Cryptologic Technicians (Technical) Sailors from USS Hopper (DDG 70) Electronic Warfare (EW) Module attended the 7th annual Association of Old Crows (AOC) Pacific Conference to be recognized as the Association’s 2017 Outstanding Unit, Navy (Surface). 

The Outstanding Unit Award, presented by the Hawaii Chapter President Maj. Michael Noe, recognizes meritorious and distinctive sustained performance by a military unit in advancing or exemplifying the discipline of electronic warfare (EW).

“Hopper and her EW team are humbled and honored to have been considered and to be awarded with this prestigious award from the association,” said Cmdr. Holman Agard, the ship’s commanding officer. “We are proud to be recognized for the incredible hard work our CTTs have accomplished over the last two deployments.”

The crew’s unrelenting approach to EW ensured sustained superior performance through two deployments in the Indo-Pacific and Arabian Gulf, and continual readiness to excel at all assigned missions throughout the award period. 

Hopper maintained the highest level of mission success and tactical performance, earning the praise of Commander, U.S. Central Command. 

The EW module earned its joint tactical terminal – maritime certification from Commander, Third Fleet, and was used as the model for displaying and integrating data.

“Our team has worked hard over our past two deployments and we are very humbled in receiving this award as it reassures us that we indeed made a positive impact in the EW community,” said Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Daniel Hedler.

The AOC is a legacy group within the EW community, known throughout the rating as the standard-keepers for the EW discipline as it evolves with today’s threats and technologies. 

During World War II, allied electronic countermeasures (ECM) officers, tasked to disrupt enemy communications and radars, were given the code name of “Raven” to provide a degree of security to their existence. 

After World War II, a group of Raven operators were directed to establish a strategic air command flying course in ECM operations at then-McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. From all accounts from those present at the time, the students changed the name to “Crows” and those engaged in the profession became known as  “Old Crows.” 

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