From the Crows' Nest

The U.S. relies highly on GPS, navigation timing systems, and satellites. And recently, GPS was labeled as a single point of failure for America by the Director of Resilience on the National Security Council. To discuss the impacts of this, Ken Miller talks with Dana Goward about the significance of GPS today and the potential risks posed by interference and spoofing.As President of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation and a member of the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Advisory Board, Dana provides invaluable insight into the world of GPS technology and its vulnerabilities. Ken and Dana also discuss how GPS jamming is unfolding in global conflicts and how the U.S. can better protect critical infrastructure from attacks on GPS signals.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

The power struggle between the U.S. and China is all too familiar. After the Chinese-operated balloon traveled from the Aleutian Islands down to the US Heartland, the defense community is speculating if this was simply another chapter in our power struggle or if China is seeking specific intelligence from the US. In this episode, Ken Miller talks with journalist Michael Fabey about the implications of the Chinese-operated balloon and how the Arctic region is emerging as a new global security frontier.Michael Fabey is an award-winning journalist and author currently researching the US Arctic region and the implications this region holds for global security. Ken and Michael discuss what information China likely received through the balloon, why the US took so long to address it, and the likelihood that a US homeland attack would occur in the Aleutian Island-Arctic region.Ken also commends the new podcast D-Fence, hosted by Dr. Alix Valenti. You can learn more about her and the podcast here. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. Ken 

We all face complex challenges to global security and can examine these issues from many different perspectives. One of these perspectives is fiction storytelling, which often comes close to fact and reflects current problems. In this episode, Ken Miller talks with author Jeffrey Fischer to discuss his military fiction books and how to use these stories to help us learn, adapt, and explore creative solutions that address global security challenges today. Jeff Fischer is a military fiction author, retired US Air Force Colonel, longtime aviator, and EW officer. Jeff discusses his journey from being in the military to becoming a writer and how this has given him insight into global security issues. Ken and Jeff discuss Live Range and Balkan Reprisal, two books exploring these themes through Dr. Kurt Nover's story. Dr. Nover is the main character who is a retired Navy Seal turned medical doctor who battles PTSD and finds himself caught in the middle of global security-altering events.You can find Jeff’s books here. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

Directed energy has progressed significantly in the past year, with warfighters field-testing multiple prototypes. But how can we ensure the technology is operationally relevant from the lab to the user? Ken Miller talks with Christopher Behre about how the directed energy community is progressing and scaling directed energy weapons that ensure mission success. Chris Behre is Principal Engineer for Directed Energy Weapons for Electronic Warfare in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Ken and Chris discuss the achievements of directed energy innovations, the need to focus on overhauling testing facilities and infrastructure to improve capabilities, and how each military branch is using directed energy weapons. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

The production of state-of-the-art microelectronics is the most complex engineering feat that humans have been able to achieve. But the US has struggled to maintain its competitive edge in microelectronic manufacturing. In this episode, Ken and the Draper Team continue their discussion and explore solutions that address our problems in the microelectronics supply chain. The US has lost a great deal of leadership in the silicon and circuit board manufacturing industries to manufacturers in Asia. Ken and the Draper team discuss the state of the US semiconductor industry and its comparison to global competitors, the disadvantages the US chip industry has due to outsourcing manufacturing to other countries, and how the US should reinvest in increasing our scientific and technological edge in microelectronics.Jennifer Santos, David Hagerstrom, and Geremy Freifeld work for Draper, an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website.

Microelectronics is one of the United States’ biggest security risks, and the supply chain remains vulnerable. In this episode, Ken Miller continues the microelectronics discussion to understand how the United States should invest in its industry partners to maintain its competitive edge in the global market and maintain national security. To find this out, Ken sits down with Jennifer Santos and her team from Draper, an independent nonprofit engineering innovation company. They dive into the microelectronics supply chain, tech challenges, and opportunities; this episode is Part One of the conversation.Jennifer Santos, David Hagerstrom, and Geremy Freifeld consider domestic sourcing and manufacturing of semiconductors a national security matter. They discuss how the US competitiveness in microelectronics has evolved and the purpose the CHIPS Act serves. They also compare how the US dissects its industrial base to how China and other competitors examine theirs.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website.

