General Mike “Mobile” Holmes was the Commander of Air Combat Command, leading a team of 159,000 military and civilian personnel at over 300 operating locations worldwide. He held a degree in electrical engineering and had extensive experience in various command and leadership positions throughout his career, including commanding fighter squadrons and wings and serving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Gen. Holmes was a seasoned pilot with over 4,000 flight hours, including 530 combat hours in the F-15 fighter jet. He played a crucial role in developing strategies, doctrines, and tactics for air, space, and cyber power employment, and ensuring air defense forces were prepared to face challenges in both peacetime and wartime.
In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, we sit down with Gen Holmes to discuss his vast career as a leader in the U.S. Air Force. From his time from a young wingman in the F-15C to the Commander of Air Combat. Gen. Holmes takes us through his journey in the military, starting with the tense period in the 1980s preparing to fight the Soviet Union to post-9/11 combat operations. With over 4,000 flight hours, including 530 combat hours, Gen. Holmes provides valuable insights into the challenges leading one of the largest organizations to the future fight.
Protect your identity will one stop! VPN, Credit Monitoring, Dark Web Monitoring, and Anti-Virus - Get a 14-day FREE trial! aura.com/afterburn to see if your personal information has been leaked online!
---
*Join in at E3 Aviation Association: bit.ly/E3AviationAssociation
*Support the Channel Patreon: / theafterburnpodcast
Or by hitting the “Super Thanks” above
*Shop Merch bit.ly/ShopAfterburnPodcast
Launch Your Aviation Career with BogiDope :bit.ly/BogiDope 5% OFF with code "Afterburn"
Contact Me
Email: bit.ly/contactTAP
Website: bit.ly/AfterburnWebsite
---
Audio Links:
*Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3dLradT
*Spotify: spoti.fi/3SAeSUr
*Google Podcasts: bit.ly/3xWf74o
*Podcast Addict: bit.ly/3fooCTm
00:00:00 - Start
00:01:36 - Gen Holmes Background
00:01:59 - How "Mobile" got his callsign
00:05:50 - Flying F-15C
00:09:06 - What was the Air Force like in the 1980s facing the Soviet threat?
00:11:51 - How did we go from the Air Force of the 1980's to the Air Force of today?
00:14:21 - Experienced fighter pilot shortage in the Air Force
00:17:38 - F-35 and F-22 how the base moves, working with Congress, and the military budget
00:19:27 - What's the Air Force's combat capability in 2023?
00:26:31 - Is it possible to blend operations and maintenance for efficiency?
00:33:41 - Inefficiencies in the system - Maintenance tool turn in
00:35:54 - Peacetime Mindset - Admiral King 1940 Letter There is a War Coming
00:38:59 - Career after the 80's - Post USSR and 9/11
00:42:51 - What were deployments like prior to 9/11?
00:44:18 - Bagram Wing Commander March 2008-2009
00:52:35 - If you had a blank checkbook what would you do to make sure the nation is ready?
00:58:00 - What does a "retired" 4-Star General do?