The 194th Wing Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Task Force was recognized as the 2025 Project Team of the Year by the Association of Old Crows in National Harbor, Maryland, Dec. 9-11, 2025.
The award recognized the task force for pioneering a first-of-its-kind EMSO capability within the Air National Guard.
The AOC is a professional non-profit association dedicated to electromagnetic warfare and spectrum operations. The organization fosters collaboration and networking across government, defense, industry and academia internationally.
Four members of the EMSO Task Force, alongside leadership from the 194th Wing, attended the AOC’s International Symposium and Convention to accept the award.
“For me personally, it's really exciting,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brandon Smith, EMSO Task Force noncommissioned officer in charge. “Because this whole concept started as a white paper that I submitted two years ago, and to be able to receive the award is really an honor for me.”
Over a drill weekend in December 2023, Smith submitted a white paper to Col. Brian Bergren, 194th Wing Commander. The document identified the need for the 194th Wing to expand its capabilities in EMSO. EMSO refers to managing and operating within the electromagnetic spectrum, which is the range of invisible waves, including radio, microwave, and infrared, that make communication possible.
By February 2024, an EMSO task force was created under the leadership of Maj. Ian Roberts, EMSO Task Force officer in charge, alongside Smith. From the outset, the group concentrated on networking and building foundational partnerships with joint and industry stakeholders to rapidly develop EMSO expertise.
The task force’s crowning achievement came during Exercise Phoenix Dawn 2025 at Saylor Creek Range near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 6-8. The team orchestrated an exercise demonstrating EMSO to locate hostile radio-frequency targets, counter unmanned aerial systems and mitigate GPS jamming. The exercise underscored the importance of spectrum dominance in joint, multi-domain operations.
“We put in a ton of hours to get that organized, planned, and coordinated,” said Smith. “We had personnel from the Army, we had active-duty Air Force, we had three different vendors there that provided some of the latest most advanced electronic warfare technology available on the market, and we demonstrated some capabilities that we would not have been able to demonstrate without their support.”
The team’s efforts culminated in the task force being named the 2025 Project Team of the Year.
“Two years into this, we were able to be recognized internationally for this award,” said Smith. “It kind of validated that we are on the right path, that we're doing the right thing, that we're doing things that are recognized even by people that have been in the business for 30 years.”
Beyond the recognition, the AOC International Symposium and Convention was also an opportunity to continue building relationships, expand networks and promote advocacy for EMSO capabilities. Each day began and concluded with keynote presentations providing a strategic perspective on EW and spectrum operations. Attendees also participated in breakout sessions focused on more specialized or technical topics and engaged with industry vendors.
While the award marked a milestone, it merely represents a step in the effort to build and expand EMSO capabilities within the 194th Wing and ANG. The task force is working to formalize its structure, expand training pipelines and secure resources to make the capability permanent within the ANG.
“Within the Guard, no one is really doing this,” said Smith. “This is really a novel thing that we are trying to accomplish here in Washington State. And with the leadership that we have, I’m confident that we'll get there.”