Army Electronic Warfare advancements: division chief perspective

By Adrienne MoudyFebruary 27, 2015

Army EW Division Chief, COL Jim Ekvall
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COL Jim Ekvall explains EMS
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WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Feb. 27, 2015) -- In a post-9/11 world, electronic warfare, or EW, for the Army experienced a reemergence due to the need to combat improvised explosive devices that were being used against U.S. and allied forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army's Electronic Warfare Division at the Pentagon was created in 2006 to build Army EW capability and capacity and to set policies needed to get the equipment to the Soldiers in the field and establish an EW military occupational specialty. The division is now headed up by Col. Jim Ekvall.

While serving as EW division chief, Ekvall has brought together stakeholders within the EW community -- Soldiers, civilians, academia and industry -- to discuss the way ahead for future threats and the Army's role in countering those threats.

"There has always been an Army EW community, but that community was often unaware of the community members," said Ekvall. "I think the EW division has worked the hardest at, and been the most successful at, bringing the Army's large EW community closer together."

The Electronic Warfare Proponent Office is part of the Cyber Center of Excellence located at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and the EW school is located at Fort Sill, Oklahoma at the Fires CoE. These locations, in addition to the Intelligence CoE at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, the Aviation CoE at Fort Rucker, Alabama and the Maneuver CoE at Fort Benning, Georgia, play an important role in the larger EW community. Academia and industry partners do as well.

"At least we know who's who and how to work with them to find the best solutions to the very complex EW problem set," said Ekvall.

EVOLUTION OF EW CAREER FIELD

The EW 29-series MOS is a relatively new MOS, and with the new creation of the 17-series MOS for the Cyberspace career, many Soldiers who have chosen to specialize in EW question how much longer their career choice will be relevant.

Ekvall was quick to say that regardless of the creation of the 17-series, the skill set that 29-series Soldiers possess will without a doubt remain in demand.

"I know from my conversations with 29-series commissioned, warrant and non-commissioned officers that they are concerned that they may be absorbed into the growing 17-series, Cyberspace career field," said Ekvall. "My advice to them is don't be: the Army's requirements to synchronize, integrate, and execute CEMA operations will require EW subject matter expertise, regardless of the current branch a Soldier has chosen."

In February of 2014, the Army published Field Manual 3-38 doctrine for Cyber Electromagnetic Activities. This has been an integral doctrine for linking EW, cyberspace operations and spectrum management together for the Army.

"I believe that, as the importance of spectrum dominance to successful cyberspace operations is better realized, the relationship between the electronic warfare community and the cyberspace community will grow even stronger," said Ekvall. "That strengthening relationship directly affects the EW 29-series Soldier as the integrator of cyberspace operations. To tell the truth, the relationship is already growing stronger in Mission Command Doctrine through Cyber Electromagnetic Activities."

FIELDING MATERIAL SOLUTIONS

When Ekvall took the reins in 2010 as division chief, the Integrated Electronic Warfare System, or IEWS, which is a system of systems was nothing much more than an idea. Fast forward to today, and the first piece of the IEWS, the electronic warfare planning and management tool, known as EWPMT, has reached Milestone B, and will soon be implemented into select units for testing. EWPMT is a software tool which will feature 22 separate and distinct functions and will allow Soldiers to operate in a more efficient manner for EW operations.

"Of course it feels great to see EWPMT being developed, not because it's a personal triumph, but because it's a documented requirement desperately need by the warfighter," said Ekvall.

EWPMT will not only benefit Soldiers in the EW career field, but cyberspace operators and spectrum managers as well.

"What's even better is knowing that the solution will have a corresponding great benefit to not only the EW professional, but to the entire CEMA community: the cyberspace professional and the spectrum management professional," said Ekvall. "What EWPMT will do for the warfighter is equal to what the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System did for the warfighter."

Aside from EWPMT, IEWS also will comprise of Defensive Electronic Attack, known as DEA, and Multi-Function Electronic Warfare or MFEW.

Airborne electronic attack systems have played an important role in Army EW during Ekvall's tenure as division chief as well. Following up on the successful airborne electronic attack system known as CEASAR, for Communications Electronic Attack Surveillance and Reconnaissance which is a jamming pod attached to a C-12 aircraft, the Army decided to test the same pod on an unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV. Deciding to stay with the Roman Emperor theme, this UAV jamming pod and platform were christened NERO, which stands for Networked Electronic Warfare Remotely Operated.

Last summer the Army successfully tested NERO on a Gray Eagle at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah.

"I think that the data gained for the NERO tests will provide valuable information to both the combat and materiel developers on the possibilities of organic U.S. Army airborne electronic attack," said Ekvall.

The research and development that has gone into fielding material solutions as well as feedback from the Soldiers continues to help the improvement of EW tools that will be beneficial for the Soldiers in the future. Eliminating capability gaps has, and will continue to be, a top priority for the EW division.

IMPORTANCE OF CONTROLLING THE EMS

Ekvall continued to highlight that the long-term need to control the electromagnetic spectrum will only increase in the future of warfare.

"It's everywhere {the electromagnetic spectrum}, available to everyone, and free. If we don't gain the upper hand in the spectrum, then we are at significant risk," said Ekvall.

Ekvall discussed that one of the principle tasks for EW systems is to protect and save Soldiers lives by manipulating the spectrum. In a current fiscal environment like today, many tough decisions are being made on what programs are most needed for the military. EW is continually mentioned as an emerging area of importance for the current threat environment.

"We cannot continue to rely on the Joint force to provide Army commanders with 24-hour-a-day, 365-day a year, all weather dominance of the EMS," said Ekvall. "The Army has to provide this to its commanders and their organizations as organic capabilities to the force."

There is no doubt that it will become more difficult for the commanders to execute future missions without the necessary tools to control the spectrum.

"Commanders today cannot execute their mission command responsibilities without gaining and maintaining an advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum. Commander's today do not have the all the tools necessary to do that," said Ekvall.

CONCLUSION OF LEADING EW DIVISION

Commissioned in ROTC as a distinguished honor graduate in 1986 through Georgia Tech, Ekvall began his career as a field artillery officer and at that time probably did not imagine his career would conclude as chief of the recently formed Army Electronic Warfare Division.

"It takes a team of uniformed, civilian, and contracted subject matter experts, teamed with industry and academia to realize the Army's EW requirements," said Ekvall. "It has been my great pleasure to have been associated with them all."

As Ekvall prepares to not only move on from his time as the EW division chief, he is also preparing to retire from a near 29-year career serving in the Army. Ekvall received both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in history from West Georgia College and Louisiana State University respectively, and has throughout his career had the experience to witness much of modern history take place. Ekvall's first assignment as a lieutenant was with the First Armored Division at the time in the Federal Republic of Germany. He witnessed the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Later, Ekvall was assigned to NATO Headquarters in Brussels Belgium during the time period that NATO expanded to include former Eastern Bloc nations.

When Ekvall retires at the end of July it is vastly apparent that among all the career accomplishments not only as Army EW division chief, but the entirety of his career, service to country is the most important to Ekvall.

"Serving the people of the greatest nation on earth, has without a doubt been the most rewarding part of my career," said Ekvall.

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Related Links:

Fort Gordon Cyber Center of Excellence

Fort Sill Fires Center of Excellence

Army Electronic Warfare Chief Participates on Spectrum Panel

Soldiers Soon to have Electromagnetic Battlefield Management Tool

Army Electronic Warfare Evolutionary Path Presented at EW Summit

Follow Army Electronic Warfare on Twitter

Army Electronic Warfare Facebook Page