Lt Gen (Ret.) David A. Deptula is the Risner Senior Military Scholar for War fighting Applications at the Institute for Future Conflict. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on military aerospace issues. Featured in the 2023 book, Airpower Pioneers: From Billy Mitchell to Dave Deptula, he accomplished several “firsts” in the command of joint forces, planning and execution of aerospace power, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and improved international relationships.

Deptula was the principal attack planner for the Desert Storm coalition air campaign, commander of no-fly zone operations over Iraq where he flew 82 combat missions as a general officer and was the first Director of the Combined Air Operations Center orchestrating air operations over Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the 9/11 attacks. In 2005, he was the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) for the South Asia tsunami relief effort, and in 2006 was the standing JFACC for Pacific Command. He has twice been a Combined/Joint Task Force Commander, served on two congressional commissions outlining America’s future defense, and was the first USAF chief of ISR where he transformed ISR and drone enterprises. He has piloted more than 3,000 flying hours (400 in combat) to include multiple operational fighter command assignments in the F-15.

Deptula has received numerous awards to include the Air Force Association’s highest honor in the field of national security, the H.H. Arnold Award. Defense News named him one of the 100 most influential people in U.S. defense. He is also the Dean of the Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies. Deptula is a prolific writer and commentator on global military issues, ISR, aerospace, and national security strategy.