From the Crows' Nest Association of Old Crows & Voxtopica

In this exclusive episode of From the Crows’ Nest, available only to AOC members and subscribers, host Ken Miller welcomes back John Knowles, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance (JED). Together, they explore a wide array of topics, such as the crucial lessons emerging from Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific region. They also delve into defense industry trends observed at IMS Microwave Week in June and discuss significant electronic warfare provisions included in the House-passed FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

On this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller speaks with 17-year-old high school senior Jonathan Dorminy about his nationally-acclaimed project studying a frequency range between microwave and infrared, known as “the terahertz gap.”
This gap is a range of the electromagnetic spectrum that has been barely utilized compared to the rest of the spectrum. Using this frequency band can be difficult because of limitations on how fast transistors can switch for generating signals. Jonathan’s project used a black-box radiator (an object to generate signals of a specific intensity and frequency by being heated to a specific temperature) to run an experiment and achieve a reading 60 times faster than what anyone else has managed to produce. Ken says this project shows the terahertz gap as an intriguing frontier for both commercial and defense industries.
To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

In this exclusive AOC member/subscriber-only episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller is joined by Madison Arcangeli and Katy Nazaretova from Forza DC, a women-owned federal strategies and consulting firm in Washington, DC, to discuss the latest developments of the annual defense budget process on Capitol Hill. Specifically, they discuss the status of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the outlook for defense appropriations bills, and the crucial role the upcoming election in November may play in shaping the balance of power in the House and Senate.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller sits down with USN Commander (Ret) R. Scott “Sherm” Oliver to discuss how the Department of Defense (DoD) culture and understanding of electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) has evolved over the past decade, especially since the release of the 2020 DOD EMS Superiority Strategy. They specifically discuss how DOD views the EMS as a maneuver space, the ongoing challenge of organizational change now that DOD has the right strategy and doctrine in place, and the outlook of the strategy implementation plan. Sherm Oliver is an Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) Subject Matter Expert (SME) and retired U.S. Navy Commander with over 23 years of experience in electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO). His time in the Navy culminated as founder and then Chief of Staff of the Congressionally mandated Secretary of Defense EMSO Cross-Functional Team. During this assignment, he served as a principal advisor to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on EMSO matters and led efforts to develop a new EMSO strategy for the Department of Defense (DoD).

Ken also answers some listener mail. Listeners can email him at host@fromthecrowsnest.org to leave their questions, comments, or recommendations for the show. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

In this exclusive AOC member/subscriber-only episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller welcomes back his esteemed friend and colleague, Col. Jeff Fischer, USAF (Ret.). The episode delves into recent developments in the War in Ukraine, particularly the strategic implications of F-16s arriving in Ukraine and their potential impact on air superiority in the conflict.
Additionally, Jeff introduces his inspiring new charitable organization, Shelter to Service, which transforms shelter dogs into service animals to support veterans and their families battling PTSD. Jeff shares personal insights into his journey with PTSD, which he poignantly explores in his military fiction novels.
Tune in to discover how Shelter to Service is making a difference and learn how you can contribute to this noble cause. For more information about Shelter to Service and to support their mission, click here. Visit Jeff’s website here for more information on his books.

In this episode of From the Crows’ Nest, host Ken Miller shares the highlights of several interviews he conducted last month during AOC Europe 2024 from Olso, Norway. He is also joined by AOC Senior Analyst Matt Thompson, who attended the Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) Annual S&T Conference in Colorado Springs. Ken and Matt discuss some of the funding and development challenges facing the Directed Energy (DE) programs and how the EMSO community can help operationalize DE against emerging threats, especially in the Space domain.
AOC Europe interviews include conversations with Lieutenant Colonel Erik Bamford, Branch Chief EW with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and member of the AOC Board of Directors; Colonel Josh Koslov, US Air Force, Commander of the 350 Spectrum Warfare Wing; Commander Gunnar Marcusson, Head of the EW Branch with the Swedish Armed Forces; Air Commodore Blythe Crawford from the Air & Space Warfare Center with the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, and Dr. Karen Haigh, a renowned expert on Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Systems. 
To hear the full interviews along with booth spotlights from several exhibitors, visit and follow the AOC LinkedIn page.