Tobias Naegele
Tobias Naegele is the editor in chief of Air & Space Forces Magazine. The long-time chief editor of the Military Times group, along with Defense News, he was the founding editor of Marine Corps Times and, before that, Military & Aerospace Electronics. He is no less fascinated by the convergence of technology and military policy, and of telling the military’s stories that he was when he first reported on these topics four decades ago.
Recent stories by Tobias Naegele
WATCH: Simulating Complex Threats in the Pacific with CAE
At AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference, CAE takes Air & Space Forces Magazine behind the scenes of Valiant Shield 26, a Pacific exercise in June and July of 2026 focused on integrated air and missile defense and the defense...
WATCH: From Navigation to Actuation: One Integrated Manufacturing Partner
Kearfott, a 108-year-old company, is seeing renewed demand for its inertial navigation and motion-control technologies as GPS jamming and spoofing increasingly threaten military operations. Kearfott’s Bob Carpenter explains how he supports aircraft, spacecraft, maritime systems, and missiles, while expanding production...
WATCH: Twenty-Six Defense Exhibits New Capabilities, New Branding at AFA Conference
An exclusive peek inside the Twenty-Six Defense booth at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. After 30 years as Elbit Systems of America, Twenty-Six Defense has evolved and is exhibiting its new brand for the first time, highlighting a range...
WATCH: Investing to Meet America’s Growing Demand for Missiles and Directed Energy
Across directed energy, precision optics, and advanced coatings, Attalon is investing in domestic manufacturing capacity, advanced production technologies, and skilled American workers to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and enable the warfighter with the critical technologies they need to...
F-16s That Defended Capital on 9/11 Preserved for History
Three F-16s that flew in defense of Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2001, will be retired and preserved as museum artifacts.
Editorial: The Lost Quarter Century
The 25 years since 9/11 have been disastrous for our military air and space enterprise. Decades of nonstop military operations exhausted the Air Force, and the cost of ongoing ground operations led the Pentagon to delay and sometimes forgo modernization. The Air Force contracted as ...
Editorial: Drone Disruption
Much has been said about how drones are changing the character of war. Ukraine and Iran offer different versions of the same lesson: relatively inexpensive, precise, long-range weapons are democratizing attack. They allow states that lack a traditional air force—or...
Editorial: Go Big on Airpower
China’s rise, Iranian terror, and Russian belligerence point to the enduring need for deterrent airpower. Scale matters. The U.S. Air Force may not need to match China plane for plane, but it cannot continue to shrink to a shadow of its former size. Airpower is ...
Into the Desert: Mobilizing for Desert Shield
The biggest airlift campaign in history wasn’t always pretty. But it worked.
Editorial: Epic Challenge
Clearly, our Air Force can land a powerful punch. The question is, can it last 10 rounds against a fellow heavyweight?
Gen. John Shaud, Former AFA Boss and SHAPE Commander, Dies at 92
Gen. John Shaud, who led AFA as Executive Director for seven years at the dawn of the 21st century, died at his home in McLean, Va., on March 13 of complications following a stroke. He was 92.
WATCH: Deptula Unpacks the Aging Aircraft Crisis in ‘Year of Readiness’
Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, unpacks the keynotes and headline sessions from AFA's 2026 Warfare Symposium to break down why Department of the Air Force leaders are calling this year the “Year of Readiness”—and why the Air ...
Instant Thunder and the Roots of Desert Storm
How a rogue planning cell engineered the most decisive air war in modern history.
Editorial: Deterring Now Costs Less than Winning Later
America’s ability to execute complex military operations may be second to none, but our capacity to fight a prolonged war is in doubt. Our unique technological advantages are eroding, as rivals strive to counter them and catch up. Worse, our defense in depth—that is, the ...
Readiness Is ACC Commander’s Top Priority, But Not His Sole Focus
Readiness and sustainment are the clear priorities for Air Combat Command boss Gen. Adrian “Elmo” Spain, but the career fighter pilot has three other focuses too: Adapting to the strategic environment, modernizing for the future, and empowering leaders at the operational level. “If we [have to] go fight,...
