Keynotes at a Glance

The AOC symposium is tackling some of the biggest issues in the EMSO community, and we have an excellent line-up of keynote speakers to help set the stage for these conversations. Come early, grab a cup of coffee, and settle in for some valuable perspectives from senior military leaders. Keynote sessions kick off at 8:30 AM each morning.

Laurie Moe Buckhout	The Honorable Don Bacon	Lieutenant General Paul T. Stanton

Today, Laurie Moe Buckhout, Former Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at the White House, will open the symposium. She served in the US Army from 1984 to 2010, where her assignments included Presidential Communications Officer at the White House, leading 600 soldiers as commander of the 32d Signal Battalion during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and action officer for J6 on the Joint Staff. In 2006, she was assigned to the Army Staff where she stood up the Department's first Electronic Warfare Division. After retiring from the Army, she started Corvus Consulting Group, which Castellum bought in 2019. She served as Chief Strategist at Castellum until 2023. She was also a member of the Defense Science Board's landmark 2013 Summer Study on 21st Century EMS Operations, which helped build momentum for the DOD's current focus on EMSO. Most recently, she served as Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at the White House. Her operational background and experience growing EW organizations will make this a very informative opening keynote. This session will also include the presentation of AOC’s 2025 Prestige and Community Awards, celebrating excellence and service across our community.

Tomorrow on Day 2, the Honorable Don Bacon, Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, IT and Innovation Subcommittee, US House of Representatives, will deliver the keynote address. Congressman Bacon joined the US Air Force in 1985 and spent much of his 29-year military career in the EC-130H Compass Call, including multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as the RC-135S/V/W. In one of his final assignments before retirement, he commanded the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, NE. In 2016, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, where, among his interests, he has been a co-chair of the EW Working Group since 2017. As a keynoter, he brings a unique perspective that spans EMSO operations and policy.

On Day 3 (Thursday), Lieutenant General Paul Stanton (US Army), Cyber Defense Command Commander and Director, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), will deliver the final keynote of the week. After graduating from West Point in 1995, he spent the next 20 years in the infantry, including company commander in the 1-502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After earning a PhD in Computer Science, he joined the Army's growing cyber operations corps in 2015, eventually becoming commander of the US Army Cyber Center of Excellence in 2021. He assumed his current role in October 2024, which includes responsibility for supporting and shaping the DOD's EMS policy. As a keynoter, General Stanton's infantry experience, alongside his knowledge of cyber and spectrum policy, makes him a very interesting speaker. We will also honor AOC’s 2025 Military Award recipients whose contributions continue to shape the future of electronic warfare.

More details, including descriptions of all symposium spotlight and breakout sessions, program manager briefings and technical briefings are available in the full agenda.