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CNO Speaks to Electronic Warfare and Information Operations Professionals

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS131030-07
Release Date: 10/30/2013 11:33:00 AM

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Julianne Metzger

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert was the keynote speaker at a national electronic warfare convention held in D.C. Oct. 29.

The Association of Old Crows (AOC), which hosted the event, is a non-profit organization that promotes all aspects of electronic warfare within the Department of Defense and Industry.

Speaking to more than 500 military and civilian electronic warfare and information operations professionals, Greenert discussed how the Navy is focused on the electromagnetic spectrum and cyber warfare in the coming years.

'We're using the electromagnetic spectrum as a domain and as a means, and we understand and grasp it,' said Greenert. 'We have to figure out how we can beat things electronically first. Why do we spend all this money kinetically if we can jam, spoof or do otherwise?'

Greenert outlined the Navy's approach to this emerging domain in a series of three steps; the first step being cultivating more awareness of the electromagnetic and cyber warfare environment.

'We've got to get a better awareness of our environment out there, we need to know what normal is,' said Greenert. 'We've brought all these networks in and we know when there is a change, but is the status quo the normal? The other is finding out what our electronic signature is on all our units.'

Greenert also stressed that commands need to remain vigilant in their cyber hygiene.

'Are you changing your passwords frequently, are you keeping thumb drives off your computers and are you doing the proper monitoring?' Greenert asked.

Greenert stressed the importance of agility in regards to the electromagnetic spectrum and cyber warfare, using such assets as strike packages, developing radars than can use alternate frequencies and assembling cyber teams.

'We've got to evolve this paradigm,' said Greenert. 'We need to prepare the fleet to enact an electronic warfare plan the same way they think of a communications or surface warfare plan.'

Greenert also described the expansion of Navy training to develop cyber warriors for the future at the Naval Academy, Naval Postgraduate School and Corry Station Naval Technical Training Center.

Likening cyber warriors to jedis, Greenert said, 'We want to work faster to develop our cyber warriors.'

'We're going to have to teach our people to understand the value of this spectrum and cyber,' said Greenert. 'We just need to break out of our training techniques. The Naval Postgraduate School to me is where we need to send officers and some select enlisted to become theoretical experts on this subject.'

Closing his remarks and following question and answer session, Greenert reiterated his commitment to exploring the electromagnetic spectrum and cyber warfare. He emphasized that this one of his four focus areas is very critical and something he would be working on for the rest of his tenure.