LAST CHANCE: Vote in the AOC Board of Directors Elections by July 31!

Elections for the AOC Board of Directors are open through this Friday, July 31. VOTE NOW!

As an AOC member, you have an opportunity to determine the future of the organization.
View the Candidate Slate – PDF
View the Candidate Slate – JED Online

How to vote:
-       Visit the ballot login page at www.electionsonline.com/vote.
-       If you do not know your username and password, submit your email address to have it emailed to you immediately.
-       Once you have your username and password, log in and vote. 

If you need any assistance with this information, please send an email to oneilin@crows so we can provide that information to you.

Deadline to vote is July 31, 2015 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, so don't delay!  

Cast your vote today!

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NEXT THURSDAY: Register for the Free Webinar, IQ Signal Recording: Getting Answers from Big IQ Data, August 6
August 6, 2015  |  1400-1500 EDT (1800-1900 GMT)

Modern EW and commercial RF emitters are designed at baseband using in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) waveforms. Such waveforms are used by analysts, spectrum managers and test engineers to evaluate modern weapon systems prior to deployment. However, in an increasingly congested and contested EMS, real-world waveforms often arrive at their intended receivers distorted from their transmitting source due to external or self-generated interference. To make matters worse, such interfering and non-compliant waveforms are often unpredictable. We do not know when they will occur, where they will appear or how long they will last. In order to fully understand the true nature of these signals, many seconds, minutes or even days of IQ record time may be required to guarantee that 100 percent of the event is captured. Once captured, engineers must wade through mountains of IQ data to validate compliance or understand specific waveform forensics. Signal processing tools must be applied to process these large blocks of recorded spectrum to understand how temporal and, often transient, interference impacts a victim receiver. Recording 100 percent of the IQ events of interest gives the designer and spectrum manager forensic evidence of what actually happened in the electromagnetic domain. And, because these recordings contain 100 percent of the IQ signal content and not just a visual history, the interfering signals provide engineers undeniable proof of the event characteristics. These recordings can also be re-used as IQ signal sources in margin and stress testing new designs.

This briefing will cover some of the big IQ data challenges and solutions facing the spectrum warrior as they work to validate weapon systems and characterize modern threats. It will also look at the implications of emerging threats and how IQ signal recording solutions must evolve to help the warfighter.

Register Now!

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Bronze Sponsor

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REGISTRATION AND HOUSING NOW OPEN: 52nd Annual AOC International Symposium and Convention
December 1-3 | Marriott Marquis and D.C. Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Registration and Housing are now open for the AOC International Symposium and Convention. Take advantage of early bird discounts until September 21!

Register Today
Housing Information

Electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) dominance in the future will require that we synchronize EW and cyber to achieve spectrum dominance. The U.S. Department of Defense, along with its industry partners, face an uncertain global security environment driven by adversaries who recognize that the EMS has become vital to the success of their campaigns. Adversaries are aggressively fielding electronic warfare systems and cyber systems/technologies that significantly erode DoD’s ability to use and control the EMS while conducting military operations. During this year’s symposium we have 12 sessions set up to examine various aspects of the evolving EW and cyber strategic relationship and how they impact the EMS.

KEYNOTE AND MAJOR SPEAKERS

• Gen. John Hyten, Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base
• Air Commodore Madelein Spit, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Chief NATO Air Force Armaments Group (NAFAG)
  
• Gen. Michael Hayden (Ret.), former Director of the National Security Agency, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
• Lt. Gen. David Deptula (Ret.), former USAF/A-2
• ADM Michael Rogers (invited), Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Director, National Security Agency; and Chief, Central Security
• Dr. Paul G. Kaminski, CEO of Technovation Inc., former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Technology, former Chairman of DSB, AOC 2000 Gold Medal awardee and former AOC Senior Advisory Board
• Dr. Mark Mayberry, CTO, MITRE and Former AF Chief Scientist
• Dr. William Roper, Director, Strategic Capabilities Office at Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Dr. Thomas Kennedy, Chairman and CEO, Raytheon Company
• Dr. Jackie Craig, Australia MOD, DSTO, Chief EW & Cyber Division
• Rear Admiral Sean S. Buck, Chief of Staff, J5, The Joint Staff
• Ms. Michele Weslander Quaid, Chief, Innovation Evangelist, Google, Inc.

Symposium Agenda

EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Exhibit space is almost sold out! Secure your spot today. Contact Stew Taylor, taylor@crows.org.

