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| Association of Old Crows | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association of Old Crows |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Type | Professional association |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Leader title | CEO |
| Leader name | Norman D. Glickman |
| Region served | Worldwide |
Association of Old Crows The Association of Old Crows is a professional organization focused on electronic warfare, cyber operations, signals intelligence, and information operations. Founded in 1964, it brings together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from across the United States and allied nations, engaging with institutions such as the United States Department of Defense, National Security Agency, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy.
The organization was established during the Cold War era, emerging as a forum for specialists affiliated with initiatives like Project RAND, Strategic Air Command, Naval Research Laboratory, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Bell Labs. Early membership included veterans and engineers with ties to World War II signals efforts, Korean War reconnaissance missions, and Vietnam War electronic countermeasures programs. Over decades it interfaced with programs and events such as Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Tactical Air Command, Air Combat Command, and collaborations with allies participating in NATO Exercises and Five Eyes exchanges. The group evolved alongside technologies from vacuum tube systems and radar platforms like those developed by Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and General Dynamics to modern architectures influenced by DARPA initiatives, commercial firms like IBM, Microsoft, Intel, and academic centers including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University.
The association’s mission centers on improving electromagnetic spectrum superiority, resilience, and professional standards through collaboration with stakeholders such as the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, National Reconnaissance Office, U.S. Cyber Command, and allied services including the Royal Air Force, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and French Armed Forces. Activities address topics represented in doctrines and frameworks like Joint Publication 3-13, NATO Allied Electronic Warfare Doctrine, and policy discussions involving bodies such as the U.S. Congress and White House. It engages in technical discourse related to platforms and systems such as F-35 Lightning II, EA-18G Growler, MQ-9 Reaper, Aegis Combat System, and sensor suites from firms like Thales, Saab AB, and Booz Allen Hamilton.
Membership draws professionals from corporations such as L3Harris Technologies, BAE Systems, Leidos, CACI International, and Honeywell, as well as personnel from services including the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army, Space Force, and civil agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration when spectrum issues intersect. Organizational structure includes a national board, regional chapters, and special interest groups collaborating with universities like Naval Postgraduate School, Air University, University of Maryland, Purdue University, and institutes including IEEE and AIAA. Chapters often coordinate with local commands such as European Command, U.S. Central Command, and multinational entities like NATO Allied Command Transformation.
The association provides training courses and certification pathways involving curricula comparable to programs at National Defense University, Harvard Kennedy School, MITRE Corporation, and vendor-specific training from Cisco Systems and Aruba Networks. Workshops cover technical areas seen in literature from IEEE Communications Society, SPIE, and research programs linked to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. Seminars frequently include case studies referencing operations such as Operation Allied Force and technological transitions comparable to the adoption cycles of GPS and SATCOM.
Annual symposia and conferences attract speakers from organizations like Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Center for Strategic and International Studies, RAND Corporation, Brookings Institution, Heritage Foundation, and universities including Georgetown University and Columbia University. Proceedings highlight advances in topics related to journals such as Journal of Electronic Defense, IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, and reports by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Events feature demonstrations of systems by companies like Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and collaborative panels with representatives from European Defence Agency and think tanks like CSIS and Royal United Services Institute.
The association presents honors that recognize notable contributions from individuals affiliated with programs and personalities such as those associated with Aerospace Corporation, Bell Labs Fellows, National Medal of Technology and Innovation laureates, and decorated service members from conflicts including Gulf War and Afghanistan War. Awards celebrate technical innovation, leadership, and lifetime achievement among professionals who have worked alongside institutions like NSA, CIA, U.S. Strategic Command, and leading defense contractors.
International outreach involves partnerships with entities including NATO Science and Technology Organization, European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, Australian Signals Directorate, Canadian Communications Security Establishment, and bilateral ties with ministries such as the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry for Defence (France), and German Federal Ministry of Defence. Government engagement spans policy advisory roles, testimony before committees such as the U.S. House Armed Services Committee and U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, and cooperative programs with agencies like Defense Logistics Agency and U.S. Special Operations Command.