Opportunities for NSG identified by the BOGGSATT

• Forward-deployed US Navy/US Marine Corps team first choice over other Services for emerging global military requirements (e.g. peacekeeping operations, non-combatant evacuations)
• Greater demand for cryptologic products against a variety of potential enemies (many holes to fill)
• Opportunity to redirect resources and physical assets in line with new Navy strategy
• Technology advances make some cryptologic problems easier
• Growing global interdependence makes insight into certain missions easier
• Opportunity for new ways of thinking, innovations (NEW THINK)
• Mandate for change from many quarters
• Opportunity to lead/define joint efforts with other services

On the retiring list

Rear Admiral Ned Deets (Retired)

Captain Craig Eaton - October 2011

Captain Paul Jaeger ** (Retired)

Captain Rick Bodziak

Captain Eugene Potente ** (Retired)

Captain Jon Dollan **(Retired)

Captain Tom Harvan

Captain Steve Ashworth - September 2011
Captain Greg Haws (Retired)

You may know others.  We'll say "Fair Winds and Following Seas" to the men above and a number other key leaders, and then welcome a new batch of Navy Captain selectees at the end of the month.

** retired or on terminal leave as of 1 June 2011

Fifth Navy CO Fired in 2011

The skipper of VAQ-129 (the Navy and Marine Corps’ EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler training squadron) was fired on 11 April 2011.  Newspapers in Washington state report that Commander Tim Murphy was stopped by Anacortes police early Sunday on suspicion of driving drunk - after being pulled over for speeding.

Captain Christopher Shay, Commander Electronic Attack Wing-Pacific, relieved Murphy due to "loss of confidence in his ability to command."

The official VAQ-129 (.mil) website was shut down (presumably by the webmaster) and his official bio is no longer available on the VAQ-129 website. You can see it HERE.

Captain Shay relieved Murphy for failing to maintain the high standards of conduct expected of the wing's commanding officers.

Commander Murphy won the Capt. Thomas J. Ford Electronic Attack Community Leadership Award while serving as VAQ 140’s executive officer in 2007.

Word to the wise...alcohol and motor vehicles don't mix well.

Strengths of the former NSG organization as identified by the BOGGSATT

1. Cadre of professional career cryptologists (officer & enlisted specialists, not generalists)
2. Highly trained enlisted community
3. Naval Security Group personnel closely integrated in the field with operational customers
4. Short, responsive chain of command
5. Good reputation with major stakeholders
6. Lean organization at headquarters/staffs/sites (low headcount)
7. Strong synergy between NSG's strategic and tactical cryptologic products and services

Threats to NSG identified in the 1994 Strategic Planning Sessions

1. Declining fiscal and personnel resources - mission becomes `budget driven' (`Fair share' budget cuts may destroy important capabilities)
2. Uncertain/hard-to-define future missions
3. Forced merger with other Navy organizational entities or even other service organizations might mean the loss of professional Navy cryptology
4. World (competitive landscape) changing too fast to track
5. Products and services becoming obsolete due to rapidly advancing technology
6. Budget driving increased reliance on less robust systems (e.g. remote operations, outsourcing)
7. Loss of control under `joint' mandates (mergers and acquisitions)
8. Loss of primacy of cryptology due to growing reliance on other forms of intelligence (loss of major business lines)
9. Diverging goals between strategic and tactical programs could destroy synergy of products and services)
10. Loss of global reach from closing overseas sites

CAPT Joseph Rochefort - A GIANT of the cryptologic community

The Information Warfare Community recently established the Captain Joseph Rochefort Distinguished Leadership Award.  The contributions of the Station HYPO team under CAPT Rochefort remain foundational to our Community's heritage.   Annually, the community will honor the superior achievements of one Navy Information Warfare Officer.

Officers will be nominated by their peers and a winner selected by an appointed panel.  You will see the official announcement, criteria, and call for nominees shortly from Fleet Cyber Command/TENTH Fleet.  (As announced in RADM Deets' communique to the community on 6 April 2011).

For more information on this historic figure, you can go HERE.

