IIn this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with retired US Army Col. Kevin Finch, who now serves as a member of the Association of Old Crows Board of Directors. Col. Finch is Symposium Committee Chair for the upcoming AOC 2025 in December. Together, they discuss navigating the future of electromagnetic spectrum operation (EMSO) and the evolving landscape of electromagnetic warfare (EW) 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 conference 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.
We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org or visit us on our Instagram @fromthecrowsnestpodcast
To learn more about today’s topic and the upcoming AOC 2025, visit here.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with the heads of two startups in the military space to get a glimpse at the cutting edge of military, warfare and EMSO operations.
Ethan Thornton of Mach Industries and Rob Sladen of Zulu Pods are both young innovators in the military space, with Mach Industries focusing on pioneering unmanned systems and Zulu Pods aiming to improve fluid delivery systems in assets that support expendable assets like drones and missiles.
Both entrepreneurs say their technologies can be key to bridging the gaps between how technology is currently used and the mission of new, radically different systems — like with the proliferation of expendable, unmanned drones — but also to ensure military dominance regardless of theater.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
Join us today to hear Host Ken Miller's conversation with John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance, about how U.S. and allied forces are adapting for the next era of electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO).
They discuss takeaways from recent trade shows, how the Army and Air Force are rethinking their force structure, and what new reports say about preparing for future conflicts. John shares insights on why modernization needs to move faster, and how innovation in software and agile tech will shape success on the spectrum battlefield.
They also touch on global EMSO growth in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, lessons from Ukraine, and what’s ahead in the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. And please follow our new Instagram account, @fromthecrowsnestpodcast.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller unpacks one of the key challenges with using artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in combat: How can human agents trust AI in a live, complex military operation?
Jeff Druce, Senior Scientist, Human-Centered AI at Charles River Analytics, is at the heart of trying to answer this question. Jeff says that neural networks are inherently opaque; a system can perform millions of computations in seconds with a user being in the dark of how a system arrived at a certain recommendation or action. He tells Ken that their RELAX (Reinforcement Learning with Adaptive Explainability) research effort aims to add ways that AI systems can explain their decision making to human operators.
Jeff says that efforts to improve transparency and trust in these AI tools are key, arguing bottlenecks for AI use soon may not be from the technology plateauing but operators being unprepared and ill-equipped to effectively use this technology.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
In mid-September, in Lviv, Ukraine, the second annual Defense Tech Summit was held with representatives from over 50 countries in attendance. A policy shift from the Trump administration in support of Ukraine signals new focus on ending the Russia-Ukraine War that is now approaching four years. The two-year war continues between Israel and Hamas in Gaza without progress toward a ceasefire. Oh, and now, the US government is in shutdown mode as of October 1.
Host Ken Miller sits down with journalist, author, and expert Col. Jeffrey Fischer, USAF (Ret) to discuss all these topics and more in this episode of From the Crows’ Nest. Ken and Jeff discuss the chaotic global security environment on the eve of the US government shutdown and how need to change our thinking and priorities to effectively resolve tensions around the world. Jeff joins the show from Vienna, Austria, where he was in attendance at the Defense Tech Summit in Ukraine and provides an unfiltered perspective from Europe.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. Also, visit us on social media, including Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller looks at innovation in EMSO and how ideas get from whiteboard to the battlefield through a new lens: science fiction.
Lisa Yaszek, Regents Professor of Science Fiction Studies at Georgia Tech, tells host Ken Miller that scientists are indebted to science fiction writers, as the genre gives people interested in science and technology a way to theorize about promising technologies years, decades, or even centuries in the future.
She says the genre is an incubator for new ideas and has led to innovative breakthroughs from scientists like physicists Richard Feynman and Kip Thorne. Beyond its scientific impact, the genre also allows cultures from all over the world to see the real world as one of possibility.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
In this episode, host Ken Miller is joined by friend and colleague Tom Withington, award-winning editor, defense journalist, and expert with Armada International. Ken and Tom discuss the latest developments in the Russo-Ukrainian War with a special focus on the recent Russian drone incursion into Poland and what it means for all of NATO. They also discuss how the Russo-Ukrainian War, along with other global security challenges in the Middle East and Indo-PACOM region, are changing the way we have to prepare for future escalation and conflict.
For more information on FTCN and the Association of Old Crows, visit fromthecrowsnest.org and crows.org, respectively.
You can reach the host directly at host@fromthecrowsnest.org to share your thoughts or questions you want FTCN to cover in future episodes. Please also follow our new Instagram account, @fromthecrowsnestpodcast.
