Author Description

In 2018, the Electromagnetic Defense Task Force (EDTF) was created to undertake an audacious effort to holistically understand challenges and opportunities facing militaries and societies in an age increasingly dominated by the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS), a broad area of activity characterized by the visible and invisible movement of light and energy. The task force was a triage response to an enterprise-wide knowledge deficiency about the criticality of issues confronting the United States and its allies as every aspect of modern society becomes increasingly reliant on the EMS.The EDTF ecosystem now comprises more than 360 distinguished fellows, many of whom have invested the greater part of their careers solving and understanding the intricacies of the EMS. Covering EMS management and 5G to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and space weather to quantum and lasers to directed energy and beyond, the task forceʼs primary purpose is to digest and disseminate EMS knowledge of a critical nature to the defense community.In 2019, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (VCJCS) met with EDTF leaders and noted the value of the task force to the international discourse on the EMS. Furthermore, the VCJCS evaluated and concurred with a war-gaming scenario for use as a backdrop to answering four questions during the second summit:1. Based on the [EMS] scenario, assess post-event Joint Force (military)capabilities: what assets/functions remain viable?2. Based on what remains viable (preserved): what Joint Force strategies/regeneration options can be realistically put forward to national leaders for recovery and/or military response?3. What are our strategic blind spots in regard to each track in a severeEMS-degraded environment, and how should we place near-termbets to counter/frustrate enemy efforts?4. What happens when we lose position, navigation, and timing (PNT)?