Exhibit Hall Show Hours
Tuesday, December 1: 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (with reception)
Wednesday, December 2: 1 p.m.-6 p.m. (with lunch and reception)
Thursday, December 3: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (with lunch)

Exhibit Details

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SIGN UP FOR THE SEPTEMBER AOC VIRTUAL SERIES: Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Webinar
September 3, 2015  |  1400-1500 EDT (1800-1900 GMT)

Software-defined radio (SDR) is a concept that has recently generated significant interest with a number of highly-successful crowd-funding projects recently being completed. But despite this interest, SDR systems do not yet appear to have gained as much traction in the marketplace as their promise seems to suggest they should.

So what is SDR? How does it work? Why does it matter – or not matter? Why does SDR have so much to do with hardware when the word "software" appears in the name? And, most importantly, what does it mean for EW and cyber professionals – if anything? This presentation will attempt to answer these questions.

The concepts underlying SDR will be presented and compared to EW systems. Some representative hardware and software SDR platforms will be briefly discussed as a means of demonstrating how these concepts are realized in practice. One of the main applications of SDR systems is currently education, and suggestions of how SDR systems can improve the training of EW professionals will be presented. Lastly, the concept of "Disposable EW" will be used to show how SDR systems can act as an enabler for new EW concepts.

Register Now

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors


Bronze Sponsor

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NEW AOC VIRTUAL SERIES WEBINAR: Coexistence of LTE & Radars
September 17, 2015  |  1400-1500 EDT (1800-1900 GMT)
In the U.S., cellular networks, radar and other wireless systems are designed to obey a fixed spectrum assignment regulated by the FCC. These assignments are now being challenged, in that some bands are under-utilized, while others are highly over-utilized. This ineffectiveness in spectrum allocation is exacerbated by the dramatically increasing need for bandwidth in our RF infrastructure. In addition, state-of-the-art mobile radio standards claim more and more bandwidth. For example, the worldwide allocation of LTE bands increased from 11 to 48 bands since 2011. Issues like these have supported the evolution of intelligent systems, such as cognitive radio.

This presentation will discuss the coexistence between S-Band radars and the commercial LTE mobiles operating in E-UTRA Band 7 from where considerations to the future LTE technology by the DOD in close proximity to radars can be drawn. Coexistence issues examined by looking at measurement data gathered at a major international airport will be presented. Key performance indicators, such as data throughput or Block Error Rate of the mobile LTE device and the probability of detection of security relevant radars, have been measured and evaluated with the goal how to recognize and address the problems they cause.

Register Now

Platinum Sponsor


 

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MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND: Cyber Electromagnetic Activity 2015, October 6-8, Aberdeen Proving Ground

The International AOC and APG Susquehanna Chapter of the AOC, under a co-sponsorship agreement with Army Team C4ISR APG, will hold the Inaugural CEMA 2015 Conference at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Sessions are open to Five Eye nations.

SECURITY DEADLINE
The deadline for attendees from Five Eye nations to submit their official Request for Visit Authorization is August 11.

Security Details

The theme for the inaugural CEMA 2015 event is "Synchronizing Cyber Electromagnetic Activities to Win in a Complex World." The newly published Army Operating Concept (AOC) emphasizes the importance of ready land forces and their significance to the joint and coalition fight and recognizes the need for continued innovation to "Win in a Complex World." Cyberspace operations, in conjunction with electronic warfare and electromagnetic spectrum operations, are identified in the AOC as one of the seven core Army competency areas critical to shaping the operational environment and winning decisively. Equally new to the Army is the concept of Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), which is outlined in the first doctrinal field manual of its kind that integrates and synchronizes cyberspace operations, electronic warfare (EW) and spectrum management operations (SMO). The CEMA 2015 event will allow for an exchange of ideas, concepts and information; provide a venue to address these new and emerging concepts; and serve as a framework to discuss ongoing and future research and development to set the conditions for innovation and success.

Attending the CEMA 2015 event also will provide the Army and DOD electronic warfare and cyber communities of interest an opportunity to discuss the current and emerging electronic and cyber warfare requirements and meet with coalition partners, industry technicians, engineers, scientists and other government agencies and learn from their successes.