After decades of being the purview of world governments, space operations have exploded in commercial and civilian necessity in recent years. Commercial satellites have increased 7 fold over the last 15 years and now total more than 10,000. Space capabilities are central to nearly every operational concept and military mission, not to mention every modern economy. Furthermore, space operations and electromagnetic spectrum operations are inextricably linked. How does the Unites State juggle the competition between military and commercial in space? How can the United States secure an enduring advantage in space operations in modern conflicts?
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Brian Weeden, Systems Director in the Center for Space Policy and Strategy with The Aerospace Corporation. Brian says the creation of the U.S. Space Force and the renewal of U.S. Space Command offers opportunities to rethink how the nation works outside of Earth’s orbit and to solve big questions. How can America support terrestrial military operations or conduct activities in space itself all while juggling spectrums shared by satellites in low-orbit and thousands of miles above Earth’s atmosphere?
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage. And please follow our new Instagram account, @fromthecrowsnestpodcast.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
Innovation is a buzzword to showcase game-changing technologies and capabilities. But how do you get the people’s attention to consider the possibilities, risks, and opportunities? How do you raise awareness to move innovative ideas from the mind to the lab and to the field, not to mention the average household? So much innovation is downstream from culture. In a special episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller breaks format to talk about the important role of movies and pop culture to advance innovation. Ken is joined by David Kirby, author of Lab Coats in Hollywood: Science, Scientists and Cinema, to explore the relationship between real scientific advancements and action on the big screen.
David tells Ken that movies can influence policy, as bombastic apocalypse movies like “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” have had real-world impacts on U.S. policy towards near-Earth objects. David says that while some researchers may have gripes with how a movie depicts the science of certain blockbuster films, the public’s attention is a finite resource – and a big Hollywood movie can be a useful way to bring widespread attention to an issue otherwise overlooked.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by returning guest Duncan McCrory from the Freeman Aerospace Institute at King’s College London to unpack concerns of a Chinese escalation in the Pacific to reunification with Taiwan — and what this move could mean for the United States and alliances around the world.
McCrory says that defense experts have focused on 2027, known as the “Davidson Window,” following reports from the U.S. Intelligence Community that Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered its military to be ready to invade Taiwan in 2027. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the largest military force in the world with 2 million active-duty soldiers. McCrory says a successful invasion of Taiwan from China could weaken alliances and have devastating economic impacts on the United States… but a miscalculated intervention could introduce direct conflict with one of the biggest superpowers in the world.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
As August kicks off and summer hits full swing, From the Crows’ Nest takes a step back from its usual format for a special Q&A episode. Host Ken Miller is joined in the studio by Voxtopica producer Laura Krebs to answer questions from listeners and the (very real) studio audience.
The conversation touches on topics like EMSO’s role in future global conflicts, what to watch from the latest World Radio Conference, and even the lighter side of the spectrum—like what kind of mascot might best represent the field.
Ken also shares some insights on the Indo-Pacific region and weighs in on today’s fast-changing security environment.
It’s a relaxed but thought-provoking episode that brings fresh perspective to some of the big questions facing EMSO today.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller delves into the intersection of privacy and national security with Susan Landau, the Director of the Cybersecurity Center at Tufts University.
Landau testified before Congress last month calling for improved encryption as a matter of national security. She tells host Ken Miller that the modern debate over encryption and cybersecurity dates back to a cyber espionage operation run by Chinese hackers called “Salt Typhoon” that breached various parties and critical U.S. infrastructure, including wiretapping members of both the Trump and Harris presidential campaigns.
Their ability to breach texts and voice messages and access databases highlighted inefficiencies in America’s cybersecurity infrastructure – and the tension between protecting American citizens from cyberattacks while posing additional challenges to law enforcement agencies worldwide.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this AOC member/subscriber-only episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Madison Arcangeli and Katy Nazaretova from Forza DC to discuss the current state of Capitol Hill and the annual appropriations process. They cover a range of topics including keeping the government funded through FY 2025, the progress of the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, and the latest on the annual Defense appropriations Act. To learn more about Forza DC, please visit here.
These AOC member/subscribers-only episodes of FTCN will be released twice a month. Members and subscribers will also be able to participate in the live recording of the episodes. These episodes will be available for a limited time to everyone who already enjoys our podcast.
Become a member today so you won’t miss one of these essential episodes at crows.org.
In this special member-exclusive episode, host Ken Miller is joined by friend and colleague John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), to discuss the defense budget, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the latest on military actions in Iran. They draw comparisons between the actions taken in Iran and Ukraine's strategic actions taken against Russia, highlighting the importance of electromagnetic spectrum dominance and air superiority in multiple theaters.
These special episodes are released twice a month. To access them and participate in live recordings as part of the virtual audience, become an AOC member at www.crows.org or subscribe for $2.99/month at www.ftcnpodcast.org.
