to get the mechanics right, budget process to keep government running, how Elon Musk could play an instrumental role in revamping government contracting processes to better and more quickly deliver needed capabilities at scale, and the prospect the incoming president may choose to sack senior military leaders and replace them with new ones better suited to executing the new administration’s agenda.

Sam Caucci, the CEO and founder of 1Huddle — an innovative workforce performance and training software — joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how work is changing in the wake of the covid pandemic, employers’ demand that their workforce returns full time to the office, employees desire for greater flexibility to work remotely, using AI and other technologies as a training tool for civilians and military members, and the fundraising environment for new tech companies including New Jersey’s support for innovative firms.

On today’s program, sponsored by HII, Sam Bendett of the Center for Naval Analyses and Dr. Eugene Rumer of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine as Moscow celebrates its day of national unity, Russian battlefield gains as Ukraine increasingly struggles not to lose, whether Vladimir Putin will be satisfied retaking Donbas and Luhansk or will drive to Kyiv, Ukraine’s ability to stop Russia if a breakthrough happens, and how the outcome of the US presidential election will shape the Ukraine war; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense implications of the US presidential election, a review of his November “scorecard,” takeaways from last week’s earnings reports and what to expect from companies disclosing results next week, and a look at the week ahead with Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian.