CNO Visits SPAWAR to Discuss Information Dominance

By Nicole Collins, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) visited the Space and Naval Warfare Systems (SPAWAR) Command Sept. 16, meeting with the SPAWAR Commander, and other team members who deliver Information Dominance.

In addition to a tour of the campus, where Team SPAWAR acquires, develops, delivers and sustains information capabilities for the warfighter, the two-hour visit focused heavily on discussing SPAWAR's progress in executing the five key taskers that directly align with the CNO and SECNAV's top priorities established at the beginning of SPAWAR Commander Rear Adm. Patrick Brady's tenure in early August 2010.

CNO Adm. Gary Roughead and Rear Adm. Brady discussed SPAWAR's progress of each tasker, which focus largely on fleet support and implementing efficiencies from a Department of Navy perspective.

The CNO also observed four ongoing science and technology projects that demonstrate how Team SPAWAR is leading the charge to turn the CNO's information dominance vision into a reality for the Navy.

"Team SPAWAR's mission is to make the Navy's Information Dominance vision a reality," said Brady. "It is our job to provide our warfighters the technology to succeed in the operational environment and I am proud we could share some of our many contributions to the warfighter with the CNO today."

Rear Adm. Brady and the CNO reviewed Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) systems maintenance and modernization improvements; Tenth Fleet operational initiatives; and Team SPAWAR's initiatives for instilling a culture of efficiency within the Department of Navy. Roughead was briefed on command and control rapid prototyping continuum, computer vulnerability management, and unmanned systems capabilities which support the execution of Information Dominance and cyber space operations.

"Cyber space is on the bottom of the ocean because 95 percent of what moves in cyber space moves on cables that rest on the bottom of the ocean. That's the maritime domain. That's the domain of the United States Navy," Adm. Roughead stated on the importance of cyber space operations.

As the Navy's technical lead for Command, Control, Communications,

Computers and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), SPAWAR provides the hardware and software to connect our warfighters at sea, on land in the air. Cyber space operations are one of Team SPAWAR's areas of expertise continuing to defend the Navy's communications and networks.

To learn more about SPAWAR, who delivers advanced information technologies to the fleet, please visit http://www.spawar.navy.mil/.