From the Crows' Nest

Recent operations involving Iran have handed the US direct lessons in electromagnetic warfare, and the open question is whether the Pentagon will act on them. For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with John Knowles , editor-in-chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), to break down what Operation Epic Fury means for EMSO. Together, they discuss directed energy moving into p...

An operation planned around the electromagnetic spectrum as an afterthought works right up until the enemy adapts to it. For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with retired Colonel Dr. William "Dollar" Young, AOC Board Member Scott “Sherm” Oliver, and Booz Allen Director of Defense Technology Group Jarod Patton to break down what came out of INFOPAC 2026. Together, they discuss why false c...

Without a NATO-style alliance to lean on, electromagnetic warfare readiness in the Indo-Pacific depends on regional cooperation that the industry is still building from scratch. For today's conversation, Ken Miller closes out coverage from AOC Asia 2026 in Adelaide, Australia, with three separate conversations: Jang Pyo Kim , AOC Regional Director for Asia Pacific and Chief Principal Researcher at...

Spectrum control now sits at the center of Indo-Pacific defense planning, and AI is changing both how allies coordinate and how China pursues electromagnetic advantage.  For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with Dr. Nathan Johnson , president of the AOC Australia-New Zealand chapter, and Dr. Chen Yi Tu (Crystal) , a research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security...

Four countries, one test range, and a shared problem: How do you stop a drone or a remote-detonated bomb before it does damage? Ken Miller is back with more on NATO's Thor's Hammer 2026 exercise, this time talking with military and industry experts from Norway, Australia, Germany, and the US. They discuss how RF signal suppression holds up in terrain that doesn't cooperate, why comparing notes mat...

Electromagnetic warfare exercises give NATO a way to test new technology against real threats before those threats show up on a battlefield. For today's conversation, Ken Miller sits down with military and industry experts from Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands to break down NATO's Thor's Hammer 2026 exercise. The exercise tests systems built to detect and disable drones, and to find and neutral...

The defense budget process plays a critical role in shaping military priorities, technology investments, and the future of electromagnetic warfare. For today’s conversation, Ken Miller sits down with Katy Nazaretova of Forza DC to break down how authorization and appropriations legislation moves through Congress. Together, they discuss the policymaking process, advocacy strategies on Capitol Hill,...

Joint ventures and teaming arrangements can be your fastest path to a defense contract win – or your most expensive lesson. Knowing which to use and how makes all the difference. Ken Miller sits down with government contract advisor Jenna Girompini to break down the legal and strategic distinctions between the two. Together, they explore how top contractors build alliances and examine how rising d...

Winning in the electromagnetic spectrum requires two things: the right strategy and the technology to back it up. This episode tackles both. Ken Miller is joined by Dr. Thomas Withington of Armada International and Alasdair Gilchrist of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to examine what achieving spectrum superiority actually demands today, why European defense strategies are und...

Electromagnetic spectrum dominance used to be a tactical edge; now it’s a strategic requirement, especially in Europe. But is NATO keeping up? In this episode, Ken Miller is joined by John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), to break down the state of EMSO across Europe and the alliance. Drawing on lessons from Ukraine, Canada, and the UK, they explain why s...

In the second installment of our series, host Ken Miller builds on our previous episode’s exploration of the “crow” identity and what it represents within the electromagnetic warfare (EW) and spectrum operations community. In this episode, Ken is joined by Sergeant Brandon Smith to dive deeper into the connection between crow behavior and modern electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO). They exp...

What really separates winning militaries from losing ones? It may come down to something far less tangible than weapons or technology. In today’s episode, host Ken Miller sits down with Brian Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, to explore a critical – and often overlooked – factor shaping modern warfare: adaptation. Drawing on insights from recent conflicts, including the war in Ukraine,...

