General Cantwell is a senior resident fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies in Washington D.C. He is a retired Air Force brigadier general having served a 30-year career in various roles including combat pilot, commander, and strategist, flying the F-16, MQ-9, and RQ-4 aircraft. His multiple overseas deployments afforded him the opportunity to shape operational plans and military exercises in the European, Pacific, and Middle East theaters of operation. His 10 years assigned to Japan and NATO afforded him a deep appreciation for the close U.S.—Japan bilateral relationship and NATO’s critical role in U.S. foreign policy. A combat-proven fighter pilot, he amassed over 2,000 flight hours in manned and unmanned aircraft while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He has written numerous articles for defense journals focused on unmanned aviation and national security. General Cantwell has a BS in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, and four advanced national security degrees including a master’s degree from the National War College.