Full Conference Details

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REGISTER NOW: Marine Corps Spectrum Maneuver Warfare, October 28-29, at MCAS Cherry Point

For the last 65 years, the Marine Corps has been a leader and innovator in the field of airborne electronic warfare as technology has advanced and new threats have emerged. Today, as our adversaries become more reliant on the RF spectrum for specialized sensing and networking their platforms, sensors, control systems and weapons and as unmanned aerial systems take on larger roles across the battlefield, the Marine Corps continues to adapt its warriors, systems and capabilities to prosecute spectrum maneuver warfare using airborne systems to exploit the spectrum vulnerabilities of our adversaries, interdict their operations that rely on RF sensors, controls and connectivity, and target and destroy their spectrum-linked fighting systems and capabilities. This Marine Corps Spectrum Maneuver Warfare Symposium will address the Marine Corps challenges, current capabilities and future plans as they continue to evolve their airborne capabilities to fight in the spectrum domain.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS


Lt. Gen. Jon M. Davis
Deputy Commandant for Aviation

B. Gen. Dan O'Donohue (Invited)
Commanding General of Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace

Register Now!

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PATRIOTS' ROOST CHAPTER: 2015 Fall Cyber Summit, October 20-21

October 20, 2015 (UNCLASSIFIED Session) & October 21, 2015 (CLASSIFIED Session)
MITRE S Building, Bedford, MA
"Cyber Challenges:  Threat, Technologies and Systems"
Focusing on cyber challenges facing the U.S., operations other than war, and its Allies by increasing the synergy across local, state and federal government agencies, industry and academia. Technology applications, system options and best practices from various organizations will be examined. Exploring techniques for "whole of government" and complementary relationships that optimize a cross-flow of technologies and systems to enhance operational capabilities. Speakers will include representatives from the JCS, HQ USAF, DARPA, AFRL, AFLCMC, USCG, FBI and other DOD and non-DOD agencies. Registration will be available starting August 1, 2015 at http://www.patriotsroostaoc.org/.

Questions? contact Russ Graves or Nino Amoroso.

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MILE HIGH CHAPTER: Revitalization and Election Event Planned

The Mile High AOC Chapter (Denver Colorado Area) is going to be holding a chapter revitalization and election event. Please contact David Anglea, acting chapter president, at angleadavid@aol.com if you are interested in attending and or serving as a chapter officer. Please include your contact information.

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JUST ANNOUNCED: AOC India Chapter EWCI 2016, February 16-19

The Fourth International Conference on Electronic Warfare (EWCI) is the latest event in the benchmark of EWCI Conference Series in the advanced field of EW. The conference is being organized by the award-winning India Chapter of Association of Old Crows (AOC), Bangalore. The conference is supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), India. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bangalore is the patronizing sponsor of the event. The conference addresses the technical and commercial needs of operational users, planners, developers, procurers, testers and trainers of the latest EW technologies and systems. A large scale indoor exhibition will accompany the conference, displaying the latest EW products from international EW organizations. There will be intense one-day pre-conference tutorials preceding the conference.

Conference Details

CALL FOR PAPERS
The conference receives a huge response in terms of technical papers internationally, covering all aspects of exploiting electromagnetic spectrum for electronic warfare and information operations. Technical papers are solicited in these areas including the following topics:

• Advances in EW Systems, Architectures, Techniques and Technologies
• EW Systems Modelling and Simulation
• EW & EO Threat Simulators, Testing & Evaluation
• Advances in ECM/ECCM Techniques, Expendable Repeater and IR Jammers
• Electro-Optic based EW Systems – Missile Approach Warning Systems & Laser Warning Systems
• Network Centric & Information Warfare
• EW Antennas, Active Electronically Scanned Arrays (AESA) & Shared Apertures
• Radar Finger Printing, LPI Emitters Techniques for Interception and Countermeasures, Emitter Location Algorithms
• Communication DF Receivers, Digital Receivers, EW Signal Processors, Satellite Based EW-Challenges
• SIGINT, RWR, ESM, Multi Sensor Warner, Directed Energy Weapons (DEW)
• Microwave & Millimetre Wave Technology for EW
• Light Weight EW Systems for UAV, Aerostat & Other Platforms
• Program Management of Complex EW Systems
• EW Interference to TV/Radio/Mobile Transmissions and their Maintenance
• EW Ops & Spectrum Management in Joint Services Operation Scenario and Challenges
• Operation Flight Programs and Airborne EW Software and their Verification and Validation
• IED Detection, Anti Terrorism Operations and Low Intensity Warfare

Abstract/summary for papers are due August 31.

More Information

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PALMETTO ROOST Recognizes SPAWAR'S Joe Luker for Contributions to Curriculum

The Palmetto Roost Chapter of the AOC accredited Mr. Joe Luker, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Technical Warrant Holder, during the July Chapter Meeting for his significant contributions in developing the curriculum and conducting two courses: the Electronic Warfare Primer course and the two-day Cyber Tools Development course attended by military, government and support contractors.

