From the Crows' Nest

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Kevin Finch, AOC Board of Director and chair of this year’s symposium. Ken and Kevin tie together the major themes shared during this week’s presentations. Later, Ken is joined by the awardees of this year’s AOC Future Five. Each year, the AOC Foundation recognizes five young professionals as the Future 5, showcasing those who actively innovate and strive for excellence as they build their careers in electromagnetic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operation, and information operations. Congratulations to this year's winners!We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org or visit us on our Instagram @fromthecrowsnestpodcast To learn more about AOC 2025, please visit here.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Day 2 Keynote Speaker Congressman Don Bacon. Congressman Bacon is Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, IT and Innovation, US House of Representatives. Prior to his time in Congress, Congressman Bacon served 29 years in the US Air Force before retiring as a Brigidier General. They cover a range of topics including the congressional defense budget, the new National Security Strategy, and acquisition reform. Next, Ken is joined once again by John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the AOC’s Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), for his thoughts on the Day 2 agenda that also includes sessions on Counter Drone Warfare, the requirements process, and tactical evolution in the European Theater.

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, Ken Miller is joined by opening keynote Speaker Laurie Buckhout. Laurie is the former Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at the White House. Together, they discuss the challenge of strengthening leadership for EMSO across the Department of War and the military service. Later, Ken is joined by John Knowles, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED). John shares his thoughts on the message that attendees will hear throughout the week as they discuss charting a path for EMSO over the next decade. We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org or visit us on our Instagram @fromthecrowsnestpodcastTo learn more about today’s topic visit here.

Since the founding of America’s first centralized modern intelligence agency during World War II, today’s guest Anthony Vinci says that current agencies have undergone several revolutions in how espionage was done. But Vinci says we’re in the midst of a fourth revolution, changing the rules of espionage for nations and non-state actors alike.In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Vinci, a former intelligence officer and author of “The Fourth Intelligence Revolution: The Future of Espionage and the Battle to Save America.” Vinci says new asymmetric approaches to espionage combined with emerging technology has democratized intelligence, putting civilians at risk and threatening to leave America’s agencies at a disadvantage if they don’t adapt.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, Ken Miller is joined by Mike Alperi, Deputy Program Manager of PMS 408 Expeditionary Missions Program Office at the Naval Sea Systems Command, to talk about his involvement in NATO Subgroup One and its cross-country collaborative Thor’s Hammer exercise — an initiative that allows systems from different nations to be tested side-by-side against cutting edge UAS and IED threats.Alperi says the annual four-week program has greatly expanded over the last decade, growing from five participating nations in 2015 to 14 countries last year. Crucially, he says the scope of Thor’s Hammer has grown over the years, from just counter-ID and counter-UAS training to countering emerging small radio frequency threats. Alperi says the subgroup shares the information from these tests with participating countries around the world, making sure key allies have the best information available as EW technologies continue to rapidly evolve.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

As the holidays approach, From the Crows’ Nest host Ken Miller takes a step back from regularly scheduled programming and is joined once again by producer Laura Krebs to answer more listener questions.The pair unpack the recent government shutdown and how it affected America’s defense sector, as well as how EMSO dominance factors into potential conflicts with Iran and China. Ken also explains how Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s recent acquisition reform strategy may impact EMSO and defense operations. Then, he gives a sneak peek into an episode set to release in January.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

Between the Russo-Ukrainian War and the looming threat of China invading Taiwan, the landscape of global conflict has changed… and today’s guest says the strategies for U.S. dominance have to change along with it. In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller joins retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula, current Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Power Studies to examine what America is doing right and wrong in efforts to meet new threats worldwide.Deptula said that while the United States has built a spectrum of systems that give the nation and its allies a technological advantage, America hasn’t kept pace with building enough capacity to deter adversaries around the world. Deptula says officials need to steer away from just trying to optimize existing systems and recommit building the military services branches back up to meet new regional conflicts as they arise.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

Host Ken Miller welcomes Scott "Sherm" Oliver, AOC Board Member and expert on Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), for a conversation during a busy week of meetings on the Hill. Together, they discuss AOC’s ongoing advocacy for the Congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group, share impressions from their meetings with lawmakers, and reflect on the growing recognition of EMSO’s importance.They discuss the need for strong leadership and education within both Congress and the Department of War, the urgency of taking bold action to maintain US advantage in the spectrum, and the surprising role that Hollywood and storytelling can play in shaping public understanding. Considering today’s global challenges, including competition with China, the episode provides an inside look at how awareness and advocacy are driving progress in EMSO.We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org or visit us on our Instagram @fromthecrowsnestpodcastTo learn more about today’s topic and the upcoming AOC 2025, visit here.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with retired US Army Col. Kevin Finch, who now serves as a member of the Association of Old Crows Board of Directors. Col. Finch is the Symposium Committee Chair for the upcoming AOC 2025 in December. Together, they discuss navigating the future of electromagnetic spectrum operation (EMSO) and the evolving landscape of electromagnetic warfare (EW) amidst political, strategic, economic, and technological changes. Shifts in geopolitics have altered the focus and strategic objectives of all members of the international community. This year's conference will explore the changing strategic roadmap for achieving spectrum superiority, informed by international investments, evolving focus areas, and the latest advancements from industry and the Science and Technology (S&T) community to achieve the 2035 vision. We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org or visit us on our Instagram @fromthecrowsnestpodcastTo learn more about today’s topic and the upcoming AOC 2025, visit here.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with the heads of two startups in the military space to get a glimpse at the cutting edge of military, warfare and EMSO operations.Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries and Rob Sladen of Zulu Pods are both young innovators in the military space, with Mach Industries focusing on pioneering unmanned systems and Zulu Pods aiming to improve fluid delivery systems in assets that support expendable assets like drones and missiles. Both entrepreneurs say their technologies can be key to bridging the gaps between how technology is currently used and the mission of new, radically different systems — like with the proliferation of expendable, unmanned drones — but also to ensure military dominance regardless of theater.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.