Old crows celebrate Fiesta with trade show

(Editor’s note:  While most of San Antonio goes into a party mode, it’s amazing to find that some of the city’s leaders in cyber technology will hold the biennial FIESTACROW 11 from, April 11th through April 13th at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center.  Matt Scherer, our San Antonio Entrepreneur Network managing editor, sat down with Ron Poland, the event’s public relations manager, to discuss how military and civilian business leaders can take a break from their Night in Old San Antonio and Oyster Bake activities to participate in this event.)

SAENetwork:  What exactly is an old crow?

Poland:  The name “Old Crow” emerged from the first large-scale use of electronic warfare during the Battle of Britain and the U.S. and allied bombing raids over Europe during World War II. The allied radar countermeasures operators used the code name “Ravens” and employed receivers and transmitters to monitor and jam threat frequencies, Military jargon later changed “Ravens” to “Crows”. These crows today are engaged in the science and practice of electronic warfare, information operations, cyber and related disciplines.

SAEnetwork.org: With your event as a backdrop to Fiesta, how does it attract outside visitors to your event?

The primary attraction is the tradition of a leading edge technical program providing the attendees with a challenging look at cyber in military operations and the exchange of current information in this arena

Q3.  What kind of technology leaders and developers would be interested in your event?

This event would appeal to leaders in cyber technologies such as computer network defense, computer network operations and database support.

Q4.  Who are some of the key speakers at your event?

Robert Butler, deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, Maj. Gen. Richard Webber, commander 24^th Air Force, and Col. Peter Lambert, commander, 659th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group are scheduled to speak.

As well, Col. Kevin Wooten, Commander, 67 Network Warfare Wing, Col. Greg Smith, deputy director for requirements and policy, Air Force Global Strike Command and Col. Lawrence Averbeck, chief information operations division, Air Combat Command/A3I are part of a program.   We also have senior leaders from the United States Cyber Command and the Army Intelligence and Security Command who will update attendees on their operations and issues.

Q5.  Your event provides thousands in scholarship…..What kind of students should apply for one from your organization?

Students that are in their junior or senior years and are majoring in electrical engineering, physics, or computer science.   It’s best for students to contact their financial aid departments for information and the application needed to apply for these scholarships.

Note: There is a significant charge for participation in this event, but the organization also opens some aspects of its event to the public at no charge.  As well, there is a special tract that is available to those who hold special military classification.  More information is available at www.FiestaCrow.

About Jason Myers

Jason Myers is the editor-in-chief of the Texas Entrepreneur Network and can be reached at jason@txenetworks.com