NEXT WEEK: It's Not too Late. Plan Now to Attend the 52nd Annual AOC International Symposium and Convention
December 1-3 | Marriott Marquis and D.C. Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Register Now
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, faces 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
• Lt. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold, Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command
• Mr. Robert Stein, Senior Fellow, U.S. Defense Science Board (DSB)
• 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
• Ms. Michele Weslander Quaid, Chief, Innovation Evangelist, Google, Inc.

Symposium Agenda

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

Convention Host

---

 

 

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS: 45th Annual Collaborative Electronic Warfare Symposium, April 6-7 at Pt. Mugu
We challenge presenters to explore the way forward in enabling collaborative EW through innovation and invention. Requested are presentations or demonstrations from all United States and Australian services, DoD, industry, and academia that identify technical paths, options, and potential opportunities for EW collaboration. Submitted abstracts should address one or more of the symposium sessions: threat trends, collaborative EW science and technology perspectives, cognitive and adaptive EW technologies, coordinated/distributed networked-enabled systems, and warfighter perspectives.

Abstracts for presentations must be at the unclassified level and in text format. Please forward abstracts to Ms. Shelley Frost at frost@crows.org by February 5, 2016. Abstracts are limited to one page of text or 400 words. To facilitate the selection processes please ensure your submitted abstract file is labeled with your last name, session number and short title. For example: "Smith_session1_Welcome_and_Intro.doc." Symposium presentations may be classified or unclassified; however, abstracts must be unclassified. Notification of acceptance and presentation submission instructions will be by February 12, 2016. Presentations will be required in Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 or earlier format.

In order to meet required foreign disclosure procedures, final presentations must be submitted with appropriate foreign disclosure paperwork by February 19, 2016. Foreign disclosure processes will be available at www.crows.org when finalized.

IMPORTANT DATES 2016:
(note: dates are proposed for planning purposes only and subject to change. Actual dates are expected to fall within 7-10 days of listed dates)
Abstracts Due: February 5
Notification of Acceptance: February 12
Final Presentations with Foreign Disclosure paperwork: February 19
Security Clearance: March 8

Conference Details

---

 

Garden State Chapter Participates in 2015 Run for the Fallen
The AOC Garden State Chapter, AUSA Monmouth Chapter, AAAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter, AFCEA Monmouth Chapter jointly  participated in events during the 2015 New Jersey Run for the Fallen by presenting two deceased military members’ families with Honor and Remember Flags and Certificates.

A team of military runners from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and other locations across the US come together each year to embark on a 188 mile journey to honor every New Jersey service member killed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Operation New Dawn and other conflicts. A Hero Marker is dedicated to a fallen NJ Hero and their Gold Star Family, and the run team stops at each Hero Marker to present a flag and personalized biographical card to waiting family members, friends and comrades. The goal is to create a 188 mile memorial trail through New Jersey.

The Garden State Chapter was honored to sponsor two heroes. The first hero honored was SGT Trista L. Moretti at Hero Marker 202 in Somers Point, NJ, on Friday, September 25, 2015. The second hero honored was PFC Stephen Benish at Hero Marker Hero Marker 309 in Waretown, NJ, on Saturday, September 26 2015. AOC Garden State Chapter members in attendance included Mr. Jan Moren (Board of Directors), Anthony Moniello (Treasurer) and Myles Murphy (Chapter President).

The attached picture shows Myles Murphy (Chapter President, third from left), Anthony Moniello (Chapter Treasurer, fourth from left) and Bruce Ryba (first on left, AUSA Monmouth Chapter member) with PFC Stephen Benish’s family and the Honor and Remember Flag on Saturday, September 26, 2015. Mr. Jan Moren was present for the event, but not in picture.

