Realignment of OPNAV N2N6 Responsibilities

On Thursday, 21 May 2026, the CNO announced that effective on the 4th of May the roles and responsibilities of the Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Information Warfare (IW)(N2N6) and supporting staff were realigned and distributed across the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), and OPNAV N2N6 was disestablished. The CNO explained that this realignment is possible because of the fundamental mindset shift that resulted across the Navy since the creation of OPNAV N2N6 in recognition of IW as a critical warfighting domain at all levels of warfare.

To cement this evolution and to align with the changing character of warfare, this realignment seeks to integrate deep intelligence expertise with the Navy’s Echelon I policy and strategy development, continue delivery of sound Information and Technology (IT) architecture necessary to support resilient C2 and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-enabled decisions, and inextricably link platform resourcing with the IW systems and personnel necessary to fight and win, today and in the future.

In short, the realignment is designed to integrate, align, and mainstream naval intelligence and information warfare across Navy operations, planning, policy development and resource decision making.

The full text of the NAVADMIN follows:

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/

ROUTINE

R 212007Z MAY 26 MID120041261870U

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC

TO NAVADMIN

INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC

CNO WASHINGTON DC

CMC WASHINGTON DC

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UNCLAS

NAVADMIN 123/26

MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/MAY//

SUBJ/REALIGNMENT OF OPNAV N2N6 RESPONSIBILITIES//

REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/171329Z NOV 09//

NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 334/09, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NAVY INFORMATION

DOMINANCE CORPS//

RMKS/1. Effective 4 May 2026, the roles and responsibilities of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) for Information Warfare (IW) (N2N6) and supporting staff were realigned and distributed across the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and OPNAV N2N6 was disestablished. The critical resource-sponsor portfolios formerly managed by N2N6 are now managed in a new organizational construct described herein.

2. Reference (a) characterized information as "a main battery of our full-spectrum warfighting capability" and originally established OPNAV N2N6 to optimize effectiveness and integrate "the Capabilities of Naval Intelligence, Cyber Warfare, Command and Control (C2), Electronic Warfare, battlespace awareness, and networks." Since 2009, the evolution of IW has indeed delivered on fusing end-to-end warfighting capability across the IW pillars of Battlespace Awareness, Integrated Fires, and Assured C2.

a. This realignment is only possible because of the fundamental mindset shift that resulted across the Navy in recognition of IW as a critical warfighting domain at all levels of warfare. The 2014 establishment of Navy Information Dominance Forces, now known as Commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR), as the IW Type Commander (TYCOM) was a natural progression of the evolution of the IW domain and cemented a Fleet focus on integration by setting the conditions for warfighting outcomes through improved afloat and ashore readiness, force generation of trained and qualified IW Sailors, and IW commands that are globally integrated and integral to Fleet operations.

b. To cement this evolution and to align with the changing character of warfare, this realignment seeks to integrate deep intelligence expertise with our Echelon I policy and strategy development, continue delivery of sound Information Technology (IT) architecture necessary to support resilient C2 and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-enabled decisions, and inextricably link platform resourcing with the IW systems and personnel necessary to fight and win, today and in the future.

c. The new structure will institutionalize the management of IW requirements and resourcing under the DCNO for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities (N6N9), who will serve as the Single Accountable Officer for comprehensive and informed decision-making. Additionally, this alignmentreinforces a TYCOM-to-resource sponsor relationship for the information enterprise that resembles the undersea, surface, expeditionary, and aviation enterprise relationships.

3. The organizational realignment of OPNAV N2N6 culminated in the following changes:

a. Establishment of the Director of OPNAV Intelligence Division (N2).

Mr. Steve Parode is designated as N2. In addition, he will retain the titles of Director, Naval Intelligence Activity and Deputy Director, Naval Intelligence and is designated as Acting Director, Naval Intelligence (DNI), to include the duties and functions associated while serving as Head of an Intelligence Community Element (HICE) and the Senior Official of the Intelligence Community. As N2, he is the principal advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) on service-led strategic intelligence needs, representing the CNO in Joint Military Intelligence and Intelligence Community forums and serving as the CNO's principal for collaborating with the Department of the Navy Secretariat on intelligence and security matters.

He will report to DCNO for Intelligence, Operations, Plans, Strategy, and Warfighting Development (N2N3N5N7). N2 is the Navy point of contact (POC) for operational intelligence support, intelligence production prioritization, and policy clarification and changes as well as any requests requiring HICE action. N2 will retain operational control over the Naval Intelligence Activity and all subordinate commands.

The N2 Division has four branches:

(1) N21: Fleet Requirements

(2) N22: Threat Analysis

(3) N23: Global Intelligence Operations and Engagements

(4) N2T: Strategic Integration

b. Establishment of Assistant DCNO (ADCNO) for IW Requirements and Capabilities (N6N9C). Ms. Jennifer Edgin is designated as N6N9C and will serve as the principal advisor to the CNO on IW policy and lead policy matters pertaining to information technology, space, and cyber and will serve as the Department of the Navy, Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) (Navy). She will report to N6N9. N6N9C is the POC for Navy service policy requests related to space, cyber, and CIO-related functions.

c. Establishment of Director for IW (N99). RADM Susan Bryer Joyner is N99 and is responsible for IW requirements and resource sponsorship for the full Navy IW portfolio within OPNAV control, which comprises tactical warfighting intelligence programs; electronic warfare; cyber; networks; space; oceanography; meteorology; positioning, navigation, and timing; Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3); and Maritime Operations Center and Maritime Headquarters Staffs. She will report to N6N9. The N99 Division has six branches:

(1) N99C: C3 for Tactical and Enterprise Networks and NC3 (combines the functions of the former N2N6D and former N2N6N)

(2) N99E: Oceanography and Navigation (formerly N2N6E)

(3) N99P: IW Resources and Manpower (formerly N2N6IP)

(4) N99Q: Intelligence Capabilities (formerly N2N6Q)

(5) N99W: Integrated IW Fires (formerly N2N6W)

(6) N99X: IW Future Capabilities (formerly N2N6IX)

4. N99E will reside within N99 and remains the POC for Navy service policy issues and requests related to Oceanography, Meteorology and Navigation andwill continue as a dual-hatted assignment as Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.

5. Built in the Foundry - Tempered in the Fleet - Forged to Fight.

6. ADM Daryl Caudle, 34th Chief of Naval Operations sends.//

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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED