U.S. Military Perspective on Operation Rising Lion
As Israel’s unprecedented war with Iran stretches into its fifth day, its tactical successes continue mounting. The United States, while refraining from striking Iran directly, has helped defend Israel against repeated Iranian missile barrages. And, on June 15, President Donald Trump hinted at potential U.S. military action against Iran by stating that “it’s possible we could get involved.”
JINSA hosted a webinar analyzing the conflict, drawing on the insights of three senior retired U.S. generals and admirals and former JINSA Generals and Admirals Program participants. The conversation featured VADM (ret.) Kevin Donegan, former Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, Lt Gen (ret.) Joseph Guastella, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for the U.S. Air Force, and Lt Gen (ret.) Charles Moore, former Deputy Commander of U.S. Cyber Command.
The discussion was moderated by JINSA Vice President for Policy Blaise Misztal.
Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella Lt Gen Joseph T. Guastella, Jr. was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. In support of the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Air Force, he led the development and implementation of policy directly supporting global operations, force management, weather, training and readiness across air, space and cyber fields. He served as the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Air Force Chief of Staff. |
VADM Kevin Donegan Vice Admiral Kevin Donegan, USN (ret.) served as Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet and Commander of the 32 Nation Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East. Donegan commanded Battle Force 7th Fleet and USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group in Japan. He also commanded the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on a combat deployment to the Middle East earning the Battle Efficiency Award, the 3rd Fleet command ship USS Coronado, earning three command excellence awards, and Strike Fighter Squadron 131 on a combat deployment to the Arabian Gulf. |
Lt Gen Charles Moore Lt Gen Charles L. Moore Jr. is the former Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, and a 2022 JINSA Generals and Admirals Program participant. USCYBERCOM directs, synchronizes and coordinates cyberspace planning and operations to defend and advance national interests in collaboration with domestic and international partners. |
Blaise Misztal Blaise Misztal is the Vice President for Policy at JINSA. His research interests include Iran and its nuclear program, U.S.-Turkey relations, countering extremism, and strategic competition. Misztal previously served as the Executive Director of the Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States, a congressionally mandated project convened by the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s National Security Program. |