From the Crows' Nest

In this episode of "From the Crows’ Nest," host Ken Miller welcomes Dr. Raphael Licursi, antenna and radar researcher, electronic warfare consultant, AOC Europe Pre-event Workshop presenter and author of Meta Surface Driven Electronic Warfare (Wiley & IEEE Press).  Dr. Licursi shares insights into his groundbreaking research on metasurfaces, explaining how this emerging technology is revolutio...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes journalist and expert, Dr. Thomas Withington . They cover a range of topics, including a new EW coalition forming in Europe to respond to EMS challenges stemming from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Ken and Tom also talk messaging leading up to AOC Europe in Rome, May 6-8. Also, don’t miss Season 1 of our new Chief Technology Officer (CTO)...

In this episode of "From the Crows' Nest," host Ken Miller is joined by Phyllis Wilson, President of the Military Women's Memorial. They explore Phyllis's remarkable 37-year military career, delve into the history and significance of the Military Women's Memorial, and discuss the often-overlooked contributions of women in military history. Phyllis shares insights on the importance of preserving an...

In this very special—and slightly chaotic—April Fools’ Day edition of From the Crows’ Nest , host Ken Miller discovers just how hard it is to book a guest when everyone thinks it’s a prank. With no high-level military officials or defense tech experts willing to risk being punk’d, Ken turns to a trusted voice close to home: Voxtopica producer Laura Krebs joins him in the studio to answer listener...

Each year, the AOC Educational Foundation honors five exceptional young professionals through its Future 5 program, recognizing individuals who represent the future of the EW field through innovation, leadership, and impact. In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest , host Ken Miller speaks with four of the 2024 Future 5 award recipients: Imani Davis, Matthew Copeland, Paul Kennedy, and Michael Guti...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes long-time colleague, EMSO advocate, and former AOC president, Lisa Frugé-Cirilli. Lisa is the US Department of Defense (DoD) Customer Requirements and Advocacy at BAE Systems, Inc.  Ken and Lisa discuss how the critical role that sustainment and life cycle management plays in advancing EMSO, and how Robins Air Force Base in Middle G...

In honor of Women’s History Month, host Ken Miller and guest co-host Hollann Schwartz are joined in this episode of From the Crows’ Nest by E&M Operations Manager and AOC member Christelle Ward. Christelle’s new initiative, Empowering Women in Electronic Warfare, aims to build a group of EW women that support, uplift and empower women entering this male-dominated industry. Christelle has playe...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes friend and subject matter expert, Laurie Buckhout. Laurie is retired US Army Colonel, small business woman, EW subject matter expert.  She also was the first chief of the US Army EW Division and is a small businesswoman. Ken and Laurie discuss the challenging global security environment and the need to cultivate leadership and inves...

Artificial intelligence burst into mainstream awareness less than three years ago with tools like ChatGPT and image generators such as Google Gemini. However, AI — particularly machine learning — has been shaping electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) for decades. In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller dives into the cutting edge of AI in next-generation EMSO systems with Rob...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes back John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief AOC’s Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED). Ken and John revisit EMSO reforms from recent defense budgets and discuss the level of progress (or in the case of EMSO, lack of progress). They also look to the FY 2026 defense budget that is on the horizon to discuss challenges and opportunities f...

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute. Bryan is the author of the newly released report, Winning the Fight for Sensing and Sensemaking: Fielding Cyber and Electronic Warfare Capabilities at Scale .   The report tackles a critical challenge for the Amer...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Erik Bamford to discuss International EW headlines. Erik is Branch Chief for Electromagnetic Warfare with the Norwegian Armed Forces and a member of the AOC Board of Directors. Ken and Erik discuss a new Spectrum law that took effect in Norway that is a beacon for improving coalition EW training. They also discuss the evolution...

In this episode of From the Crow's Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by a panel of special guests today: Scott “Sherm” Oliver, former chief of staff of the EMSO cross-functional team; Paul Arcangeli, senior advisor at the public relations firm Invariant and a former professional staff and staff director of the House Armed Services Committee in the U. S. Congress; and Jeffrey Fischer, author, journal...

In this episode, host Ken Miller is joined by friend and colleague Col. Jeffrey Fischer, USAF (Ret.) to discuss the inauguration of President Donald Trump, what to expect from his new Cabinet, especially as it pertains to the future of NATO and the outlook for the Ukraine-Russia War. They also discuss the worsening challenge of EMS battle management and the role of EW in counter-counter-drone capa...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller answers audience questions and listener mail. Ken discusses everything from President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, to the legislative uncertainty of the new Congress, the need for greater awareness of Space EW, and what lessons should we be learning from the War in Ukraine to the Indo-Pacific region.   Also, don’t miss Se...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller dives into the world of cutting-edge electronic warfare (EW) with Captain David Rueter, Program Manager for Airborne Electronic Attack Systems at the U.S. Navy’s PMA-234. From game-changing advancements to the challenges that keep him awake at night, Capt. Rueter offers an insider’s look into the Navy’s most critical EW initiatives. Capt. Ru...

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by returning guest Dustan Hellwig, founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Chesapeake Technology International, to discuss what we know and need to know about the increased sightings of drones in NJ and along the East Coast of the U.S.  Ken and Dustan try to dispel conspiracies but recognize that what is happening points to a trend i...

In part two of this special series, From the Crows’ Nest host Ken Miller brings back researchers Jeff Kojac and Olivia Letts from George Mason University Costello School of Business and its Baroni Center for Government Contracting to discuss the findings from six case studies they’ve conducted and what they ultimately recommend to reform the DOD’s PPBE Process. The pair found that their case studi...

This episode of From the Crows’ Nest is coming to you from AOC 2024. On Day 3 of the show, host Ken Miller is joined by Major General Elisabeth Michelsen, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations at Joint Force Command Norfolk . They focus their discussion on lessons learned from the War in Ukraine and the strategic importance of the high North and Arctic territories. They also talk about strengthening t...

This episode of From the Crows’ Nest is coming to you from AOC 2024. On Day 2 of the show, host Ken Miller is joined by General Thomas Bussiere, Commander Air Force Global Strike Command and Commander, Air Forces Strategic – Air, U.S. Strategic Command. Later, Ken sits with Vice Admiral Craig Clapperton, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. Tenth Fleet / Joint Force Headquarters - Cyber (Nav...

This episode of FTCN is coming to you from AOC 2024. We will be releasing new episodes each day as we discuss Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations - the Great Power Competition, the theme of this year’s show. Host Ken Miller sits down with opening keynote speaker Major General AnnMarie Anthony, Director of Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations within US STRATCOM. Ken and General Anthony set wha...

In the first of a special two-part series, From the Crows’ Nest host Ken Miller speaks with researchers Jeff Kojac and Olivia Letts from George Mason University Costello School of Business and its Baroni Center for Government Contracting to learn more about the Department of Defense’s PPBE (Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Execution) process and why their research finds the department’s decision-...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes back John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of AOC’s Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED). Ken and John discuss the progress and future of the DOD’s Replicator Initiative as insight into how the Department is addressing evolving threats in the electromagnetic spectrum, especially pertaining to the use of unmanned systems. They also dis...

In this episode of From the Crow's Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Dr. Christopher Lloyd, Senior Technologist for Directed Energy with The Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division Virginia. The pair check in on several recent developments in the promising field of directed energy weapons (DEWs). Dr. Lloyd says that senior leaders with the Navy have realized that directed energy weapons ca...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes back author, journalist, and expert Jeffrey Fischer. They discuss what the US elections mean for global defense and security. What’s in store for US partners and allies, including NATO, as the in-coming Trump Administration re-evaluates US leadership and intervention abroad. They also discuss recent developments in the War in Ukrain...