Maj Gen Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), is the Director of Research for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Background: He attained the rank of Major General in the U.S. Air Force while serving over 30 years as a fighter pilot, commander, and strategist. He’s flown F-4, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. Additionally, he flew T-37 and T-38 aircraft as both instructor and commander in the Air Force’s rapid-paced specialized undergraduate pilot training program. Mid-career he served as Professor of National Security Studies on the faculty of the National War College, the Nation’s most prestigious defense school located in Washington, DC, at Fort Lesley J. McNair. Following 9/11, General Stutzriem was on the leadership team that directed air operations in Afghanistan resulting in the surrender of the Taliban government in 90 days. He pioneered time-sensitive targeting in Afghanistan that led to current high-leverage targeting concepts. During nation-building operations in Iraq, he was assigned to the U.S. Department of State to reinvigorate the political-military interface. His final assignment was as Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy for U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). There, he led a dynamic team that achieved historic breakthroughs in theater security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere and the first Arctic defense strategy. He was a key leader in the modernization of the structure by which defense assets and personnel can be used to assist in missions normally carried out by civil authorities, such as responses to natural and man-made disasters. Before joining the Mitchell Institute, he worked as a consultant to a range of organizations from small business to NASA.

Areas of focus: He’s a recognized expert in national security, aerospace power, and combat aircraft operations.

Academic and professional titles: General Stutzriem has a BS in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University, an MS in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, and a Masters of National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. Among his career achievements, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during Operation Enduring Freedom and received the State Department’s top service award while acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.