Skipper in the spotlight - Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center

Captain Donald P. Darnell Jr. is a native of Fairfax, Virginia. He graduated from George Mason University with degrees in Economics and History in 1986 and received his commission via Officers Candidate School in 1987.

Captain Darnell Jr assumed Command of the Center for Naval Intelligence and Navy Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in August 2009. Prior to his Command tour, he was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations staff as Executive Assistant to the N2/Director of Naval Intelligence.

Captain Darnell began his career at Naval Security Group Activity Northwest in Chesapeake, VA; there he served as Assistant Cryptologic Readiness Group Officer and later as the Information Systems Division Officer. His next tour was aboard USS FLETCHER (DD-992) where he served as the OUTBOARD Officer / Electronic Warfare Officer and qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. During this tour FLETCHER participated in PACEX 1989 and a subsequent Western Pacific Deployment.

In 1992 he was assigned as an intern in the Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program (JOCCP) at the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland. Following this tour, CAPT Darnell was assigned as the C4I Manpower Requirements Officer in N122 on the OPNAV Staff.

CAPT Darnell reported to the staff of Commander Carrier Group THREE aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70), as the Flag Cryptologist and CARL VINSON Battlegroup Cryptologic Resources Coordinator in 1998. He deployed to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf and participated in Operation DESERT FOX, Maritime Interdiction Operations and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

In 2000 CAPT Darnell attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Upon completion, he was assigned to US Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, where he served as head of the Information Operations Support Branch and later as Executive Assistant to the Director for Intelligence.

CAPT Darnell then reported to the Staff of Commander, THIRD Fleet, in San Diego California where he served as the Fleet Information Operations Officer (J39). CAPT Darnell assumed command of U.S. Navy Information Operations Command Misawa and assumed duties as the Vice Commander of the Misawa Security Operations Center (MSOC) in June of 2006. CAPT Darnell reported to the OPNAV staff in August of 2008 as the Deputy for Plans, Policy and Programs (N20B). His most recent assignment was as the Executive Assistant (N2A) to the Director of Naval Intelligence.

CAPT Darnell’s military decorations include: the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars. He holds a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence (MSSI) Degree from the Joint Military Intelligence College; and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. CAPT Darnell is a designated Joint Specialty Duty Officer.

Failing

 Steve Mann - http://www.cloudave.com/author/stevemann/

Overheard in the passageway -

"My command is failing better than ever before.  I am okay with that.  Each time we fail a little better than the last.  We are on the cusp of success.  I'd feel better if we failed a little more; we'd get to success a little faster."

Cryptology - circa 1994

 

PREAMBLE

The Navy-Marine Corps Cryptologic Team is recognized as the premier

cryptologic force within the Department of Defense, fully capable and

always ready to conduct global operations in support of United States

National objectives.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide Cryptologic Forces to support the needs

of naval,  unified and National Command Authorities so that our nation

can deter aggression, encourage political stability, provide forward

presence, establish sea control and project power From The Sea

against any threat and win.

VISION STATEMENT

We are the premier Service Cryptologic Force dedicated to:

• Professionalism and integrity
• Superior technical achievement
• Teamwork, Training and Communications
• Continuous improvement and innovation

and above all else - 

• PEOPLE

Change of Command

Today, Commander Bryan Lopez will be relieved by Commander Murry Carter as Commanding Officer, Navy Information Operations Command San Diego - the first NIOC !  Commander Carter's biography is HERE.

The ceremony will be held at Liberty Station (formerly Naval Training Center San Diego).

Captain Lopez is headed to be the Executive Officer at SPAWAR SSC-PAC.

All the best to both of you in your new assignment.

Information Warfare and Cryptology Community - 2011 Update

Our Membership 

All Information Warfare Officers (AC/RC), all Cryptologic Technicians (AC/RC) ,
and Navy Civilians executing the Community's mission.

 

Our Vision

We are a community of war fighters who deliver information dominance to Naval and Joint commanders.  We do so by applying the core skills of cryptology, signals intelligence, computer network operations, and electronic warfare. 
We will continue to lead in this game-changing warfare area across the Department of Defense.

Our Core Skills 

Cryptology and signals intelligence, computer network operations
(exploit, defend, attack) , and electronic warfare.

