Information Warfare Community Celebrates 14th Birthday

A Message from VADM Kelly Aeschbach, Commander Naval Information Forces

Date: 31 October 2023

Dear Navy IW Leaders,

Force Master Chief and I are excited to celebrate the 14th birthday of the Information Warfare Community. 

Fourteen years ago, our Navy formally established the Information Warfare Community redefining how we approach information warfare.  This was a historic occasion, and we are proud to recognize the contributions of our Information Warfare Community. On that date, the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance, also known as OPNAV N2/N6, took on a broader and more integrated role. N2/N6 assumed responsibility for intelligence, information, cryptologic warfare, cyber, communications, networks, oceanography, space, maritime domain awareness, and Navy unmanned systems. Since then, the Information Warfare Community has been instrumental in enhancing these capabilities, and the professionals within our community have adapted to new challenges and technologies, making sure we're prepared to meet any threat head-on. You - our IW experts - play a vital role in ensuring that our Navy remains at the forefront of information warfare in an ever-evolving digital age.

There is no doubt that IW has been critical to naval warfare for decades and the transition that occurred fourteen years ago marked a significant milestone for our Navy. It recognized that each of the information warfare domains are not separate entities, but interconnected parts of our overall mission. Our Navy must operate seamlessly in these areas to maintain an information advantage and meet the challenges of today's rapidly changing global environment. Our Navy has always been at the forefront of innovation and adaptation. And our IW community is ready to meet whatever challenges lie ahead. 

We want to thank each and every member of our Navy IW team for your professionalism and dedication to being the world's premier information warfighters. Make no mistake: as you look at how our Navy stands ready to defend our nation's interests around the globe - from events that are unfolding in the Middle East, to responding to competitors in the Pacific... THAT is Navy Information Warfare at work. Because of YOUR efforts, our Navy is ready to meet the fight tonight, and the future fight.  Please share this message for widest dissemination to celebrate this momentous occasion (also in video format).