Non-Traditional Approaches to Communications and Alternative Positioning, Navigation & Timing
Talk title: “Non-Traditional Approaches to Communications and Alternative Positional Navigation & Timing”
As multi-domain operations increasingly face congested and contested electromagnetic spectrums, ensuring assured Communications and robust Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) requires diversifying beyond conventional satellite and line-of-sight architectures. This presentation explores three critical nontraditional modalities that provide highly resilient alternatives for the modern tactical edge. First, we introduce Free Space Optical (FSO) systems, for their capability for highly precise, GPS-independent time transfer. Second, we explore modern tropospheric scatter (troposcatter) communications, which offer reliable, over-the-horizon data links without reliance on vulnerable satellite relays. Finally, we address recent advancements in electrically small antennas for High Frequency (HF) operations, enabling compact, tactically viable deployments for resilient long-haul connectivity. These technologies represent a few potential solutions to providing the ubiquitous connections that the commercial users have become accustomed to.
Bio: Dr. Moran is currently the Head of the Advanced Microelectronics Technologies branch at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific. Her group focuses on analog integrated circuit design and communications modalities that do not rely on traditional SATCOM infrastructure. She contributes to and leads multiple positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) efforts ranging from free-space optical time transfer, clock development, and inertial sensing. Dr. Moran received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has 2 issued patents and 3 patents pending. In 2022, Dr. Moran received the Commanding Officer’s Leadership Award and the Galileo Award for S&T excellence.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
-
Add Event to Calendar
- 10401 Roselle Street
- Advanced Test Equipment Corp.
- San Diego, California
- United States 92121
- Building: Building C training room
- Contact Event Hosts
- Co-sponsored by Product Safety Chapter
- Starts 10 May 2026 07:00 AM UTC
- Ends 28 May 2026 01:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Kari Moran, Ph.D of Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
Non-Traditional Approaches to Communications and Alternative PNT
Biography:
Dr. Moran is currently the Head of the Advanced Microelectronics Technologies branch at Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific. Her group focuses on analog integrated circuit design and communications modalities that do not rely on traditional SATCOM infrastructure. She contributes to and leads multiple positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) efforts ranging from free-space optical time transfer, clock development, and inertial sensing. Dr. Moran received her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has 2 issued patents and 3 patents pending. In 2022, Dr. Moran received the Commanding Officer’s Leadership Award and the Galileo Award for S&T excellence.
Agenda
Wednesday May 27
6pm Networking and Dinner
6:45pm Presentation
7:30 pm Q&A
8:00 End of Meeting