WEBVTT 00:00.347 --> 00:03.264 (crowd chattering) 00:04.210 --> 00:05.320 - [John] Program Executive Office, 00:05.320 --> 00:07.700 Intelligence Electronic Warfare and Sensors, 00:07.700 --> 00:10.090 and Communications Electronics Research Development 00:10.090 --> 00:12.260 and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, 00:12.260 --> 00:15.210 hosted the fourth annual Cyber Electromagnetic Activity, 00:15.210 --> 00:17.910 or CEMA, on Aberdeen Proving Grounds 00:17.910 --> 00:20.103 October 23rd through the 25th. 00:21.160 --> 00:22.610 The conference brings together cyber 00:22.610 --> 00:23.950 and electronic warfare experts 00:23.950 --> 00:25.780 and leaders from across the branches 00:25.780 --> 00:28.540 together with industry, partners, academia, 00:28.540 --> 00:31.200 allied militaries and acquisition professionals 00:31.200 --> 00:34.593 to address concerns, share experiences, and talk shop. 00:36.110 --> 00:39.330 - There really is a venue to allow the broader CEMA 00:39.330 --> 00:43.370 community to come in one place, once a year, 00:43.370 --> 00:45.510 to kinda share the state of where we're at 00:45.510 --> 00:47.840 within the domain, right. 00:47.840 --> 00:49.250 So, what have we accomplished, 00:49.250 --> 00:51.170 what are still some of the gaps that remain? 00:51.170 --> 00:53.110 What are some of the technical challenges 00:53.110 --> 00:54.806 and technical programs that people are working 00:54.806 --> 00:56.709 that we can collaborate on? 00:56.709 --> 00:58.860 And really consent to share ideas 01:00.060 --> 01:01.970 at least annually throughout the community. 01:01.970 --> 01:03.220 - The first day of the conference 01:03.220 --> 01:04.920 is actually a user session. 01:04.920 --> 01:06.960 And so we were able to sit down with the 01:06.960 --> 01:10.130 Electronic Warfare Officers who are actually in the field 01:10.130 --> 01:13.110 and get feedback on the quick reaction capabilities 01:13.110 --> 01:14.410 that we have fielded to them. 01:14.410 --> 01:17.860 And also giving them kind of a path forward 01:17.860 --> 01:20.465 of what's gonna be fielded next. 01:20.465 --> 01:23.440 And also solicit their feedback for the equipment 01:23.440 --> 01:24.820 that we already have. 01:24.820 --> 01:26.830 - As a professional Electronic Warfare Officer 01:26.830 --> 01:29.010 who's been working in the acquisition world 01:29.010 --> 01:33.520 for a couple years now, the CEMA event 01:33.520 --> 01:36.070 really provides an opportunity for both industry, 01:36.070 --> 01:38.320 as well as professionals across the Army, 01:38.320 --> 01:39.870 to get together and really understand 01:39.870 --> 01:43.900 what the real current needs are, 01:43.900 --> 01:45.830 as well as the state of industry 01:45.830 --> 01:48.600 and where different material solutions are. 01:48.600 --> 01:50.300 And then also understanding what 01:50.300 --> 01:52.630 higher leadership's really pushing down. 01:52.630 --> 01:54.420 To really come together to one kinda 01:54.420 --> 01:56.240 holistic solution understanding that. 01:56.240 --> 01:58.350 - General Ken Israel, and I asked him why the Army 01:58.350 --> 02:01.570 does not have a conference to address this. 02:01.570 --> 02:03.750 And in typical General fashion he turned it around 02:03.750 --> 02:06.707 and said, "That's a good point, Mike. 02:06.707 --> 02:08.540 "Get back to me with a solution." 02:08.540 --> 02:10.490 And that's really how CEMA started. 02:10.490 --> 02:12.930 So a year later, in 2015, 02:12.930 --> 02:15.413 we held our inaugural CEMA conference. 02:16.250 --> 02:17.340 It's grown every year since. 02:17.340 --> 02:21.630 This is the fourth annual CEMA conference. 02:21.630 --> 02:24.530 We have about 800 to 900 folks attending. 