The First Predator (Behind the Scenes) with Gen. John Jumper and the "Father of the Predator," Snake Clark. PART II
PART II
Join our host Matt Jolley as he explores the creation and employment of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator in combat. Gen John Jumper and James "Snake" Clark, discuss the events that took place across the country to arm the unmanned reconnaissance drone and transform it into a lethal, stealthy, precise combat asset.
Episode Cover Image: Rick Herter’s, Taking the Shot, depicts an MQ–1 Predator as it fires a Hellfire missile at a distant nighttime target.
7 May 2026
The First Predator (Behind the Scenes) with Gen. John Jumper and the "Father of the Predator," Snake Clark. PART I
Join our host Matt Jolley as he explores the creation and employment of the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator in combat. Gen John Jumper and James "Snake" Clark, discuss the events that took place across the country to arm the unmanned reconnaissance drone and transform it into a lethal, stealthy, precise combat asset.
Episode Cover Image: Rick Herter’s, Taking the Shot, depicts an MQ–1 Predator as it fires a Hellfire missile at a distant nighttime target.
26 Nov 2025
AFHF Holiday Podcast: THUNDERBIRDS and FAMILY
In our season finale, Matt Jolley goes behind the scenes of the new Netflix documentary Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds with director Matt Wilcox and former Thunderbird Commander Colonel Justin Elliott. The film reveals the human side of the Thunderbirds—the pursuit of excellence, the progression, and the very real hardships behind the precision you see in the sky. The team’s message is resonating everywhere, from two sisters in Colorado to professional sports organizations. The Thunderbirds’ story is making an impact far beyond the flight line. Listen now and hear how it all came together. Enjoy the podcast and then have a family night to watch the movie. IT IS TERRIFIC!
15 Jul 2025
Part III: The Birth of the Space Force with Stephen L. Kitay
Mr. Stephen L. Kitay, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy. In this role he is responsible for establishing policy and guidance to assure U.S. and allied warfighters the benefits of space capabilities and to help guide the Department’s strategy for addressing space-related issues. He also leads Departmental activities in international space cooperation.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Kitay most recently served as a Professional Staff Member on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Service Committee. In this position, he was responsible for advising the Chairman and members of the committee regarding oversight of national security space programs, policy, and budget within the Department of Defense. Mr. Kitay previously supported the committee on oversight of intelligence policy, programs, and budgets within the Department of Defense.
Before joining the House Armed Services Committee, Mr. Kitay served as a government civilian in the Intelligence Community working on a variety of national intelligence programs, to include space systems at the National Reconnaissance Office.
5 Feb 2025
PART II: The Origins of the US Space Force
Join Matt Jolley and retired USAF Col. Jack David Fischer (born January 23, 1974) in their discussion of the birth of the Space Force. Jack is an American engineer, test pilot and a former NASA astronaut. Fischer was selected in June 2009 as a member of the NASA Astronaut Group 20 and qualified as an astronaut in 2011. He made his first spaceflight in April 2017, as a flight engineer for Expedition 51/52 on the International Space Station.
Col. Fischer was an integral part of Taskforce "Tango" and the ground level creation of the Nation's youngest military service--the US Space Force.
20 Dec 2024
PART I: The Origins of the US Space Force
Col Stu Pettis, USAF (ret), shares the behind-the-scenes story of the US Space Force's origin, revealing the key events and decisions that led to its creation in 2019.
13 Nov 2024
Part III: New World Vistas, the 1995 Technology Forecast that looked forward thirty years to the future of the USAF and the Space Force.
On 10 November 1994, SECAF Dr. Sheila Widnall and CSAF Gen. Ronald Fogleman, challenged the USAF Scientific Advisory Board to look into the future of air, space and computational technology and create a broad, forward-looking study in one year’s time. Dr. Widnall’s challenge was powerful “…this is not another Air Force internal requirement scrub to justify the Air Force science budget. Rather, it should be a truly independent futuristic view of how the exponential rate of technology change will shape the 21st Century Air Force. My goal for you is that you should publish New World Vistas in December 1995, on the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Toward New Horizons.” General Hap Arnold had challenged Dr. Theodore von Kármán to look far into the future and create a report that could guide the air forces into a technologically advanced world. On 15 December 1995, Toward New Horizons was delivered to the Chief and the Secretary during holiday celebrations near Dr. Widnall’s office in the Pentagon, fulfilling the challenge. Today, the contents of that S&T report are largely forgotten, but they should not be. Contained within the volumes are forecasts for the evolution of hypersonic technology, unmanned weaponry and refueling possibilities, command and control consolidation, 3D-command centers and much, much more. The Air Force Historical Foundation is proud to present Gen Fogleman and Mrs. Natalie Crawford, Chair of the Attack Panel, who recount the creation of NWV, its impact, and its failures.
23 Oct 2024
Part II: New World Vistas, the 1995 Technology Forecast that looked forward thirty years to the future of the USAF and the Space Force.
