Charting A Path To Spectrum Superiority At The 2025 AOC Symposium

By John Oncea, Editor

AOC 2025 brings leaders together to advance electronic warfare countermeasures, EMSO education, and innovation – shaping the future of spectrum operations.

The AOC 2025 International Symposium & Convention, taking place December 9–11, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD, is a seminal gathering for the world’s leading minds in electromagnetic spectrum operations, electronic warfare (EW), and information operations.

With the theme “Charting a Path to 2035: Navigating the Future of Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations, this event foregrounds the changing paradigms of electronic conflict and the urgent need to develop new strategies, technologies, and professional competencies in response to rapidly evolving threats and opportunities.​

The convention attracts nearly 2,500 attendees from more than 40 countries, bringing together military leaders, government agencies, academia, and industry innovators. This convergence of expertise underscores the multidisciplinary reality of modern spectrum operations, where strategic advantage hinges on cross-sector collaboration, timely intelligence sharing, and adaptive defense mechanisms.​

Symposium Focus: Shaping The Roadmap To EMS Superiority

The 2025 symposium will offer a robust lineup of keynote presentations, technical sessions, and program manager briefings dedicated to the latest developments in EW, cyber-electromagnetic activities, and advanced spectrum dominance.

Organizers have crafted the agenda to cut across the urgent priorities of national defense, with an eye toward 2035, envisioning how policy, technology, and international alliances must evolve. Recognizing that contemporary geopolitical and technological dynamics drive the EMSO domain, the event will facilitate direct discussion around emerging competition, adversarial advances, and the shifting investment patterns that are reconfiguring the landscape of electronic warfare and spectrum operations.​

World-class programming is hallmarked by senior military and government leaders, both American and international, addressing the challenges ahead and setting a strategic tone for the future. Their perspectives will be enriched by input from leading scientists, engineers, and program managers who are at the vanguard of research and operational deployment in EW and spectrum management.​

In-Depth Spotlight: Electronic Warfare Countermeasures

A signature focus at AOC 2025 is the advancement, integration, and critical assessment of electronic warfare countermeasures. As adversaries increasingly exploit the electromagnetic spectrum with more rapid cycles of innovation, the need for adaptive, multi-domain countermeasures has never been more pressing.

Dedicated symposia tracks delve into GNSS jamming, spoofing mitigation, EM deception, and novel metasurface-driven EW solutions, with candid discussion and demonstration of the latest countermeasure strategies.​

Program highlights include interactive panels illustrating case studies drawn from real-world conflict and deployment scenarios. These technical deep-dives cover hardware and algorithmic defensive approaches, the role of directed energy as both threat and shield, and the fusion of traditional EW with cyber-enabled counter-C5ISRT (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting) tactics.

Attendees can expect expert-led sessions dissecting how resilient architectures and rapid threat detection are being woven into operational programs, and how lessons learned from coalition operations are shaping the next generation of electronic defense.​

Crucially, the symposium contextualizes countermeasure development within the broader era of artificial intelligence and autonomous operations, exploring how machine learning and AI-driven systems detect, classify, and neutralize threats in increasingly congested and contested electromagnetic environments. Panelists also will examine the gaps and opportunities in global cooperation, ensuring solutions are interoperable and adaptive in multinational missions.​

Educational Opportunities And Professional Growth

AOC 2025’s commitment to lifelong learning and professional mastery is reflected in its extensive array of pre-convention and on-site courses. On December 8, just ahead of the main convention, the organization will run expert-led training in Principles of Metasurface-Driven Electronic Warfare and an immersive Counter-C5ISRT Tabletop Exercise. These in-depth offerings equip attendees with both theoretical understanding and hands-on skill in assessing and countering the latest electromagnetic threats.​

The educational experience continues throughout the event, as technical sessions double as training grounds for both emerging professionals and senior practitioners. Courses leverage the expertise of leading researchers and operational commanders who provide grounded instruction in real-world threat landscapes and the science underpinning evolving countermeasures. These efforts are supplemented by AOC’s year-round webinars and the anticipated launch of a comprehensive professional certification program that will formalize the skills and expertise required across EW and EMSO roles.​

The Expo: Technology And Tactical Innovation On Display

The AOC 2025 Expo is a centerpiece of the convention, dedicated to showcasing the world’s most advanced spectrum operation and electronic warfare solutions. The exhibit floor, filled with technology demonstrations, poster presentations, and hands-on opportunities, encourages attendees to go beyond theory and see how innovations are moving from laboratory concepts to operational realities. Attendees will experience emerging trends and network directly with the developers, integrators, and strategists responsible for tomorrow’s EMS solutions.​

While the names and details of exhibiting organizations remain confidential in this preview, the Expo’s impact is unmatched: offering not just glimpses of what is possible, but actionable knowledge on the acquisition, implementation, and operation of innovative countermeasures and spectrum management tools.​

Prestige awards and military service recognitions, bestowed during the convention, highlight excellence in the EMSO community and spotlight innovative achievements in electronic warfare, reinforcing the event’s role in inspiring the next wave of technological breakthroughs.​

Networking, Community, And Career Pathways

AOC 2025 is not only about education and innovation, but also about building relationships that foster both immediate collaboration and long-term career growth. Specialty receptions, structured networking, and the dedicated Career Center provide opportunities for attendees to engage with peers, mentors, program leaders, and potential employers active in the EMSO space. These opportunities specifically support young professionals, transitioning military members, and students, creating pathways for the next generation to enter and shape the field.​

The Association’s robust student engagement and its focus on professional development ensure all participants – from newcomers to seasoned experts – find value tailored to their career stage, skillset, and domain interests.​

Why Attend AOC 2025

As electronic warfare and spectrum operations become increasingly central to national and collective security, the AOC 2025 International Symposium & Convention stands unrivaled. It is designed as a forum where innovation becomes reality, and cross-disciplinary collaboration meets the urgent demand for readiness and response. Attendees will leave with actionable knowledge, fresh networks, and enhanced skills to manage the complexity and risk defining the future of the electromagnetic battlespace.