02:24.530 --> 02:27.000 Great conference, great agenda, 02:27.000 --> 02:28.720 and it's just a great opportunity for us 02:28.720 --> 02:32.940 to network and discuss the problems and solutions 02:32.940 --> 02:35.410 that address what's required by Army 02:35.410 --> 02:37.530 for CEMA operations today. 02:37.530 --> 02:41.770 - Working as the oversight for training and readiness 02:41.770 --> 02:46.324 for all CEMA EW personnel across the operational, 02:46.324 --> 02:50.690 it allows me to engage and interact with, 02:50.690 --> 02:55.320 not only the subordinate force units from Brigade 02:55.320 --> 02:59.290 to Division and Core level counterparts like myself, 02:59.290 --> 03:04.260 but it also allows me to engage with sister service 03:04.260 --> 03:06.370 community itself, whether it's Air Force or Navy, 03:06.370 --> 03:09.100 electronic warfare or cyber professionals. 03:09.100 --> 03:12.640 And at the same time engage with our own sister 03:12.640 --> 03:16.630 branch organizations, primarily Signal and MI 03:16.630 --> 03:18.950 personnel that come to the conference. 03:18.950 --> 03:23.190 Gives us all a forum to, while we talk all the time, 03:23.190 --> 03:26.170 it seems like, this gives us that chance to sit down 03:26.170 --> 03:29.780 face-to-face and really kinda level those bubbles 03:29.780 --> 03:33.410 of understanding for each of us in terms of where 03:33.410 --> 03:36.300 we're at, where we're going, what's important for our 03:36.300 --> 03:39.340 leadership and the senior leaders that we work for. 03:39.340 --> 03:41.620 - Place and metric work art groups directly supports 03:41.620 --> 03:45.030 the Army, most importantly the Brigade Combat Team. 03:45.030 --> 03:47.930 These conferences and the critical enablers 03:47.930 --> 03:50.040 that CEMA brings to the battlefield 03:50.040 --> 03:54.200 allows us to take not only capability gaps 03:54.200 --> 03:56.670 that we've identified and the lessons learned, 03:56.670 --> 03:58.620 the best practices across the Army, 03:58.620 --> 04:00.440 to those units on the ground to make sure, 04:00.440 --> 04:02.730 that not only Brigade Combat Team leadership, 04:02.730 --> 04:05.853 but their teams are informed to be successful on the ground. 04:06.830 --> 04:08.330 - And when I say communication, 04:08.330 --> 04:10.730 I mean talking face-to-face. 04:10.730 --> 04:13.750 We have so much technology at our fingertips these days, 04:13.750 --> 04:18.400 with phones, with computers, with our laptops 04:18.400 --> 04:22.550 and tablets, texting, that we have forgotten 04:22.550 --> 04:24.640 how to actually sit down and discuss 04:24.640 --> 04:26.600 and communicate one-on-one. 04:26.600 --> 04:28.950 And conferences such as CEMA 04:28.950 --> 04:32.100 offer the opportunity to listen, 04:32.100 --> 04:36.116 to hear our leadership, both government, industry, 04:36.116 --> 04:39.633 talk about what is going on in the world today. 04:40.770 --> 04:43.650 And we can ask questions, so there's a question 04:43.650 --> 04:44.650 and answer periods. 04:44.650 --> 04:46.550 There's one-on-one communication. 04:46.550 --> 04:48.930 And that communication and collaboration 04:48.930 --> 04:51.983 are essential to our success these days. 04:53.830 --> 04:56.310 - [John] Since CEMA was on Aberdeeen Proving Ground, 04:56.310 --> 04:58.710 it was essential that on the last day of the conference, 04:58.710 --> 05:01.200 the Maryland delicacy, the crab cake, 05:01.200 --> 05:04.600 be served for the sake of truly local hospitality. 05:04.600 --> 05:06.770 The next CEMA conference is on track 05:06.770 --> 05:08.300 for October of next year. 05:08.300 --> 05:12.233 I'm John Higgins, PEO, IEWNS Public Affairs.