On 10 November 1994, SECAF Dr. Sheila Widnall and CSAF Gen. Ronald Fogleman, challenged the USAF Scientific Advisory Board to look into the future of air, space and computational technology and create a broad, forward-looking study in one year’s time. Dr. Widnall’s challenge was powerful “…this is not another Air Force internal requirement scrub to justify the Air Force science budget. Rather, it should be a truly independent futuristic view of how the exponential rate of technology change will shape the 21st Century Air Force. My goal for you is that you should publish New World Vistas in December 1995, on the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Toward New Horizons.” General Hap Arnold had challenged Dr. Theodore von Kármán to look far into the future and create a report that could guide the air forces into a technologically advanced world. On 15 December 1995, Toward New Horizons was delivered to the Chief and the Secretary during holiday celebrations near Dr. Widnall’s office in the Pentagon, fulfilling the challenge. Today, the contents of that S&T report are largely forgotten, but they should not be. Contained within the volumes are forecasts for the evolution of hypersonic technology, unmanned weaponry and refueling possibilities, command and control consolidation, 3D-command centers and much, much more. The Air Force Historical Foundation is proud to present Gen Fogleman and Mrs. Natalie Crawford, Chair of the Attack Panel, who recount the creation of NWV, its impact, and its failures.
9 Oct 2024
Part I: New World Vistas, the 1995 Technology Forecast that looked forward thirty years to the future of the USAF and the Space Force.
On 10 November 1994, SECAF Dr. Sheila Widnall and CSAF Gen. Ronald Fogleman, challenged the USAF Scientific Advisory Board to look into the future of air, space and computational technology and create a broad, forward-looking study in one year’s time. Dr. Widnall’s challenge was powerful “…this is not another Air Force internal requirement scrub to justify the Air Force science budget. Rather, it should be a truly independent futuristic view of how the exponential rate of technology change will shape the 21st Century Air Force. My goal for you is that you should publish New World Vistas in December 1995, on the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Toward New Horizons.” General Hap Arnold had challenged Dr. Theodore von Kármán to look far into the future and create a report that could guide the air forces into a technologically advanced world. On 15 December 1995, Toward New Horizons was delivered to the Chief and the Secretary during holiday celebrations near Dr. Widnall’s office in the Pentagon, fulfilling the challenge. Today, the contents of that S&T report are largely forgotten, but they should not be. Contained within the volumes are forecasts for the evolution of hypersonic technology, unmanned weaponry and refueling possibilities, command and control consolidation, 3D-command centers and much, much more. The Air Force Historical Foundation is proud to present Gen Fogleman and Mrs. Natalie Crawford, Chair of the Attack Panel, who recount the creation of NWV, its impact, and its failures.
5 Sept 2024
General Hap Arnold through the eyes of his grandson, Robert
Robert Arnold recalls family stories and personal experiences with the pioneers of American aviation technology. As the grandson of not only Gen Hap Arnold but also American aeronautical engineer, Donald Douglas. Robert shares memorable lessons learned and little know behind the scenes connections that have shaped not only the USAF but aviation history for the past century.
4 Jun 2024
The First Chief Scientist of the Air Force: Professor Theodore von Karman
Join host Matt Jolley as he discusses the role of one of the first aeronautical scientists in America--Professor Theodore von Karman, with Dr. Michael Gorn (author of The Universal Man: Theodore von Karman's Life in Aeronautics). Together with Gen Hap Arnold, he helped to establish the technological foundations of today's USAF and USSF.
17 Apr 2024
Technological Change and the Birth of the USAF
Join Lt Col Dik Daso, USAF (ret), PhD, Executive Director of the Air Force Historical Foundation, as he introduces you to Gen Hap Arnold, Professor Theodore von Karman and early aviation technology. Dr Daso also discusses AFHF programing for 2025 and introduces new AFHF developments in research, membership and leadership.
27 Feb 2024
Jan Davis, PhD. Astronaut, Engineer, Author-Part 2
Born at Patrick Air Force Base and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Jan Davis has been surrounded by aviation and space her entire life. She followed up her biomedical engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology with a mechanical engineering degree from Auburn University and a Ph.D. from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. During her career, she worked for Texaco and for NASA before being selected as an astronaut in 1987. Davis flew on three Space Shuttle missions and continued her NASA career in the Senior Executive Service. After her retirement from NASA, she went on to become an industry executive. Now a consultant and speaker, she also enjoys traveling, quilting, exploring the outdoors, and working with her non-profit organization, AstraFemina, to encourage girls to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math careers.
8 Feb 2024
Jan Davis, PhD. Astronaut, Engineer, Author-Part 1
Follow Dr. Davis as she retraces her path to the stars.
Nancy Jan Davis (née Smotherman; born November 1, 1953) is a former American astronaut. A veteran of three space flights, Davis logged over 673 hours in space. She is now retired from NASA. She flew on STS-47, STS-60, and STS-75.
Davis became an astronaut in June 1987. Her first assignment was in the Astronaut Office Mission Development Branch, where she provided technical support for Space Shuttle payloads. Following this, Davis was a CAPCOM in Mission Control, responsible for communicating with Shuttle crews for seven missions. After her first space flight, Davis served as the Astronaut Office representative for the Remote Manipulator System (RMS), with responsibility for RMS operations, training, and payloads. After her second space flight, she served as the Chairperson of the NASA Education Working Group and as Chief for the Payloads Branch, which provided Astronaut Office support for all Shuttle and International Space Station payloads.
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