Entrepreneurs in defense face a difficult challenge; navigating red tape and developing innovations for bureaucracies is no easy task. In this episode, Ken Miller talks with entrepreneur and business executive Rick Lu to discover how entrepreneurs and startups can get through the door of agencies to develop niche technologies that satisfy all stakeholders.Rick Lu has over 30 years of experience in the aerospace and defense industry and has founded two successful startup companies in the electronic warfare, communications, and C5ISR industries. Rick and Ken discuss the significance of developing relationships with the right people in agencies, understanding the different motivators of various organizations, and taking calculated risks. Then, Rick updates us on how the DoD is creating more opportunities for small businesses and startups to engage with them early in the technology development process. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

Microelectronics is in the news and a key focus of current legislation. It is a part of everything we do in the military and business. But do we properly understand the microelectronics sector to make the right business, government, and policy decisions? In this episode, Ken Miller dives deeper into the topic with scholar and author Chris Miller to better understand the history of chip design and manufacturing and the impact of chips on all aspects of life.  Chris teaches international history at The Fletcher School at Tufts University and recently wrote the book Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology. Together, Ken and Chris discuss the history of microelectronics, production and design challenges, the possibilities The Chips Act funding opened, dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region, and the role of government in the chip technology industry.  To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website. 

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller, is joined by author, futurist, and former NSA official, Dr. Eric Haseltine. Ken also welcomes special co-host, Retired US Air Force Brigadier General Guy Walsh, now serving as the Executive Director of the National Security Collaboration Center at the University of Texas San Antonio. Ken, Guy, and Eric discuss how to pursue innovation in large bureaucracies that are often resistant to change and new ideas (hint: it’s about building the right relationships and using the strengths of an organization to your advantage). Eric, a respected neuroscientist, also provided a keynote address at AOC 2022 about what we can learn from nature and evolutionary biology to maintain a military advantage in electromagnetic warfare and cyber. They discuss his presentation and his two recent books:  Riding the Monster: Five Ways to Innovate Inside Bureaucracies, and The Spy in Moscow Station: A Counterspy’s Hunt for a Deadly Cold War Threat. For more information on this episode and the AOC, please visit our website here.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with special guests Eric Bamford, International AOC Board Member from the Norwegian Air Forces and Bob Andrews, AOC Director of Global Events. Ken and his guests discuss innovation and workforce development from a NATO perspective and what lessons NATO can learn from the current Russian invasion of Ukraine.For more information on this episode and the AOC, please visit our homepage.

In the episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down at AOC 2022 with Mr. David Tremper, Director of Electronic Warfare in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. David is the U.S. Department of Defense’s senior leader providing guidance and advocacy for U.S. development and acquisition of EW capabilities and systems. Ken and Dave discuss a range of topics related to the concept of an EMSO Playbook, including Electromagnetic Protection, Open Architecture and Government Reference Framework, and Counter C5ISR&T capabilities focusing on offensive EW. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

In this special episode of From the Crows’ Nest recorded from AOC 2022 in Washington, DC, host Ken Miller is joined by guest John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), the AOC’s official publication. Ken and John talk about the concept of an Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) playbook and what it means for stakeholders across the military and industry, both in the US and abroad. They also discuss how to best apply lessons from the playbook to the dynamic global threat environment, including both Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing tensions in the Pacific. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

AOC President Glenn “Powder” Carlson is passing the baton on to AOC Vice President and President-Elect Brian “Hinks” Hinkley. In this transition of power, Glenn and Brian give us a state of the union on the EMS community. Host Ken Miller talks with Glenn and Brian about the lessons the US needs to learn about EMS dominance and how the AOC will continue to advance EMS operations and support future engineers. Lastly, they discuss the messages they want to take to government, industry, and military stakeholders to advance EMS operations globally. Glenn and Brian bring a wealth of experience in operations to the EW community. Glenn flew B-52s in the 80s during Soviet Union’s fall. Brian played a vital role in the Navy with the EA-6B Prowler in the early 2000s with Iraq and Afghanistan. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

