The AOC Kittyhawk Chapter’s Technical Forum 2025 wrapped up after three days of sessions highlighting electronic warfare and spectrum operations research and innovations. The event, which took place June 24-26 at the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, hit several milestones.
For the first time ever, the Technical Forum reached full capacity. Organizers had to close registration early because of high demand. The conference drew over 200 attendees, a big jump from previous years that spotlights the growing interest in EW and related defense technologies and applications.
The three-day program covered key topics in modern defense systems. Sessions focused heavily on data science applications in spectrum analysis, missile warning systems, and sensor modeling and simulation technologies. Speakers addressed emerging threats including surface-to-air missile systems, airborne threats, and space-based electronic warfare capabilities. The agenda also featured topics like directed energy systems, electromagnetic battle management, and electro-optical/infrared countermeasures.
This year’s program added a dedicated day of TS/SCI sessions. This addition reflects the complex nature of today’s defense challenges and the need for classified discussions among cleared personnel. The classified session took place at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and included presentations on long-range kill web integration, counter-targeting initiatives, and joint electronic warfare center operations analysis.
The conference featured keynote presentations including “Sensing & Sense Making” by Bryan Clark from the Hudson Institute and “Electronic Systems PEO” by Steve Falcone with AFLCMC/HB. These presentations provided strategic context for the technical sessions that followed.
The event also broke fundraising records. The golf tournament raised the most money in the chapter’s history for its scholarship fund, showing strong community support for education in defense-related fields.
The chapter thanks all the volunteers, attendees, sponsors and exhibitors who participated in Kittyhawk Week 2025. To learn more about the chapter, including upcoming events, visit kittyhawkaoc.org.
