Thread by @DefenseBaron

LIVE: State of the Air Force, exclusive interview with @GenCQBrownJr and @MarcusReports, 2pm ET. To view: defenseone.com/feature/state-…

Look at all those @DefenseOne logos.... 😍

Folks, there's open Q&A to the audience via the chat box, if you'd like to pass a question up for @MarcusReports to ask Gen. Brown.

Gen. Brown has a 24-year old smoker and smokes brisket and baby back ribs. (cc: #ChefsTableBBQ @netflix)

Brown says he spent so much time focused on CENTCOM in recent years, he needed to bone up on Pacific. Recent visit there, he learned "more about Chinese culture, one belt, one road... being ready for the long game." #China

Brown says South China Seas islands happened slowly, little bit at a time, before US realized it -- is very aware of that history now, when he thinks of China/Pacific now.

Brown: US will continue to fly thru international space, despite the claims of #China's PLA.

Brown: "We're not big enough to do what we've been asked to do," repeating his prev testimony to Congress. "How do you get to the 386 (squadron) capability?" even if you don't get to that number of squadrons, is what he's asking now.

Brown, on Middle East troop reduction, says diplomatically: We've got to be willing to take risk short-term for better long-term. Points to "dynamic" force plan. "We've got to be adaptable" need to work on "how adaptable we can be based on how things change."

"We are hearing a lot from our airmen," on racism and life issues for minorities, says @GenCQBrownJr. Marcus mentions complaints commissaries carried no black haircare products. Brown says Black officers at new bases would ask each other "Where am I gonna get my haircut?" #BLM

Brown says USAF has more classified weapons programs than the other military services. It's easier to say what the Air Force wants to retire, but not new capabilities they want. So he's asking Congress to help find ways to talk about them w their constituencies.

USAF Gen. Brown, asked if Middle East drawdowns will limit US ability to conduct airstrikes, says "I'm not overly concerned because I know that we can get air power there fairly quickly." Brown used to be in charge of this, in CENTCOM, defers to current cocom Gen. McKenzie.

USAF Gen. Brown repeatedly has said in one way or another he doesn't care about number of squadrons or planes, he cares about capability, that's the measure.

Can he convince OSD speechwriters, Congress, and the president of that?