One characteristic of military operations that has changed dramatically over the past few years is its pace. Lessons from Ukraine, Israel and the Red Sea point to the increasing speed of the measure vs. countermeasure contest, and much of this new operational tempo is driven by EMS Operations.

Last month, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth unveiled a plan for reforming the Department's acquisition system aimed at speedier and more agile RDT&E. The US is certainly not the only nation that wants to move in this direction. Many countries are looking for ways to outpace their adversaries in the EMS.

EW technologies must be developed and fielded faster – not only compete with the threat but perhaps even to set the pace in the EMS contest rather than waiting for the threats to evolve and generate "tactical surprise." How does the EMS Enterprise become quicker and more agile across DOTMLPF? Today's symposium sessions on Counter-Drone Warfare, Requirements Generation for the 2035 Fight, Accelerating the Acquisition Process, and Tactical Evolution in the European Theater will each look at the ways to pursue speed and agility in EMSO.

– John Knowles, JED Editor-in-Chief

In this special episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sat down with retired US Army Col. Kevin Finch, a member of the Association of Old Crows Board of Directors and Symposium Committee Chair for the AOC 2025. Together, they discussed navigating the future of electromagnetic spectrum operation and the evolving landscape of electromagnetic warfare amidst political, strategic, economic, and technological changes. Shifts in geopolitics have altered the focus and strategic objectives of all members of the international community. This year's symposium will explore the changing strategic roadmap for achieving spectrum superiority, informed by international investments, evolving focus areas, and the latest advancements from industry and the Science and Technology (S&T) community to achieve the 2035 vision.

Listen to the episode now!

Don't Miss FTCN Live at AOC 2025! From the Crows’ Nest host Ken Miller will be recording episodes with special guests from a studio on the show floor. Stop by booth 738 to hear interviews with exhibitors, military leaders, and EMSO experts. Plus, From the Crows' Nest will be live on the Main Stage at 4:45 PM today, where guests will discuss the question: Is it time to establish an EMSO force? Subscribe today to catch up on past episodes and be part of the conversation going forward.

Review the schedule of events and symposium agenda to finalize your on-site agenda.
Check out the Expo Hall floor plan and search for an exhibitor and make plans to visit the companies you wish to connect with.

Get out your smartphone and download the AOC 2025 app. Then follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, and use #AOC2025 to join in the conversation all week.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – Wednesday, December 10

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.

The Honorable Don Bacon	Lieutenant General Paul T. Stanton

Today, the Honorable Don Bacon, Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, IT and Innovation, 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 the final day (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.

Each year, AOC recognizes five young professionals as the year’s Future 5 – individuals who actively innovate and strive for excellence as they support their respective organizations and build their EMSO careers. In each issue of the Show Daily, we will spotlight one of this year's Future 5. All Future 5 will be honored on the Main Stage during the Keynote Session today.

Today, we recognize Brandt Lomen of MITRE Corporation.

Over the past seven years working in electromagnetic warfare, I have witnessed a significant shift in operational priorities. Current conflicts demonstrate that imperfect EW is often more valuable than none at all. This realization inspired me to invent a capability that delivers effective yet cost-efficient electronic attack at a price point comparable to a modern cellphone. While industry initially dismissed the idea due to low profit margins, military operators recognized its operational value and supported its potential impact. My ultimate career goal is to bridge the gap between modern operational EW needs and the industry status quo. If industry can embrace innovative solutions that prioritize operational effectiveness over traditional profit-driven methods, our nation’s electromagnetic spectrum operations will grow stronger. To advance this vision, I recently accepted a position in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I support joint warfighter efforts. In this role, I aim to advocate for the idea that EW does not need to be perfect – it simply needs to be present and adaptable to the mission. By challenging conventional approaches and emphasizing quantity over perfection in EW capabilities, I hope to drive meaningful change in how government and industry collaborate on EW solutions. Through creative problem-solving, effective communication, and leadership, I aspire to contribute to a more resilient and responsive national defense strategy.

Learn more about the Future 5.

 "The security environment is no longer defined by asymmetric irregular threats, but by capable, resourceful, technologically sophisticated adversaries who view the electromagnetic spectrum not as a secondary domain, but as one of the central battlefields of the 21st century."
–Laurie Moe Buckhout

Here are some of the symposium sessions happening today:

10:15 AM, Maryland Ballroom A

Counter-Drone Warfare
The role of drones in military operations has quickly gained status that few would have predicted five years ago. As we've seen in the Russo-Ukrainian War, they have affected the way infantry, armor, and helicopters are employed, and their influence extends well beyond the front lines and into rear bases and critical infrastructure. At the same time, drones have diversified in terms of platform types and payloads enabling them to support a wide range of missions from reconnaissance, C2, EW, targeting, logistics and direct attack. Counter-drone systems have become equally complex, offering a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities that are constantly being improved. How do does the counter-drone mission efficiently keep pace with the challenges posed by new drone technologies and tactics? This session will present two excellent viewpoints on the topic of counter-drone warfare.

