Two Lieutenant Junior Grades conduct “Battle Management” operations.

Two Navy officers conduct “Battle Management” operations during recent flight operations aboard an E-2C “Hawkeye” assigned to the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One One Three (VAW-113) "Black Eagles"


Information Warfare

Job Overview:

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Classification:
√ Enlisted
√ Officer
Available in:
√ Active Duty
√ Navy Reserve

Navy Information Warfare Officers play a vital role in defending our national security. Electronic warfare, computer network operations, psychological operations, military deception and operations security are some of the capabilities routinely employed to influence adversarial decision making while protecting our own.

Pay:

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Job Description:

Information Warfare Officers are directly involved in every aspect of Naval operations, deploying globally to support Navy and joint war-fighting requirements. They provide vital information to tactical-, theater-, and national-level decision makers. Serve within sea, air and shore commands around the globe. And lead cryptologic technicians in related activities — afloat and ashore.

The responsibility of the Information Warfare community is to deliver overwhelming information superiority that successfully supports command objectives. This is achieved through the application of Information Operations (IO) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) expertise. The work involves attacking, defending and exploiting networks to capitalize on vulnerabilities in the information environment. And ultimately, providing war-fighters, planners and policy makers with real-time warning, offensive opportunities and an ongoing operational advantage.

What Will You Do?

Following graduation from the eleven-week Navy Information Warfare Officer Basic Course in Pensacola, Florida, you will report to your first duty assignment. Many Information Warfare Officers serve at the National Security Agency, at the Pentagon, at Regional Cryptologic Centers throughout the country, and aboard ships, submarines and aircraft. Duties typically include:

  • Leading Information Operations personnel, as well as advising Commanding Officers
  • Coordinating information warfare measures in exercises and operations
  • Assuming responsibility for collection, processing, analysis and reporting of real-time signal intelligence
  • Conducting Computer Network Operations (CNO)
  • Developing and acquiring cutting-edge exploitation and defense systems

Earn While You Learn

Naval Postgraduate School

You may have the opportunity to attend the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, to earn an advanced degree. The school offers advanced degrees (master's or doctoral) in many programs and, as an Information Warfare Officer, you may have the opportunity to pursue electrical engineering, information warfare, systems engineering, computer science and regional studies.

Junior Officer Career Cryptologic Program

This competitive three-year program will broaden your education and experience and includes an intensive internship at the National Security Agency that focuses on the fundamentals of cryptologic skills and leadership. Though not funded as a part of this program, you could also be encouraged to earn a master's degree in information systems and technology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, or at other educational institutions nearby.

Special Pay

You may earn special pay such as sea pay and hazardous duty incentive pay for the performance of certain duties. You may also earn Foreign Language Proficiency Pay for proficiency in select foreign languages.

Skills and Training

Most prospective Information Warfare Officers attend Officer Candidate School (OCS), a 12-week Navy orientation school in Newport, Rhode Island. The demanding course and curriculum here will give you a working knowledge of the Navy and will prepare you to assume the responsibilities of a being a Navy Officer — morally, mentally and physically. You'll be challenged to live up to the highest moral standards and to uphold the Navy's core values of honor, courage and commitment. Mental training will involve memorization of military knowledge, academic courses and military inspections. Physical training will consist of running, calisthenics and aquatic programs.

After completing OCS, you will attend the eleven-week Navy Information Warfare Officer Basic Course in Pensacola, Florida. This course teaches the fundamentals of Information Warfare and includes:

  • Information Operations
  • U.S. Cryptologic System
  • Electromagnetic Theory
  • RADAR
  • Satellite Fundamentals
  • Military Communications
  • Signals Collection Operations
  • Tactical Cryptology
  • Collection Management
  • Traffic Analysis
  • Signals Intelligence Reporting
  • National Security Strategy
  • Computer Networks
  • Introduction to Security

Upon graduation, your initial assignment will be to one of the four National Cryptologic Centers in either San Antonio, Texas; Kunia, Hawaii; Augusta, Georgia; or Fort Meade, Maryland. There, you'll gain additional leadership and management experience.

Career Outlook

Being a Navy Information Warfare Officer offers a rewarding career with a corps of Enlisted and Officer professionals. You will serve at the forefront of Naval operations worldwide and be on the cutting edge of information warfare technologies. Your potential for advancement and continuing education opportunities are the same as or better than in other Navy Officer communities. Career Officers often enjoy increased responsibility and challenges that can include command, Fleet Commander Staff duty, major staff duty and duty as Information Warfare Commander. The specialized knowledge and expertise you gain as an Information Warfare Officer, coupled with your security clearance, may prepare you for future employment with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or National Security Agency (NSA) should you decide to return to the civilian sector when your obligated service is finished.