NASA Astronaut Turned General Shapes the Future of U.S. Space Force

In this episode of Space Minds, host Sandra Erwin sits down with former NASA astronaut and Space Force leader Brig. Gen. Nick Hague for a wide-ranging conversation on how the U.S. Space Force is shaping its culture, training Guardians, and preparing for future conflict in space.

Hague reflects on his journey from the International Space Station to the Pentagon, where he now helps oversee operations, readiness, and policy for America's newest military service. The discussion explores what 'test' really means in the Space Force, how risk and speed are balanced, and why continuous learning is essential to maintaining space superiority.

The episode also dives into the Guardian spirit-from the grueling Guardian Arena competition to AI innovation challenges-and how the service is trying to cultivate resilient, multidisciplinary teams capable of operating at the pace of modern threats. Along the way, Hague shares insights on warfighting culture, career development, new training pipelines, and the realities of building a combat-ready force with limited resources.