Thank You to All of Our Veterans
Dear Service Men & Women,

This US Veterans Day goes beyond just a day. Your tireless effort and dedication to our country does not go unnoticed. Our sincere appreciation for all you have done and are doing is endless.

For our international AOC members that are/have proudly served their countries, we salute you in kind.

On behalf of the AOC, Thank you.

---

 

LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY: Register Now for the 52nd Annual AOC International Symposium and Convention
December 1-3 | Marriott Marquis and D.C. Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

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, 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.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS
Want a complimentary registration to the 52nd Annual AOC International Symposium & Convention? You can get it! One of the reasons the AOC has been able to run such great events is that we receive such fantastic support from volunteers in the Electromagnetic Warfare community. The 52nd Annual AOC International Symposium & Convention is one of our largest undertakings ever, and volunteers are eligible to have their registration fees waved. There are lots of ways you can volunteer — for more information on how and the requirements for complimentary registration, check our volunteer opportunities here!

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 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)


SUPPORT STEM WITH A STATIC DISPLAY!
In recent years, STEM Education has become an imperative and worthy initiative in the United States. 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. We are seeking cool static displays the students can see and touch. If you can provide a display, please contact Pamela Wallace, wallace@crows.org.

STEM sponsorship opportunities

Convention Host

---

 

 

 

I-GRAM #3: From AOC President Ken Israel

This is my final I-Gram. I got this idea from Admiral Zumwalt when he was the CNO in the 70s. His "Z-Grams," or Z-NavOps, were innovative. He issued more than 120, and 87 of his Z-Grams were incorporated into the regular Navy directive system. I expected no such results, but it is a respected way to get news out to as many AOC International members as possible. All Z grams expired when he left office, as will mine. It was a distinct honor to have served as your 31st President. Dave Hime will be our 32nd AOC International President and is well into his transition responsibilities. Ms. Lisa Fruge-Cirilli is our AOC International President-Elect and will serve a two year term starting in December 2016.
Learn More...

 

---

 

The AOC Saudi Arabia Chapter will host the 4th Electronic Warfare Symposium, November 22-23, 2015, in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia has a specific need for the latest EW capabilities following the recent escalation in terrorist activities by IS.

With the 4th largest defense budget in the world, Saudi Arabia is a key defense market that is notoriously difficult to penetrate. Attending EW KSA 2015 will provide considerable opportunity to network with EW users, decision makers and procurement officials from Navy, Army and Air Forces from Saudi Arabia and attending GCC countries.

There also will be extensive opportunities to meet with local Saudi Arabian defense providers who will be looking to partner with international companies and therefore simplify the the process of carrying out business in Saudi Arabia.
Learn More...

 

---

 

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

---

 

The Electronic Warfare Africa Conference, hosted by the CSIR, has revealed many possibilities and also vulnerabilities in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the realm of Electronic Warfare (EW) with increasing complexity of operations coupled with decreasing defence budgets. The conference was hosted by the Association of Old Crows’ South African branch, Aardvark Roost. (Defence Web)
Learn More...

 

---

 

INDUSTRY NEWS: Centaur Army: Bob Work, Robotics, & The Third Offset Strategy

We’ve talked a lot in these pages about drones and robots, networks and swarms. But there’s new way of looking at these weapons that Bob Work made clear at the heart of the Defense Department’s high-tech "Third Offset Strategy." It’s an approach that relies not just on technology, but on the one American advantage China can’t simply copy or steal: our people. (Breaking Defense)
Learn More...

 

---

 

Congressman Joseph R. Pitts announced that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Congress in 2016. A leading defender of human rights, Rep. Pitts has represented the Sixteenth Congressional District of Pennsylvania since 1997. He served on the Budget Committee from 1997-2000, when the federal budget was balanced for the first time since 1969. A former Electronic Warfare Officer in the Air Force, Pitts founded the bipartisan Congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group. (Daily Local News)
Learn More...

 

---

 

INDUSTRY NEWS: Combat Shield Teams Prepare Aircraft for Electronic Warfare Threats

As the Air Force prepares for missions in more contested environments, crews of electronic warfare airmen are making sure that aircrafts’ EW systems are in good shape, as part of a program Combat Shield. In a recently concluded set of tests, for example, airmen from the 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., tested the radar systems of fighters at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (Defense Systems)
Learn More...

 

---

 

The Soviet Union might have collapsed in 1991, but modern Russia continues to develop state-of-the-art weapons even if its defense industry is a shadow of what it once was. In recent years, Russia has launched a host of new developmental programs to replace its Soviet-era arsenal. Though development work has been hurt by economic sanctions and low oil prices, work on myriad projects continue. (The National Interest)
Learn More...

 

---

 

Making its public debut at the Dubai Air Show is the Iomax ArchAngel border patrol/armed ISR platform. The UAE Armed Forces have ordered the latest Block 3 iteration of Iomax’s modified agricultural aircraft, and they are in the process of receiving 24 aircraft to replace a similar number of interim Block 1 and Block 2 aircraft. The first was ferried from the U.S. in June. (AIN)
Learn More...

 

---

 

Italy’s air force appears set to join an elite group of services capable of fighting their way into hostile territory by using combat aircraft carrying active jamming technology. Elettronica chief executive Enzo Benigni welcomed Italian defence minister Roberta Pinotti to the company’s stand on the opening day of the show, before announcing that a teaming agreement has been signed to work on an escort jammer pod. (Flightglobal)
Learn More...

 

---

 

The revolution in the global fighter market started with good news and bad news at the end of 2013. The good news was for Saab: Brazil’s selection of the JAS 39E/F Gripen as its future fighter. This unlocked the Swedish government’s support, which was contingent on an international partner. The bad news was the United Arab Emirates’ dismissal of the Eurofighter Typhoon. (Aviation Week)
Learn More...