Join us today. You can reach the host directly to share your thoughts or questions you want FTCN to cover in future episodes at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) wants to make our podcast the best it can be. To help us succeed, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Please take just a few minutes to complete our 2025 listener survey because your opinion is very important to us.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller takes us inside the cutting edge of airborne electronic attack with a deep dive into the U.S. Navy’s latest game-changer: the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band (NGJ-MB).
Joining Ken is Chuck Angus, Business Development Director at Raytheon, who shares how this powerful new system is redefining the electromagnetic battlespace. Built with advanced Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, the NGJ-MB delivers unprecedented power density and direct array control—no third-party components, just pure precision.
Deployed on the EA-18G Growler for both the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, this next-gen jammer is replacing the legacy ALQ-99 and setting the standard for future conflicts. Chuck explains why NGJ-MB isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a critical leap forward in spectrum superiority.
Don’t miss this insider look at how the future of electronic warfare is taking shape right now.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller gets insight into the front lines of the war in Ukraine with today’s guest, Jack de Santis. The Croatian-born drone pilot with the Ukrainian military, is also an engineer and businessman, and is the founder of Omira AI — a company that specializes in counter-EW communications technology. Ken and Jack are also joined by FTCN regular guest, retired USAF Colonel, author and journalist, Jeffrey Fischer.
Jack tells Ken that his approach to electronic warfare was born from what he saw as a volunteer for the Ukrainian army. Jack’s experience as a drone pilot and engineer before the conflict allowed him to step into the front lines of the Russo-Ukrainian war. But it’s what Jack saw during a Russian artillery bombardment of Ukrainian forces that led to a new understanding of the conflict: the Ukrainian military needs better EW tools to do the job.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) wants to make our podcast the best it can be. To help us succeed, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Please take just a few minutes to complete our 2025 listener survey because your opinion is very important to us.
In this special member-exclusive episode, host Ken Miller is joined by friend and colleague John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED), to discuss the ongoing congressional defense budget and reconciliation processes on Capitol Hill. They also discuss the latest developments in Spectrum auction and the need to invest in dynamic spectrum sharing technology and processes. Ken and John also discuss the recent eye-opening Ukrainian drone offensive against Russia, Operation Spiderweb. This is yet another successful EMSO mission that should capture our attention to understand how we can better utilize electromagnetic energy in combat, but also better protect our forces abroad and critical infrastructure at home from a similar exploitation by peer competitors and adversaries.
These special episodes are released twice a month. To access them and participate in live recordings as part of the virtual audience, become an AOC member at www.crows.org or subscribe for $2.99/month at www.ftcnpodcast.org.
Join us today. You can reach the host directly to share your thoughts or questions you want FTCN to cover in future episodes at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) wants to make our podcast the best it can be. To help us succeed, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Please take just a few minutes to complete our 2025 listener survey because your opinion is very important to us.
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) wants to make our podcast the best it can be. To help us succeed, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Please take just a few minutes to complete our 2025 listener survey because your opinion is very important to us.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by a panel of two Army colonels to unpack how the Army has made strategic investments into growing its EW capabilities.
Col. John Hosey, Chief of Cyber and Commandant of Army Cyber School, tells Ken that the Army began producing soldiers with cyber training in 2008 – very new in the military world. He says one of their points of focus now is to improve the ability of the Army to reprogram their kit to change their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) as threats evolve.
Col. Leslie Gorman explains to Ken that her role as the Army Capability manager for EW is to help the Army, as a retired general officer told her last year, “own the EMS like [the Army] owned the night in the 1980s.” Col. Gorman says their push now is to set the conditions so advanced machine learning and algorithmic-based analytics can set the stage for the future of the Army’s EW efforts.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
In this episode, host Ken Miller fields audience questions while visiting EMSO stakeholders in Las Vegas, NV. Ken discusses his views on the implementation of the 2020 EMSO Strategy, the defense budget, training and manpower, spectrum management, and the need for an all-of-government approach to EMSO readiness.
You can reach the host directly to share your thoughts or questions you want FTCN to cover in future episodes at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) wants to make our podcast the best it can be. To help us succeed, we'd like to hear your thoughts. Please take just a few minutes to complete our 2025 listener survey because your opinion is very important to us.
In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes Luke Cabot, an Electromagnetic Warfare Training and Technology Instructor at Inzpire’s Technical and Strategic Services Division in the UK.
Luke shares how Inzpire’s greatest strength lies in making the complex simple—translating advanced electromagnetic warfare (EW) concepts into language anyone can understand. He discusses the challenges of training across multinational coalitions and highlights the power of mathematics as a universal language. Luke emphasizes that improving EW education is critical—not only to enhance operational effectiveness but to save lives and reinforce the strategic value of electromagnetic spectrum operations.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.
We also invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or suggestions for future episodes by emailing host Ken Miller at host@fromthecrowsnest.org.
