Mission and History
Mission
The Association of Old Crows (AOC) is a professional non-profit association that educates, connects, and advocates on behalf of its members and stakeholders across the global electromagnetic warfare (EW) and spectrum operations community.
Vision
Position AOC as the premier global association that unites members, organizations, and like-minded individuals interested in electromagnetic warfare (EW) and spectrum operations internationally. Across government, defense, industry, and academia, and spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber maneuver spaces, we foster a global exchange of ideas, philosophies, and information. We are committed to providing a platform to recognize and celebrate the significant advancements and contributions in these critical domains, appreciating the hard work and dedication of our members.
How does the AOC deliver on our mission?
AOC publishes the Journal of Electromagnetic Dominance, the premier publication for the EW community, and delivers it to AOC members physically and digitally.
AOC curates the weekly eCrow e-Newsletter and the Latest News Feed featuring EW industry & AOC community news, keeping members aware of the latest happenings in their career field.
AOC produces the AOC Webinars that provide bite-sized educational sessions on a myriad of technical topics in Electromagnetic Warfare, and AOC members receive complimentary access to on-demand webinars - with over 100 hours of recorded educational content!
AOC hosts the Annual AOC International Symposium & Convention, the largest & most prestigious EW event each year with 2,000 of our community’s leaders convening to shape the future of the Electromagnetic Warfare enterprise.
AOC organizes regional summits, located at EW centers of gravity across the globe, provide in-depth discussions on solving the latest challenges and threats facing the warfighter.
AOC provides the only Career Center that serves as the intersection of talent and opportunity within the Electromagnetic Warfare enterprise.
AOC educates and trains the EMS workforce through world-class Professional Development courses.
AOC advocates for EW and related EMS capabilities across government, military, and industry.
AOC connects members through more than 69 Chapters across the globe, providing members with local networking opportunities and a vital sense of community.
AOC supports the next generation of crows with scholarships and a yearly STEM outreach program.
AOC awards individuals and military units for their outstanding performance in furthering the aims of the AOC and the Electromagnetic Warfare enterprise.
AOC stands at the heart of the Electromagnetic Warfare community.
What is a Crow?
The name "crow" emerged from the first large-scale use of Electronic Warfare during the WWII Battle of Britain and the US/Allied bombing raids over Europe. The Allied Radar Countermeasure operators used the code name “ravens” and employed receivers and transmitters to monitor and jam threat frequencies. Military jargon later changed “ravens” to "crows." Since that time, the defense of (and maneuver within) the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) has been undertaken by "crows" across the military, government, industrial base, and academia.