What Does it Mean to be a Crow? (Part 1)

About this episode

In this episode, host Ken Miller discusses the significance of the term 'crows' in the electromagnetic warfare community with guest John Mazluff.

In the first of a two-part series, host Ken Miller brings the podcast back to basics and answers key questions newer listeners may not have thought about: Why are members of the electromagnetic warfare and spectrum operations community called crows? Why is the moniker so key to understanding our mission and identity? In today’s episode, Ken is joined by John Mazluff , Professor of Wildlife Science at the University of Washington and author of “ Gifts of the Crow ” and “ In the Company of Crows and Ravens .” Together, they unpack what makes these birds so remarkable and what EMSO warfighters share in common with some of the most intelligent birds in the world. To learn more about today’s topics or to stay updated on EMSO and EW developments, visit our homepage.

People in this episode

Host: Ken Miller

Guest: John Mazluff

Topics covered

• electromagnetic warfare
• spectrum operations
• crows
• intelligence
• identity
• wildlife science

Keywords

• electromagnetic warfare
• spectrum operations
• crows
• intelligence
• wildlife science
• Ken Miller
• John Mazluff

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Washington

Books & works: Gifts of the Crow, In the Company of Crows and Ravens

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• What Does it Mean to be a Crow? (Part 2) · April 29, 2026 · 30 min
• Adaptation as Advantage in Modern Warfare · April 15, 2026 · 43 min
• What Happens When GPS Goes Dark? · April 1, 2026 · 43 min