---

 

New Gulf Coast Crows Host AOC Leaders
The Association of Old Crow's newest chapter, the Gulf Coast Crow's Nest, Pensacola, FL, held its second meeting on October 26, 2015 and was honored to host AOC Immediate Past President Lt. Col. (Ret.) Wayne "Loaner" Shaw and AOC President-Elect Mrs. Lisa Frugé-Cirilli. The luncheon event included a briefing from Mr. Shaw entitled "The Pentagon's New EW Executive Council and What it Means for the Future of EW: A View from the Old Crows Past President" and was followed by a presentation of the first chapter check to Capt. Barry "Buddy" Tucker, Chapter President. 

The Gulf Coast Crow's Nest Chapter serves Pensacola and the surrounding area, home of today's Air Force Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer (CSO) Training (479th Flying Training Group), as well as various U.S. Navy Electronic Warfare and Information Operations programs to include the Center for Information Dominance. The chapter looks forward to its next meeting on November 20, 2015 when it will be visited by current AOC President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Kenneth Israel.

---

 

DIXIE CROW SYMPOSIUM 41: EW/ISR: Today’s Innovations Countering Tomorrow’s Threats, March 20-24
Save the date for Dixie Crow Symposium 41, March 20-24 at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, GA. The theme for the 41st Annual event is EW/ISR: Today's Innovations Countering Tomorrow's Threats. Make plans now to attend this year's program, which includes the spring golf tournament, sports banquet, short courses and more.

View the Tentative Schedule

---

 

PLAN NOW TO ATTEND: Fourth EW International Conference India (EWCI 2016), February 22-25

The Fourth EW International Conference India (EWCI 2016) is the latest event in the benchmark of EWCI Conference Series in the advanced field of EW. The conference is being organised 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 patronising 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 organisations. There will be an intense one-day pre-conference tutorials preceding the conference. The conference is envisaged as the important platform for EW professionals who would share the research and development output in the field of EW at the global level. Also keeping in view of the government of India's "Make in India" policy, the participants of the conference will be exposed to the state-of-the-art developments in self reliance in the field of EW in India and, hence, the theme of the conference is chosen as "EW: Partner for Self-Reliance."

Conference Details

---

 

HOLIDAY TIPS FROM IDSHIELD: Avoid Identify Theft When Shopping Online
Winter can be a great time to take advantage of online shopping sales, but a digital shopping spree can also make your personal and financial information more accessible to identity thieves putting you at high risk of becoming an identity theft victim.

Before you fill up a virtual shopping cart from your computer, smartphone, or tablet, consider these seven online shopping habits ID thieves target that could make you vulnerable to identity theft:

1. Buying from unknown or unfamiliar sellers. When possible, shop with reputable online merchants with positive transaction ratings.

2. Providing payment through an un-secure connection. To ensure that an online merchant has a secure connection, look for the image of a lock in your browser window, an address that starts with "https" (instead of just http), the wording "Secure Sockets Layer" (SSL), or a pop-up box that says you are entering a secure portion of the website.

3. Paying with a debit card, check, or cashier's check. A credit card is the most secure form of payment for online purchases because you have more protection if the merchant fails to deliver the item as promised.

4. Using multiple credit cards for online purchases. Pick one credit card for all of your online shopping so it's easier to monitor charges and spot errors or identity theft red flags.

5. Storing your credit card information out of convenience. Instead of storing your credit card information with online vendors, simply type your card number in manually for every transaction.

6. Using passwords that are easy to hack. Create strong passwords that include upper and lower case numbers, symbols, and punctuation marks, and update them regularly to help prevent hacking.

7. Responding slowly to a fraudulent charge. If you spot a charge that isn't yours, contact your credit card company immediately – even if the charge is for a small amount.

By avoiding habits that put you at risk while shopping online, you can help protect yourself against identity theft.
Also be sure to enhance your protection with IDShield – available to Members of the Association of Old Crows. We invite you to enhance your coverage right now at www.legalshield.com/info/oldcrows

The IDShield can address all types of identity theft and provides unlimited consultation and full identity restoration in which the bulk of the restoration work is lifted from the member.

