The Allied Airpower Podcast

• Better Never Stops — Interview with Air Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer

  In this special episode, Jose “Houdini” Davis sits down with Air Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer, Acting Commander of NATO Allied Air Command, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation that bridges three decades of airpower, leadership, and strategy. A former Typhoon Wing Commander with over 3,000 flight hours, Air Marshal Stringer has led across every level — from cockpit to command table — serving as Chief of Staff at the UK’s Joint Forces Command and Director of Strategy at UK Strategic Command. Educated at Oxford and King’s College London, he brings a rare blend of tactical insight and grand strategic vision to his reflections on NATO’s evolving mission.Air Marshal Stringer traces how Allied Air Command has transformed during his tenure, shaped by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the consequences thereafter. He discusses how the Alliance is now “resetting” its air and space power for a new era of deterrence, where air and missile defense, Agile Combat Employment (ACE), and integrated command and control (C2) define NATO’s priorities. Drawing on his love of history, Air Marshal Stringer compares today’s challenges to those faced by NATO in 1958, when rapid technological and geopolitical change forced a similar transformation in how airpower was organized and employed.In his trademark wit and clarity, Air Marshal Stringer also reflects on the philosophy behind his guiding maxim, “Better Never Stops.” For him, it’s more than a slogan: it’s a professional ethic rooted in curiosity, humility, and continuous improvement. It is the belief that high-performing organizations must be as curious about their failures as their successes. He shares how that mindset has shaped NATO’s approach to innovation and adaptation amid accelerating change.As he prepares to conclude more than three years leading NATO Allied Air Command, Air Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer leaves listeners with a message of gratitude and resolve: a reminder that NATO’s strength lies in unity, professionalism, and a shared commitment to the billion people its members defend.Recorded Wednesday, 22 October 2025. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit natoaircom.substack.com

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• NATO opens new Combined Air Operations Centre in Norway

  In this episode, we explore five major Allied developments that underscore NATO’s ongoing commitment to deterrence, vigilance, and integrated Airpower across the Euro-Atlantic region.First, in southern Europe, Allied and Partner Tiger Squadrons gathered in Portugal for the annual NATO Tiger Meet. Over eighty aircraft and fifteen hundred personnel from nine NATO nations — plus Austria and Switzerland — took part at Beja Air Base. Hosted by the Portuguese Air Force for the fifth time, the two-week exercise featured daily live-fly missions, from close air support to search and rescue, strengthening interoperability and camaraderie among NATO’s premier fighter units.Next, in the Baltics, Italy transitioned its NATO Air Policing mission in Estonia from F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Eurofighter Typhoons. The handover, conducted at Ämari Air Base, marks the continuation of Italy’s two-decade contribution to NATO’s Baltic security. Supported by the Gulfstream E-550A and the SAMP/T missile system, the new detachment maintains the Alliance’s quick-reaction capability on the Eastern Flank.Meanwhile, in Poland, nine NATO nations conducted a live Find, Fix, Track, and Target (F2T2) exercise, coordinated by Allied Air Command. Danish F-35s, Spanish Typhoons, and French and Turkish tanker aircraft integrated under Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejón’s command. Supported by NATO AWACS and Polish control units, the mission tested seamless multi-domain coordination across air, land, sea, cyber, and space — refining Allied precision-strike and decision-making in contested environments.At Allied Air Command Headquarters in Ramstein, Air Chiefs from twenty-nine Allied nations and five Partners convened for the bi-annual NATO Air Chiefs’ Symposium. Acting Commander Air Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer led discussions under the theme “Accelerating Air and Missile Defence for 360-Degree Security.” Leaders explored integrated command and control (C2), enhanced vigilance activities (eVA), and the future of NATO air and missile defence. The event also marked Air Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer’s final symposium before the handover to Lieutenant General Guillaume Thomas as the new Deputy Commander of AIRCOM.Finally, in the High North, NATO inaugurated a new Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Bodø, Norway. The new CAOC — NATO’s third alongside Uedem in Germany and Torrejón in Spain — expands the Alliance’s command and control network across the Arctic and Nordic region. Norwegian Major General Tron Strand assumed command during a ceremony attended by senior leaders from Norway, Finland, Sweden, and NATO. Vice Admiral Doug Perry of Joint Force Command Norfolk emphasized the CAOC’s role in safeguarding the North Atlantic and enhancing deterrence from Florida to Finland.Together, these developments highlight how Allied Air Command continues to strengthen NATO’s integrated posture — from the Iberian Peninsula to the Arctic Circle — ensuring flexibility, readiness, and unity across all domains of operation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit natoaircom.substack.com