10:15 AM, Maryland Ballroom B
Requirements Generation for the 2035 Fight: Part of the Department of War's new acquisition approach is to look beyond the 20-year old Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) process and formulate new ways to identify and articulate requirements. In this session, Brian Clark will lead a panel that will look at new ways to include real-time intelligence, rapid prototyping, digital engineering, and iterative upgrades for accelerating delivery timelines.

1 PM, Maryland Ballroom A
Accelerating the Acquisition Process: The DoW's acquisition transformation will drive changes in the way the Department executes its Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process. Funding by mission area instead of discrete programs will offer new flexibility to Program Acquisition Executives and better align funding with operational needs and emerging threats. This panel will discuss how adaptable funding mechanisms will accelerate efforts to develop and field EW technologies at a quicker pace.

1 PM, Maryland Ballroom B
Technical Briefings: The impact of is being explored everywhere in EMSO, from threat warning and emitter identification to wargaming, training and EW reprogramming. These sessions will look at some specific aspects of AI in EMSO

• 1-1:25 PM: Real-Time Cognitive Electronic Warfare: Overcoming Data Challenges with Generative AI and Edge Computing

• 1:30-1:55 PM: Automation of Electronic Attack Generation Using AI

• 2-2:25 PM: Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Radar and Communications Electronic Warfare Applications

• 2:30-2:50 PM: Error Analysis of Geolocation with Single Satellite

3 PM Maryland Ballroom A
Recruitment and Training:
Developing a skilled workforce has always been a challenge for the EW industry. For the past two decades, however, the problem has grown worse as fast growing commercial technology companies have competed quite effectively with defense technology companies for engineering graduates. Panelists in this session will discuss innovative approaches to recruiting, training, and retaining talent in constantly changing market.

3 PM Maryland Ballroom B
Tactical Evolution in the European Theater:
Europe is undergoing a military transformation. A resurgent Russia and a changing trans-Atlantic relationship are driving many European governments to boost defense spending and nurture domestic defense industries, especially in EW. Against this set of strategic challenges, this session features a panel with strong Ukrainian connections who will looks at the ways Europe is addressing critical EW and EMSO capability gaps.

Official Exhibit Hall hours during AOC 2025 are as follows:

Today
10 AM – 6 PM
Join us in the Exhibit Hall for lunch (11:45 AM – 1 PM) and Happy Hour (4:30 PM - 6 PM).

Thursday, December 11
10 AM – 2 PM
Join us in the Exhibit Hall for lunch (11:45 AM – 1 PM).

New at AOC 2025, AOC and the AOC Foundation will partner with HeroBox to support warfighters who implement the electromagnetic warfare and spectrum operations technologies we advance as a community. Stop by Hero HQ (booth 204) in the Expo Hall to help assemble care packages and write personalized notes to deployed service members.

Learn more about how you can participate at AOC 2025.

Laurie Moe Buckhout, former Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at the White House, opened the AOC 2025 symposium with a straight-talking keynote that stressed the need to develop military and government leaders who understand the important of Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) and spectrum dominance.

She said that within the Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and Education, Personnel, Facilities and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) paradigm, educating leadership about EMSO is a critical area. "I've been involved in MSO for over 40 years, and I've seen the greatest gap throughout that time is leader development and leader education…because if your leaders don't get it, nobody gets it," she told the packed audience of EMSO professionals.

Read the full article here.

Read the December issue of JED, hot off the presses in time for the 2025 AOC Convention. The current issue features:

Cover Story: NATO SEAD Recapitalization: Time to Stand-In and Deliver
Feature: Learning in Contact with Cognitive Electronic Warfare
EW 101: Space EW (Part 7) – Location of an EW Threat

Read the full issue now and read more each week at JEDOnline.com.

The Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED) is the official publication of the AOC, a professional non-profit association that educates, connects, and advocates on behalf of its members and stakeholders across the global electromagnetic warfare and spectrum operations community. Become an AOC member to get exclusive access to the JED archives.

Check out the latest news coverage and industry updates throughout AOC 2025.

Official Publication of AOC 2025:
Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED)

AOC 2025 Media Parters:
Aerospace & Defense Review
Armada International
Defense News
everythingRF
Microwave Journal
Microwave Product Digest
Navy League's Seapower