In addition, he presented at both the 5th and 6th Annual EW/Cyber Convergence Conferences on SPAWAR Special Programs. His consistent and dedicated support to the fields of Cyber Warfare and Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations is worthy of extraordinary recognition.

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INDUSTRY NEWS: Army’s Electronic Warfare Cupboard is Bare: No Jammer Until 2023

The U.S. Army is struggling to fund the increasingly crucial capabilities it fields for electronic warfare, which it largely abandoned after the Soviet Union fell. The Army has more than 32,000 short-range defensive jammers to stop roadside bombs, but on current plans, it won’t have an offensive jammer until 2023. "Can that be accelerated? Yes," said Col. Jeffrey Church, chief of electronic warfare on the Army’s Pentagon staff. "Technology exists today that does a lot of things that we would like MFEW [the Multi-Function Electronic Warfare system] to do," he said, some of which the Army could even buy commercially. (Breaking Defense)
Learn More...

 

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INDUSTRY NEWS: Pentagon Pushing Back Forcefully Against McCain’s Procurement Reforms

Defense procurement legislation has gone from low profile to high drama. A Senate-backed policy bill that shifts key powers of the defense secretary over major procurement programs to the individual military services is generating a crescendo of opposition from the Pentagon. The proposal, spearheaded by Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, is one of a long list of procurement reforms that both the House and Senate have put forth in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016. (National Defense)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Military Exercise Black Dart to Tackle Nightmare Drone Scenario

Sweat the small stuff. That’s the unofficial motto for this year’s edition of the military exercise Black Dart, a two-week test of tactics and technologies to combat hostile drones that begins Monday on the Point Mugu range at Naval Base Ventura County in California. (New York Post)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: DOD’s Greatest Challenge: Protecting the Defense Enterprise from Cyber Attack

The Department of Defense is not merely dependent on networks; networks provide critical military advantage across virtually all warfighting domains. These networks are constantly changing, growing, reconfiguring. There are now more than 7 million devices connected on the DOD networks. There are multiple networks at different levels of classification, supporting individual Services, operating in different parts of the world. (The Lexington Institute)
Learn More...

 

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INDUSTRY NEWS: Sky-High Costs for Germany's Grounded Euro Hawk

It weighs 7 tonnes, has a wingspan wider than most commercial airliners, and almost cost the previous German Defense Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, his job. The Euro Hawk surveillance drone also cost the German taxpayer more than half a billion euros before it was cancelled in 2013 after a decade of development and testing, because there was no guarantee it could get the necessary certification from aviation authorities. Now it seems that to salvage anything from the project the German army will have to sink another half a billion euros into it. (Deutsche Walle)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: F-35A Plays Role for First Time in USAFWS Integration Phase

The F-35A Lightning II achieved another major milestone during the recent capstone large-force employment event, known as the (U.S. Air Force) Weapons School Integration (WSINT) Phase. Assigned to the 16th Weapons Squadron, two F-35As executed a wide range of missions from June 8 to 24, 2015 – the first time an F-35 has participated in a WSINT phase. (DVIDs)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: India's New Fighter Jet Faces More Delays

India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program is encountering further delays, with final operational clearance postponed to March 2016, according to local media sources. The supersonic, single-seat, single-engine multirole light fighter aircraft has been under development for the past three decades. The date for final operational clearance was originally December 2015. Final operational clearance implies that the aircraft can fire all of its weapon systems, as well as undergo midair refueling. (The Diplomat)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: CNO Outlines Priorities in Next Five-Year Navy Navigation Plan

The U.S. Navy’s investment priorities for the next five years reflect the tents of the chief of naval operations, ADM Jonathan W. Greenert: "Warfighting First, Operate Forward and Be Ready." In the Navigation Plan 2016-2020, Greenert said that Navy will invest in four traditional functions: "deterrence, sea control, power projection and maritime security, as well as capabilities related to a new fifth function: all domain access." (SEAPOWER Magazine)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Raytheon Reveals New Composite Missile Body for MALD Decoy-Jammer

Raytheon has disclosed new details about the cruise missile body of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) it produces for the U.S. Air Force, as the company seeks international sales of the decoy-only version and the air vehicle itself. The company has partnered with Fokker Aerostructures of the Netherlands and Italian racing car manufacturer Dallara to develop a new composite missile body that it says is 25 percent cheaper to produce, compared with the current version. (Flightglobal)
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