Electronic Attack Squadron 129 and the Whidbey Roost of the Association of Old Crows hosted the 32nd annual Electronic Warfare Symposium aboard NAS Whidbey Island May 16-18.

Military and civilian professionals from across the EW community discussed current and developing electronic warfare tactics, current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and future plans for the EW Community at large. Attendees included representatives from the four uniformed services, DoD civilian employees, and industry representatives including AAI Corp., ATK Missile Systems, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Teledyne and Titan Corporation.

Festivities kicked off Monday at the Gallery Golf Course with a shotgun start golf tournament, followed by the Northwest Hospitality Night at Duffers’ Deli.  Longest drive and closest to the pin prizes went to Lt. Cmdr. Greg Smith and Lt. Cmdr. John Kelsey from VAQ-129. Lt. Mike Lisa from VAQ-131 won the marshmallow drive contest on tee No. 1 with a record-breaking 30-yard shot straight down the fairway.

Lt. David Harris from the Electronic Attack Weapons School noted, “I really enjoyed playing golf with many of my friends, and those Duffer’s Deli hot wings sure are scrumptious!”

Symposium presentations began Tuesday morning at the Skywarrior Theatre “EW in the Battlefield—From Baghram to Baghdad and Beyond.” Topics ranged from the role of the EA-6B Prowler in the Central Command AOR to future timelines for the EA-18G. Naval Security Group Activity Whidbey,

VQ-1 and Air Force EC-130 Commando Solo representatives used the classified venue to update the audience on current events in their communities.

Symposium briefings concluded with presentations from Capt. RobertPapadakis, EA-6B Requirements Officer, and Capt. Mark Darrah, EA-18G Deputy Program Manager, framing the bright future for EA-6B pilots and ECMOs.

Rear Adm. James. Cryer, USN (Ret.), addressed the attendees of the AOC Scholarship Awards Dinner at the Whidbey Island Officers’ Club Tuesday night.

Capt. Chris Field, Commander Electronic Attack Wing Pacific, presented Cryer with a shadowbox containing each EA-6B squadron’s coin and an American flag flown over all Prowler squadrons around the world.Antoinette Juras from Coupeville High School and Enrique Galgana from Oak Harbor High received this year’s AOC Scholarship.

Highlighting the evening was Field’s presentation of the Rear Adm. Grady Jackson EW Award to Joe Hulsey of Northrop Grumman for his lifelong dedication to EW and his immense contributions to the EA-6B Prowler community.

The Officers’ Club also hosted over a dozen contractor displays, giving attendees a look at industry’s latest technologies for the Electronic Warfare community.  Boeing manned their full size EA-18G cockpit simulator, giving aircrew a glimpse of the EW tools of tomorrow.

Symposium visitors also got a glimpse of what the flight line at NAS Whidbey Island might look like in the not-so-distant future. On display were models of the EA-18G, the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft and the Aerial Common Sensor, which will someday replace the EA-6B, P-3 and the EP-3 aircraft.VAQ-129 and AOC wishes to thank all who supported this year’s Symposium and looks forward to next year.