Our Mission

  Execute the full spectrum of cyber, cryptology, signals intelligence, information operations, computer network operations, and electronic warfare missions.  This occurs across the cyber, electromagnetic and space domains to deter and defeat aggression, to provide warning of intent, and to ensure freedom of action while achieving military objectives in and through cyberspace.

Just released by RADM Deets on 6 April 2011.  3 other teams are working on (1) Community Strategy, (2) Professional tracks for IW officers, and (3) An Advisory Council which will produce a monthly communique for the community leader to send "to the Force to keep all informed and united." 

FY12 Information Warfare Officer Captains

By Easter we'll know who the FY12 IWO Captain selectees are.  The 'tracker' on the NPC website has the list sitting with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) as of 22 March.  The list will be on its way to the SECNAV before you know it.

A reminder on the In Zone candidates.

• SCHEIDT, JEFFREY S. - in command now
• BEAN, CLIFFORD W. III 
• CARNEY, CAMERON PHILLIP 
• RANDOLPH, MARK D.
• BATES, RUTH ANNE 
• STEWART, ANDREW DONALD 
• SCHUMANN, MICHAEL A.
• BERG, HEIDI KRISTEN - previous CO Bahrain
• DIEHL, WILLIAM J.
• MATEO, NIELS F. - in command now
• HINTON, KEVIN SCOTT

Getting the news out

News is, by definition, NEW! Flag officers, SES’s, commanding officers, and public affairs officers must move information quickly.

Many opportunities for positive news coverage are lost because we don’t get the story to the media (or our People) fast enough or early enough.

You already know how difficult it is to reach the commercial media when you have a story to pitch. Your contact with the media can be more effective if you remember the basics:

• Have well-briefed subject matter experts available
• Ensure spokespersons and subject matter experts are trained on how to interact effectively with media
• Prepare communication points and fact sheets
• Remain accessible
• Protect privacy, classified information
• Be honest and forthright
• Get your message out. No matter what the news topic, no matter how negative the coverage appears, there are always opportunities to balance the reporting with your message.

From the Navy's 2005 Playbook on public affairs.

Professional Development of Special Duty Information Warfare Officers

Education and training play a significant role in every Information Warfare officer's (IWO) professional development and provide some of the tools required for performance in subsequent assignments.  Completion of a particular program does not, in itself, guarantee promotion.  Rather, it is the officer's application of education and training that contributes to professional advancement. Training and education opportunities exist at the National Security Agency (NSA), Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and the Service Colleges (and  other  participating colleges and universities).

The Junior Officer Cryptologic Career Program (JOCCP), developed in 1971 at NSA, provides junior officers (02-04) with an extensive three-year career development program in cryptology.  JOCCP participants may serve in as many as six Agency work centers, including mandatory assignments in the areas of analysis/reporting, collection management and ELINT/Electronic Warfare.  Concurrent with these operational assignments, JOCCP officers complete nearly 1000 hours of formal instruction at the National Cryptologic School and other agencies in the Washington, DC area.

NPS postgraduate education precedes assignment to any one of over 80 technical billets designated for NPS graduates, the majority of which are in the Washington, DC area.  Electronic engineering, computer science/systems, communications, information warfare, space operations and financial management make up the bulk of the programs available for the 181X officer at NPS.

Attendance at a service college is considered a significant milestone in the professional development of a naval officer.  The objective of the Navy's service college-program is to develop in selected naval officers an improved capability to provide intellectual leadership and exercise sound judgment in defense matters.  The individual service colleges and their various curricula emphasize these objectives by examining different service and joint military operations, resource management and national strategy and policy.  Graduation from any one of the service colleges or the Armed Forces Staff College leads to the opportunity for follow-on assignment to a joint duty tour and subsequent eligibility for Joint Specialist Officer Designation.

More information is available HERE on the Naval Personnel Command website.

Worth a repeat post

Money, balls and authority at TENTH Fleet

"Finally there's a new sheriff in town with the money, the balls, and the authority to change operations in one of the military services. He (VADM Barry McCullough, Fleet Cyber Command/Commander, TENTH Fleet) is the first guy who is actually acting."

Alan Paller is director of research at the SANS Institute.