U.S. Air Force eliminates all civilian jobs at China Aerospace Studies Institute, director says it will close
The U.S. Air Force is eliminating all civilian positions at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), its premier open-source research center on Chinese military aviation. Director Brendan Mulvaney says the move effectively ends the institute, as all research was conducted by civilians. The Air Force maintains the mission will continue with military personnel. The cuts, effective October 1, 2026, are part of a broader civilian restructure and are unrelated to CASI's mission, according to Mulvaney. Experts warn the loss will weaken U.S. focus on China.
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Air Force says China think tank will continue; director says it's basically dead
The U.S. Air Force maintains that the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) can continue operating without civilian staff, but the institute's director, Brendan Mulvaney, told Breaking Defense that this stance is 'not credible.' Mulvaney's assessment suggests the think tank is effectively dead if it loses its civilian workforce, highlighting a dispute between Air Force leadership and the institute's director over the viability of the organization. The article, published by Breaking Defense, reports on the conflicting views regarding the future of CASI, a key resource for understanding Chinese aerospace capabilities.
Air Force Cuts All Civilian Jobs at China Aerospace Studies Institute, Experts Warn of Lost Focus
The U.S. Air Force is eliminating all civilian positions at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), its premier open-source research center focused on Chinese military aviation. Director Brendan Mulvaney announced the decision on September 22, stating that as of October 1, all civilian posts are unfunded, and the institute will likely close once staff depart. An Air Force spokesperson said the institute is not closing and its mission will continue with military and remaining civilian personnel, but did not explain how expertise will be preserved. Experts, including former intelligence officer J. Michael Dahm, warn the move will dilute the service's focus on China, the Pentagon's top pacing challenge. They argue CASI's open-source work is vital for informing Congress and the public, and that eliminating it would be a 'self-inflicted wound' that undermines the Air Force's ability to justify funding for programs like the B-21 and F-47. The decision is attributed to budget cuts and Air University prioritizing traditional teaching positions. No similar cuts have been made to Navy or Army China-focused research centers.
Read sourceAir Force to Cut All Civilian Jobs at China-Focused Research Institute, Experts Warn of Risk
The U.S. Air Force is eliminating all eight civilian positions at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), its premier open-source research center for Chinese military aviation, space, cyber, and missile forces. The decision, announced by Air University, has sparked concern among experts who argue it will undermine the service's ability to focus on China, the Pentagon's primary long-term adversary. While an Air Force spokesperson stated the institute is not closing and its mission will continue with military personnel, CASI director Brendan Mulvaney warned that without civilian staff, the institute will effectively close once they depart. Experts like J. Michael Dahm of the Mitchell Institute say the move undervalues open-source intelligence, which is crucial for informing Congress and the public about China's military advances. The cuts come amid a broader push to reduce civilian jobs at Air University, prioritizing traditional teaching roles. No similar changes have been announced for Navy or Army China-focused research centers.
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Air Force to eliminate civilian positions at China Aerospace Studies Institute, director says move ends it
The U.S. Air Force will eliminate all 10 civilian positions at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) effective October 1, 2026, as part of a broader civilian restructure within Air Education and Training Command. An Air Force spokesperson stated that the CASI mission will continue using assigned military service members. However, CASI Director Brendan Mulvaney said the move effectively ends the institute, noting that all research has historically been conducted by civilian personnel. The cuts originated from a quota by the Air Force's manpower and reserve affairs office and are unrelated to CASI's mission, according to Mulvaney. The institute, established in 2017 and chartered in 2021, publishes unclassified research on China's aerospace capabilities and had nearly 80,000 website visitors in 2025. It is unclear whether CASI's reports, translations, and course materials will remain publicly available. The decision has drawn criticism from analysts, including Naval War College professor Andrew Erickson and American Enterprise Institute fellow Ryan Fedasiuk, who called it a devastating loss for the analytic community.
Air Force to eliminate civilian staff at China Aerospace Studies Institute, director says move ends mission
The U.S. Air Force will eliminate all 10 civilian positions at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) on October 1, 2026, as part of a broader civilian restructure within Air Education and Training Command. An Air Force spokesperson stated that the CASI mission will continue using assigned military service members. However, CASI Director Brendan Mulvaney said the move effectively ends the institute, noting that all research has historically been conducted by civilian personnel. The cuts originated from a quota to reduce civilian jobs across the Department of the Air Force, unrelated to CASI's mission, according to Mulvaney. The institute, established in 2017 and chartered in 2021, publishes unclassified research on China's aerospace capabilities. Its future is uncertain, including whether its reports and website will remain available. The decision has drawn criticism from analysts and associates, who describe it as a devastating loss for the analytic community. The cuts do not affect similar China-focused institutes in other U.S. military branches.
Read sourceAir Force eliminates civilian positions at China Aerospace Studies Institute, director says institute will end
The U.S. Air Force will eliminate all 10 civilian positions at the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) on October 1, 2026, as part of a broader civilian restructure within Air Education and Training Command. An Air Force spokesperson stated that the CASI mission will continue using assigned military service members. However, CASI Director Brendan Mulvaney said the move effectively ends the institute, noting that all research has historically been conducted by civilian personnel. The cuts originated from a quota by the Air Force's manpower and reserve affairs office and were unrelated to CASI's mission, according to Mulvaney. The institute, established in 2017 and chartered in 2021, publishes unclassified research on China's aerospace capabilities. In 2025, nearly 80,000 users visited its website and downloaded over 50,000 reports. The future of CASI's reports, translations, and course materials remains uncertain. Analysts and associates described the decision as a devastating loss for the analytic community. The cuts do not affect similar China-focused institutes in other U.S. military branches.
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