Digital Air Combat Operations with Col Garrett "Nails" Hogan

Building The Base

In this episode of the "Digital Warfighting Series with CENTCOM," co-hosts Lauren Bedula and Hondo Geurts welcome Colonel Garrett Hogan, callsign "Nails," to discuss technology and innovation in supporting the mission of US Central Command (CENTCOM). Colonel Hogan, with 20 years of experience as an electronic warfare officer, currently serves as the Director of Combat Operations for the Air Component Command inside CENTCOM.

He explains the role of the Combat Operations Division in organizing and executing air operations, highlighting the importance of leveraging emerging technologies like Digital Falcon to streamline target processing and enhance dynamic targeting capabilities. Through real-world examples and exercises, Colonel Hogan emphasizes the significance of maintaining consistency and muscle memory in digital exercises to adapt rapidly to evolving threats. He underscores the importance of interoperability and collaboration among tech companies to provide tools that work seamlessly together, ultimately strengthening operational capabilities in the digital warfighting domain.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leveraging emerging technologies like Digital Falcon streamlines target processing and enhances dynamic targeting capabilities.

2. Maintaining consistency and muscle memory through digital exercises enables rapid adaptation to evolving threats.

3. Interoperability is crucial for operational success, highlighting the need for collaboration among tech companies to provide compatible tools.

4. Providing access to technology and encouraging feedback from operators fosters innovation and improvement in operational effectiveness.

5. Balancing digital exercises with real-world operations requires careful coordination and prioritization to ensure mission success while maintaining operational readiness.