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• NATO in Space — Interview with US Col Jonathan Whitaker

  In this episode, we take listeners beyond the atmosphere to explore NATO’s newest operational domain — space. Joining him is U.S. Colonel Jonathan L. Whitaker, Chief of Staff at NATO’s Combined Forces Space Component Command and Director of the NATO Space Operations Center at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. With more than two decades of experience in U.S. and Allied space operations, Colonel Whitaker offers a rare inside look at how the Alliance is adapting to an era where the orbital environment is no longer benign but increasingly contested, congested, and critical to deterrence and defense.The conversation traces the origins of NATO’s Space Center, established in 2020, and how it now functions as the hub for Allied space activity — tracking satellites, monitoring space weather and GPS integrity, safeguarding secure communications for NATO aircraft, and coordinating multinational intelligence from orbit. Colonel Whitaker describes how nations with different capabilities contribute to a shared mission, blending military and commercial technologies to keep space secure and accessible.Through real-world examples he illustrates how space-based intelligence and situational awareness enable commanders on the ground, at sea, and in the air to act decisively. He also discusses the growing partnership between NATO and industry, the integration of commercial space assets, and the coming expansion of the NATO Space Operations Center into a 24-hour global watch.At its heart, this episode shows how space has become the connective tissue of modern warfare and peacekeeping alike. Recorded Wednesday, 10 September 2025. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit natoaircom.substack.com

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• NATO, nations defend sky during summits in Denmark

  In this episode, we explore three major Allied developments that underscore NATO’s commitment to readiness, partnership, and deterrence across Europe.First, at Allied Air Command Headquarters in Ramstein, fourteen Partner nations gathered for the annual Partner Air Chiefs’ Conference. Acting Commander Air Marshall Johnny Stringer led discussions on Agile Combat Employment, Counter–Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), and strengthening partnerships. The conference reinforced how dialogue between NATO and its Partners continues to shape future Airpower cooperation.Next, we turn to Northern Europe, where Finland led Exercise Protective Fence 2025 — the nation’s largest live-fly event of the year. With over 50 aircraft and 1,200 personnel from Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, the exercise tested dispersed operations across multiple air bases. Coordinated with the U.K.-led Joint Expeditionary Force, it demonstrated the Allies’ ability to operate flexibly under NATO’s Agile Combat Employment concept.Finally, in Denmark, NATO and national forces protected the skies over Copenhagen during high-level EU and European Political Community summits. Following recent drone incursions, additional air, maritime, and ground-based assets — including the German frigate FGS Hamburg and the U.S. destroyer U.S.S. Bulkeley — secured the region under Baltic Sentry operations. As NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte put it: “We have to keep our skies safe.”Together, these events highlight the Alliance’s unified approach to deterrence and defence — combining planning, training, and operational action to ensure Europe’s skies remain secure. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit natoaircom.substack.com

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• On Strategic Communications — Interview with UK RAF Wing Commander Tim Barlow

  Recorded at the NATO Communicators Conference in Athens, Greece this episode explores the role of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM) in today’s complex information environment. We sit down with Wing Commander Tim Barlow, former STRATCOM Director at NATO Allied Air Command and now at SHAPE’s J10 Directorate, to unpack what STRATCOM really means — linking presence, posture, profile, and words into coherent actions that influence audiences and safeguard democracy. Wing Commander Barlow shares practical insights, including a case study on hosting Serbian media and political leaders at Allied Air Command, where open dialogue and cultural connection transformed perceptions of NATO. At its core, the conversation highlights STRATCOM as more than messaging — it is about building trust, understanding audiences, and demonstrating that NATO’s strength lies in unity.Recorded Wednesday, 24 September 2025. DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in The Allied Airpower Podcast are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of NATO, NATO Allied Air Command, or any national government. Any external hyperlinks or resources shared on this podcast do not constitute endorsement. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit natoaircom.substack.com

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