GPS and GNSS systems quietly power nearly every aspect of modern life, from financial transactions and power grids to aviation and emergency response. But what happens when they’re disrupted? In this episode, host Ken Miller speaks with Dana Goward, President of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation, about the growing threats to GPS and GNSS infrastructure. They break down how jamming and...

This week, host Ken Miller sits down with Dr. Karen Haigh to explore the rapidly evolving world of cognitive electromagnetic warfare and its implications for the future of modern military operations. Dr. Haigh shares her insights on how AI and cognitive systems are transforming military EW capabilities and the challenges that lie ahead. We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestio...

Host Ken Miller is first joined by USAF Col. (Ret.) Jeffrey Fischer, author and now CEO of Fischer Aerospace , to discuss the breaking news of the US and Israel's attack on Iran and what it could mean for the region.  Then, Ken sits down with Dean Cheng, a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and Non-Resident Fellow at the George Washington University Space Policy...

Host Ken Miller sits down with Katy Nazaretova of Forza DC to talk about the growing push for a Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Combat Support Agency, and why the timing matters.  Together, they explore the gaps that still exist in military policy, explain how the legislative process actually works behind the scenes, and share what it takes to build support on Capitol Hill. They highligh...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, we go back to AOC 2025, where Ken Miller hosted a live panel with Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Kevin Kennedy, Vice President for Defense Strategy & Warfighting Integration at Mantech. Col. (Ret.) Jeffrey Fischer; and Eric Bamford, Branch Chief EW for the Norwegian Armed Forces and AOC Board Member. Ken poses the question, “Is it time to establish a dedicated EMSO fo...

In this episode, host Ken Miller takes a closer look at a recent US military operation targeting Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as a case study in how electromagnetic warfare (EW) and directed energy are shaping modern conflict. Journalist Mike Fabey joins the discussion to share insights from his reporting, including the US military’s ability to execute complex missions without losses to friend...

In the first of a two-part series, host Ken Miller brings the podcast back to basics and answers key questions newer listeners may not have thought about: Why are members of the electromagnetic warfare and spectrum operations community called crows? Why is the moniker so key to understanding our mission and identity? In today’s episode, Ken is joined by John Mazluff , Professor of Wildlife Science...

In discussions of electromagnetic warfare, experts and enthusiasts often discuss the lethal and destructive capabilities of the technology. But effective disruption is a key element to mission success, and today’s guest is at the forefront of conversations on agility and cost effectiveness in the EW space. But first, host Ken Miller welcomes John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electrom...

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Kevin Finch, AOC Board of Director and chair of this year’s symposium. Ken and Kevin tie together the major themes shared during this week’s presentations. Later, Ken is joined by the awardees of this year’s AOC Future Five . Each year, the AOC Foundation recognizes five young professionals as the Future 5, showcasing those who...

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Day 2 Keynote Speaker Congressman Don Bacon. Congressman Bacon is Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, IT and Innovation, US House of Representatives. Prior to his time in Congress, Congressman Bacon served 29 years in the US Air Force before retiring as a Brigidier General. They cover a range of topics inclu...

In this episode of From the Crows' Nest, Ken Miller is joined by opening keynote Speaker Laurie Buckhout. Laurie is the former Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy at the White House. Together, they discuss the challenge of strengthening leadership for EMSO across the Department of War and the military service. Later, Ken is joined by John Knowles, the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Ele...

Since the founding of America’s first centralized modern intelligence agency during World War II, today’s guest Anthony Vinci says that current agencies have undergone several revolutions in how espionage was done. But Vinci says we’re in the midst of a fourth revolution, changing the rules of espionage for nations and non-state actors alike. In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Mille...

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, Ken Miller is joined by Mike Alperi, Deputy Program Manager of PMS 408 Expeditionary Missions Program Office at the Naval Sea Systems Command, to talk about his involvement in NATO Subgroup One and its cross-country collaborative Thor’s Hammer exercise — an initiative that allows systems from different nations to be tested side-by-side against cutting edge...