ELECTION RESULTS: AOC 2015 Board of Directors

The AOC would like to sincerely thank those of you who participated in this year’s elections – your voice has been heard! This year’s election cycle was crucial because your next President-Elect will serve a two-year term beginning in late 2016 after sitting as Vice President beginning this December. Additionally, for the first time, three At-Large Director positions were consolidated into two, and again we thank you for your due diligence in making your selections. As always, your new Regional Directors will serve for three years. And significantly, we had one of our closest election races, with one of our highest voter turnouts ever at 11.8 percent. Thank you again!
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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.

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JUST ANNOUNCED: 4th Annual AOC Pacific Symposium, October 20-22
This year's unclassified event, in association with USPACOM, will cover the role of Information Operations, Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA), EM Spectrum Operations (EMSO), and other Information Related Capabilities (IRCs) and AOC mission areas, with specific operational and conceptual focus on the emergent threats and challenges posed by Hybrid Warfare*. As in previous Pacific events, the symposium will include global partners and Allies from around the Pacific region who will present their unique perspectives. The symposium continues October 22 with a classified working group at the SECRET REL FVEY at HQs U.S. Pacific Command on Camp H.M. Smith. The agenda and instructions for attendance for the classified working group will be coordinated through official military channels with PACOM J39.

Click here to view the Current Agenda
*Download an excellent paper on Hybrid Warfare by Col. Arthur Tulak USA (Ret.) here.

The purpose of the symposium is to bring together government, military, industry, academia, small business and other stakeholders for discussions on the operational challenges facing the practitioners of these IRCs, and to explore possible technological and tactics/procedural solutions. To stimulate wider interest and inquiry into these issues, the symposium and related activities and events will be open to registration by government, industry and academia representatives without regard to their AOC membership status (both AOC Members and non-members may register) except that access of foreign and any other persons may be restricted as necessary in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

• Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific (Invited)
• Admiral Michael Rogers, Commander USCYBERCOM, US (Invited)
• Lt. Gen. Robert Elder, USAF (Ret.), Past AOC President (confirmed)
• Maj Gen Max Tsung-Chi Yu, Political Warfare Division, Taiwan Ministry of Defense, ROC (confirmed)
• Dr. Paul Zablocky, Director, I&IW Directorate, CERDEC, US (confirmed)
  

SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS
The AOC will run a separate, collocated table-top exhibition for key industry leaders and SME, to enable them to demonstrate their capabilities across the range of information-related capabilities, including EW, SIGINT, Cyber, Spectrum and IO to the large senior leadership and operator audience from PACOM, the Services and around the Pacific Region.

Space is limited, so if your company would like an opportunity to meet the PACOM leadership and key global Pacific decision-makers and operators and to demonstrate your capabilities, please contact the appropriate contact below who will explain the sponsorship options and benefits:

Rest of World – Alex Soar, alex.soar@clarionevents.com, 44 20 7384 7780
US Companies – Tom Mapes, tom.mapes@clarionevents.com, 1 203.491.2400

Conference Details

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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 
  
• 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 Maybury, CTO, MITRE and former AF Chief Scientist
• Dr. William Roper, Director, Strategic Capabilities Office at the Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Dr. Thomas Kennedy, Chairman and CEO, Raytheon Company
• Dr. Jackie Craig, Australia MOD, DSTO, Chief EW and 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 at 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

STEM SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBIT OPPORTUNITIES
In recent years, STEM Education has become an imperative and worthy initiative in the U.S. The AOC is joining this cause, starting with its inaugural STEM program. The high school and college students attending this event are at a pivotal point in their education, allowing us the opportunity to capture their interests in STEM subjects and potentially inspire them to continue into careers in these essential fields.

Help us inspire these STEM students – the future innovators, inventors and leaders of this nation – to become Spectrum Warriors and Young Crows.

STEM sponsorship opportunities

Convention Host

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REGISTER NOW: 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 like 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.

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INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY: 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.

INCREASE YOUR VISIBILITY!
Don't miss the chance to have a table top exhibit at the Inaugural CEMA conference. Prices start at just $750.
Space is limited, so sign up now!

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 and spectrum management operations. 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, 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!

