Ep. 71 What's Next in Defense Logistics

About this episode

Mike Shanley interviews Major General Thad Bibb about the future of defense logistics and the impact of the WindRunner aircraft.

In this episode, host Mike Shanley sits down with Major General Thad Bibb (Ret.), former Commander of the 18th Air Force and now VP of Defense Business Development at Radia. They discuss Radia's WindRunner™, the world's largest aircraft by volume, how it emerged from commercial wind-energy needs, and why its logistics capacity could redefine modern warfare, allied readiness, and dual-use innovation. General Bibb shares insights from 33 years in the Air Force, lessons in defense acquisition, and practical advice for defense tech companies entering the market. RESOURCES : Radia (WindRunner Aircraft) - https://radia.com BIOGRAPHY : Thad is an innovative leader, passionate about bringing unique solutions to complex problems. In 2024, he retired from the Air Force as a Major General with over 33 years of service. As a command pilot with over 5,000 flight hours, Thad led operations around the world, from gravel strips in Alaska to combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq. As Commander of 18th Air Force, he led 36,000 Airmen, conducting all Air Force active duty airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation missions. As Commander, 618th Air Operations Center, his team planned, tasked…

People in this episode

Host: Mike Shanley

Guest: Major General Thad Bibb

Topics covered

• defense logistics
• military innovation
• aircraft technology
• defense acquisition
• dual-use innovation

Keywords

• defense logistics
• WindRunner
• military technology
• Thad Bibb
• aircraft
• defense acquisition
• dual-use innovation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Radia

Products: WindRunner™

Places: Afghanistan, Iraq, Alaska

More episodes of GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley

• Ep 80: Lee Rosen, CEO, ThinkOrbital - GovDiscovery AI Podcast with Mike Shanley · April 3, 2026 · 41 min
• Ep 79 Victor Vigliotti, Director, U.S. Space Force Front Door · March 19, 2026 · 36 min
• Ep 78 Col. John Oliver - U.S. Army Strategic Capital Initiative · March 11, 2026 · 23 min
• Ep. 77 Maj. Paul Hanneman - Building Software for the Solider · March 6, 2026 · 31 min
• Ep. 76: General Matthew "Jerry" Glavy (ret.) - U.S. Cyber Force Generation · February 11, 2026 · 41 min
• Ep. 75: Michael Robbins, AUVSI President & CEO: Drones and the future of warfare · January 29, 2026 · 34 min