We often focus most on developing offensive capability, but countermeasures are often overlooked and command & control systems are left completely vulnerable. Host Ken Miller talks with David Tilton and Dr. Nathan Hansen of the Electromagnetic Security Consortium (ESC) to find out how we can address emerging threats to electromagnetic security and provide greater protection for critical infrastructure and military systems. David and Nathan share how we can pursue new standards for electromagnetic protection, how to create more urgency around the issues, and why industry and government need an entity like the ESC to increase electromagnetic security.David Tilton is the acting executive director of the Electromagnetic Security Consortium. Dr. Nathan Hansen is CEO of the Conductive Group and Chairman of the ESC. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

With recent arms transfers and sales to Ukraine, how close is Ukraine to reaching EMS superiority in the war with Russia? Host Ken Miller talks with Jeff Fischer, retired US Air Force Colonel, about how Ukraine can achieve EMS superiority and how the allies are playing a role in it. They also dive into the implications for nations supporting Ukraine and explore what methods Russia might use to force Ukraine’s allies to stop their support as winter approaches, the significance of Russia’s recent troop movement, and the challenges the US faces in supporting Ukraine that lie far beyond Congress’ decisions. Jeff Fischer is a retired US Air Force Colonel, longtime aviator, and EW officer. He is also a military fiction author and is working on the release of his 4th novel. You can find his books here.To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website. 

Maneuvering and winning in the new era requires an EMSO playbook. But what plays should we include in it, and why do we need it? Host Ken Miller talks with Dr. Bill Conley and John Knowles about strategies to include in our playbooks that can be rapidly implemented before the “game” starts, and how this will be addressed at AOC's 2022 annual international symposium and convention. They also dive into current affairs at the global level and in Congress, how to combine theater-level strategy with technological innovations, the current state of supply chain and microelectronics, and they discuss what can be done about the current instability across the global sphere.  Dr. Bill Conley is Chief Technology Officer at Mercury Systems, and John Knowles is the Editor of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED).To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. 

In this episode of the From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller, welcomes back ForzaDC’s Madison Strader Arcangeli and Katy Nazaretova to discuss where Congress stands on the annual defense budget as they break for August and enter the fall with mid-term elections on the horizon. Madison and Katy share some important updates EW funding and amendments, and they offer what they expect to see of the budget process the rest of year (Hint: Don’t panic. Congress loves to wait until the last minute). To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit here. Interested in attending AOC 2022? Registration is open. We hope to see you there.

Host Ken Miller sits with Eric Colon, Director, Strategic Solutions for EW and Cyber at Corvus Consulting, LLC. Eric is a senior subject matter expert on the evolution of Army electronic warfare and cyber electromagnetic activities (CEMA). Ken and Eric discuss how the Army faces an array of complex threats from China, Russia, and other peer competitors. Now more than a decade since the inception of the Army EW structure that we know today, how is the Army addressing these challenges stemming from this new concept of an “invisible battlefield.” They also delve into the Army EW budget currently before Congress and lessons that the Army is learning from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our website. Interested in attending AOC 2022? Registration is open. We hope to see you there.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Brigadier General Guy Walsh, USAF (Ret.). Gen. Walsh is currently the Executive Director of the National Security Collaboration Center at the University of Texas San Antonio (NSCC). They discuss the state of cyber operations today across the Department of Defense and homeland security agencies. Gen. Walsh highlights the need to strengthen public/private collaboration to more efficiently address the complex threats and challenges facing the US and our allied partners in cyberspace. They also discuss how cyber operations align with the 2022 National Defense Strategy. To learn more about the topics discussed or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit here. Interested in attending AOC 2022? Registration is open. We hope to see you there.

In today’s episode of From the Crows’ Nest, Host Ken Miller is joined by Dr. Adam Lowther to discuss the evolution of US nuclear weapons policy since the end of the Cold War and into this new age of Great Power Competition.  Global security is changing rapidly, and we are required to rethink our underlying assumptions, especially as Russia invades Ukraine and China opportunistically takes advantage of current events to strengthen its strategic goals in the Pacific. Dr. Lowther is an author and editor of a new book entitled, Guide to Nuclear Deterrence in the Age of Great-Power Competition. He is currently the Director of Multidomain Operations at the Army Management Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, KS. He was the founding director of the US Air Force’s School of Advanced Nuclear Deterrence Studies at Kirtland Air Force Base. The views expressed are his own and do not represent those of the United States government. For more information on the Association of Old Crows, please visit here.