(Air Force) Backtalk: Create single leader to guide electronic warfare

[unhappycamper]

Create single leader to guide electronic warfare
By Joe Pitts (R-Naturally)

As a veteran of the Air Force who served three tours of duty in Vietnam as a navigator and electronic warfare officer onboard B-52s, I learned the necessity of brandishing a dominant electronic warfare capability. However, I continue to watch as electronic warfare faces neglect in doctrine, investment and leadership.

We cannot afford to wait until the fighting starts to think about electronic warfare. Consolidating leadership within the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the services, creating more effective investment strategies and better training our troops will strengthen electronic warfare’s future.

The current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have highlighted the need to strengthen U.S. superiority in the electromagnetic spectrum. Electronic warfare continues to save hundreds of lives by defeating improvised explosive devices that use electronic triggering devices, such as cell phones. But our adversaries are becoming more adept at identifying where we are vulnerable, and we must continually learn to counter rapidly advancing technology.

Earlier this year, the congressional Electronic Warfare Working Group, which I founded, held a series of panel discussions with key people from our armed forces’ research labs, electronic warfare chiefs from each branch of the military and industry representatives to discuss the future of electronic warfare.

In addition, the Association of Old Crows, an organization of electronic warfare professionals, has offered several recommendations to improve electronic warfare capabilities.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/opinion/airforce_backtalk_electronic_081808/