Heather Penney

1 month ago | airforcetimes.com | Douglas A. Birkley |Heather Penney

As Defense Department leaders build their fiscal 2026 budget request, they must prioritize Air Force modernization. Three decades’ worth of chronic underfunding, paired with high combat demand, have worn the service’s aircraft so hard that the capacity and capability of the Air Force have declined to dangerous levels. It is well past time for a reset. Top leaders will only be able to successfully deter and, if necessary, defeat adversaries if they have sufficient and capable forces to do both.

2 months ago | airandspaceforces.com | Sean Naylor |Heather Penney |Tobias Naegele |John Tirpak

2 months ago | airandspaceforces.com | Heather Penney

Preserving fighter missions at Air National Guard wings is one key way to build capacity and retain pilot experience in our combat air forces, the author argues. The Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing recently transitioned to the F-15EX from F-15Cs.Staff Sgt. Nichole Sanchez Photo Caption & Credits The U.S. Air Force is stretched thin by unrelenting rotational and contingency response demands, and its chronic pilot shortage just won’t go away.

Feb 21, 2024 | warontherocks.com | Jennifer McArdle |Heather Penney |Stacie L. Pettyjohn

A lot happens every day. Alliances shift, leaders change, and conflicts erupt. With In Brief, we’ll help you make sense of it all. Each week, experts will dig deep on a single issue happening in the world to help you better understand it.