Customer Care starts with Louise Yale, our LegalShield representative.
Call her at 703-622-7972, anytime, or email LSYale@legalshieldassociate.com

---

 

As the aerospace world anxiously awaits the Government Accountability Office’s verdict on whether to allow Northrop Grumman to begin construction on the Pentagon’s Long Range Strike-Bomber (LRS-B), new details help paint a clearer picture of who will build crucial parts and systems. (Defense News)
Learn More...

 

---

 

The U.S. Navy is ordering 15 Boeing EA-18G Growler carrier-based electronic warfare (EW) combat jets under terms of an $898.5 million contract announced late last month. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are ordering 15 Lot 38 full-rate production EA-18G aircraft and airborne electronic attack kits from the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis. (Intelligent Aerospace)
Learn More...

 

---

 

In war-torn eastern Ukraine and Syria, experts say Russian forces are using sophisticated equipment and techniques to shut down battlefield communications, effectively leaving enemy forces blind. Thousands of miles away, in a classroom at Fort Sill, soldiers are learning how to defeat those kinds of attacks. (The Oklahoman)
Learn More...

 

---

 

South Africa’s defence community has to accept that electronic warfare (EW) will play an ever increasing role in its activities with the advent of high speed (up to Mach 10) weapons, rail guns, the next generation of hypersonic missiles and threats posed by irregular groups including terrorists. (Defence Web)
Learn More...

 

---

 

The Navy is working with the Australian Department of Defence to improve a component of the EA-18G Growler avionics suite to help locate and jam enemy communications. Under the "AN/ALQ-227/Communications Countermeasures Set Low-Band Geolocation Capability Project Arrangement," the U.S. and Australia will spend about $8 million each – plus non-monetary contributions such as experts, lab space and test ranges – to develop this particular capability, according to a two-page report sent to Congress in late October. (USNI News)
Learn More...

 

---

 

INDUSTRY NEWS: Electronic Warfare Offers Advantages Over Irregular Opponents

South Africa has promising electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, but must improve in the lower end of the scale, according to EW practitioners, and focus on irregular forces such as rebels, pirates and poachers. While the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) militaries are using EW in effective ways for traditional military roles such as ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) and DF (Direction Finding) functions, they need to pay attention to using EW in small unit actions, both in counter-insurgency (COIN) warfare in peacekeeping and in operations against highly-funded insurgencies. (Defence Web)
Learn More...

 

---

 

In the latest iteration of a partnership that has lately included cybersecurity and military agreements, the State Department has approved the possible sale of RQ-4 Block 30 high-altitude, long-endurance Global Hawks to Japan. In the notice – announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which provided the necessary certification to Congress on Nov. 19 – Japan requested three Block 30 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft with Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suites, eight Kearfott Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System units and eight LN-251 INS/GPS units. (Defense Systems)
Learn More...

 

---

 

Living in Greene County, it is hard not to hear about Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane. Many people have family members employed at the base, or work at firms that supply contract work for the American warfighter. The base itself encompasses over 100 square miles or 64,000 acres. This number might appear arbitrary, if not compared to a physical location. (Greene County Daily World)
Learn More...

 

---

 

A special bonus program that allows soldiers in overstrength specialties to migrate to military occupational specialties with better promotion and career opportunities has been updated by the Army. Under changes to the MOS Conversion Bonus (MOS-CB) program that are now in effect, Regular Army soldiers in the ranks of staff sergeant and below can earn lump-sum cash bonuses of $2,000 or $4,000 if they retrain and reclassify into one of five specialties that have good career prospects for the future. (Army Times)
Learn More...

 

---

 

INDUSTRY NEWS: Marine Corps Reactivates 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Bahrain

The Marine Corps has reactivated the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. The reactivation came about to replace the headquarters known as Command Element U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command Forward, the service’s forward component command of U.S. Central Command. (SEAPOWER Magazine)
Learn More...