From the Crows' Nest

Retired Col. Laurie Buckhout discusses the challenges and opportunities facing the EMSO community, including the US Army's increased focus on EW. She shares lessons learned as the first leader of the US Army's EW Division and highlights the importance of interoperability and compatibility with allies. Buckhout also reveals exciting news about her next career step.

In this episode of From the Crows Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with Colonel Joshua Koslov, Commander of the U.S. Air Force 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing (SWW), out of Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola, Florida. Now entering its third year, the SWW was established to address persistent gaps in U.S. Air Force EW that were highlighted across numerous studies and reports. The SWW is paving the way for better leadership and technology integration and reinvigorating a culture of EMS awareness in the Joint Force. Ken and Col. Koslov dive into the mission of the SWW, such as personnel shortages, effective training, assessing and enhancing, and the need for EW readiness and integrating EW capabilities into joint force operations. They also discuss the activation and role of the 950th Spectrum Warfare Group and the mission of the 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron (EWS) FMS Reprogramming Center, which supports foreign military sales partners by providing electronic warfare mission data. This mission directly enhances U.S. and coalition warfighters' combat capabilities and survivability. Finally, Ken and Col. Koslov discuss an October 2023 activation ceremony for Detachment 1, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, and Detachment 1, 87th Electronic Warfare Squadron, at Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, we try to make sense of how to navigate the crazy labyrinth of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) regulatory regime. Host Ken Miller is joined by friend and colleague Steven Casazza, President of Defense Trade Solutions, a company dedicated to helping clients holistically approach international defense business. Ken and Steven discuss best practices, the most common mistakes, and what needs to be done to make this process easier without compromising national security. Whether you’re a US company selling abroad or a foreign company trying to do business in the US, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. 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 sits down the Matt Thompson, AOC’s new Senior Analyst. Matt joined the AOC to provide operational and technical analysis of current trends in the military and industry. Matt brings years of experience in the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. Ken and Matt discuss a range of topics, including the rise of artificial intelligence, the fielding of the Navy’s Next Generation Jammer, and the arrival of the new EC-37B Compass Call.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website.

 In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with journalist, writer, and friend, Dr. Alix Valenti. Alix hosts her own podcast too, D-Fence, which focuses on European military and security issues. In this collaborative podcast effort, Ken and Alix discuss issues ranging from the art (and experimentation) of creating a podcast to the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In between, the cover current events, their perspectives on coalition operations, and trends in Naval EW and Undersea Warfare. You can learn more about Dr. Alix Valenti here.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

The AOC recently co-hosted a panel discussion with the Hudson Institute. Moderated by AOC President Brian Hinkley and Hudson Senior Fellow Timothy Walton, we hear from representatives Rick Larsen from Washington State, Don Bacon from Nebraska, and Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania for an inside Congressional perspective on the EMSO space.As chairs of the Congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group, Representatives Larsen, Bacon, and Houlahan offer their combined expertise on a range of topics, including the defense budget, spectrum sharing, and the microelectronic supply chain.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.For more information about the Hudson Institute, visit their website. 

As the Ukraine War continues, we are learning essential lessons for the EW and EMSO communities (hint: some of them are not new)... Host Ken Miller is joined by John Knowles and Colonel Jeff "Fish" Fischer for their insights into the broader impacts of these lessons and how we can (finally?) apply them to the changing global security landscapeーfrom defense budgets to military operations.In this mid-summer update, John Knowles and Jeff Fischer give their perspectives on the war in Ukraine, delivering UAV capabilities, the Congressional Defense budget process, and the recent AOC/Hudson Institute Panel discussion with the Congressional EW Working Group.John Knowles is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance.Jeff Fischer is a retired Air Force Colonel and author.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

In this episode, we hear insights from a webinar with VADM Frank "Spanky" Morley about the current state of play in today’s Department of the Navy acquisition efforts. Frank is the Principal Military Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He discusses the challenges of acquisition efforts and how we can move forward in today's changing world order.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

Colonel Jeff Fisher and John discuss achieving integration in coalition operations, the role of EMSO in multi-domain operations, and the need for consistent and adaptive training in EMSO.

In this episode, join host Ken as he unravels the intricate world of the congressional defense budget process. Joined by Madison Arcangeli, Katy Nazaretova from Forza DC, and Paul Arcangeli, former Staff Director of the House Armed Services Committee, they delve into the blend of procedures and politics that shape the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Defense Appropriations Act. Explore how Congress manages to get its work done, even amidst a cloudy timeline, and gain valuable insights into what to expect from both chambers in the coming weeks. Additionally, get an exclusive glimpse into the state of electromagnetic spectrum operations across the services in the early version of the NDAA. Tune in as we decode the intricate workings of the congressional defense budget process and shed light on the path to progress. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.