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!
Take advantage of the opportunity to sponsor this inaugural event and be highlighted to thousands, including DoD officials, military, government offices, academia leaders, research and development organizations and industry partners.
Become a sponsor today

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Bronze Sponsor

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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"
This session will focus 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. The session will explore 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 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 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 or serving as a chapter officer. Please include your contact information.

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CALL FOR PAPERS: AOC India Chapter EWCI 2016, February 16-19

The Fourth International Conference on Electronic Warfare (EWCI) is the latest event in the benchmark of the 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, Bangalore. The conference is supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation, India. Bharat Electronics Limited, 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 and EO threat simulators, testing and evaluation
• Advances in ECM/ECCM techniques, expendable repeater and IR jammers
• Electro-optic based EW systems – missile approach warning systems and laser warning systems
• Network centric and information warfare
• EW antennas, active electronically scanned arrays and 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 
• Microwave and millimeter wave technology for EW
• Lightweight EW systems for UAV, aerostat and other platforms
• Program management of complex EW systems
• EW interference to TV/radio/mobile transmissions and their maintenance
• EW ops and 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

Abstracts/summaries for papers are due August 31.

More Information

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INDUSTRY NEWS: Air Force Moves Aggressively on Lasers

All branches of the military really want laser weapons. But they don’t all want them for the same missions. What struck me after a recent conference here was how differently the U.S. Air Force is approaching lasers. The USAF is pursing a two-pronged approach: They want to mount lasers on both the large AC-130 gunship and a smaller fighter, probably the relatively roomy F-15E Strike Eagle. (Breaking Defense)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: USAF Science Panel Recommends MQ-9, RQ-4 Improvement Plan

A panel of military scientists is briefing senior U.S. Air Force leaders on ways to make the defenseless General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper and Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk more useful in a war against a sophisticated enemy that has the ability to hunt and kill aircraft. The MQ-9 and RQ-4 unmanned air vehicles were purchased in the 2000s when the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq were at their peak. However, as they were operating in uncontested airspace, they were not equipped with the kind of defensive aids and self-protection systems typical of manned fighter aircraft. (Flightglobal)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Cyber Attacks 'as Big a Threat to New Warships as Missiles and Torpedoes'

Hackers and cyber attacks pose as great a threat to Britain's hi-tech warships of the future as missiles and torpedoes, the man in charge of building the Navy’s new frigate has warned. Increasing levels of computer control and automation mean protecting vessels against electronic attack has become a focus of shipbuilding for the Navy. The new Type-26 Global Combat Ship, which is designed to be the workhorse of the Royal Navy when it is built, has been designed to protect its weapons, engines and systems from cyber warfare. (The Telegraph)
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Divine Eagle: How Much of a Threat is China's New High-Flying Drone to U.S. Air Superiority?

In May, grainy pictures emerged of a huge new twin-fuselage, high-altitude Chinese drone called the Divine Eagle. Those in the know instantly labelled it the "stealth-hunting drone." Stealth technology is the equivalent of electronic camouflage for planes, making them hard for enemy radar to spot – but the Chinese drone is certainly big enough to carry the special radars developed to detect stealth aircraft. It's able to fly high enough to detect them long before they can reach their targets. Its radar is rumoured to have been able to pick out an American stealth F-22 Raptor off the coast of South Korea almost 500km away. (UK Indepdendent)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: How a Government Agency is Seeding a Generation of Startups

The Pentagon agency that brought you the Internet, GPS and drones is setting its sights on an array of highly complex weapons ranging from satellites to undersea platforms in hopes of overwhelming America’s potential adversaries. After nearly four decades of unchallenged supremacy in offensive military capabilities, the U.S. now faces competitors such as China and other technologically savvy nations that have designed vastly effective defenses capable of forestalling American weapons. (Washington Business Journal)
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INDUSTRY NEWS: Researchers Show How to Take Out Drones with Loud Noises

The military’s extensive use of drones involves defending against a lot of factors, from potential cyber attacks to radio-frequency jamming other electronic warfare tactics. Now they might have one more thing to worry about: loud noises. A group of South Korean researchers recently published a paper, titled "Rocking Drones with Intentional Sound Noise on Gyroscopic Sensors," that describes just that: using loud noise – even in the audible range – to disrupt the gyroscopes that keep drones level, thereby taking them out of commission. (Defense Systems)
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