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SUFFOLK, Va. -- Vice Admiral Mike Vernazza, commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) / IBoss, announces the winners of the inaugural NAVIFOR sponsored information warfare (IW) Big Ideas Challenge:
Lieutenant Forrest Simpson & Lieutenant Colby McLiverty
Chief Petty Officer Karsten Aurella
Information System Technician, Network 1st Class Petty Officer Torin Turner
Ms. Kimberly Morris
The Big Ideas Challenge was enacted to create a direct line to the IBoss for any IW Sailor or Civilian to propose, and possibly demonstrate, their innovative solutions to current and future Naval challenges for the IW community.
“We launched the Big Ideas Challenge in the summer of 2024, where it was open to more than 60,000 IW Sailors and Civilians across the globe, to bring innovative ideas to light for the IW community, and the Navy, to further increase our readiness and lethality,” said Vice Admiral Mike Vernazza, “The ideas were wide-ranging from tactical equipment, to specialized training programs harnessing artificial intelligence, to onboard ship assessment software to effectively measure risk and assurance. Our IW warriors were asked to think, act, and operate differently in order to unlock new ideas and bring fresh perspectives to meet current and future challenges through optimization, modernization, and transformation.”
The ideas fell into one of four categories: IW Readiness, IW Training, Advancing IW Warfighting Capabilities, and IW Alignment and Integration. Overall, NAVIFOR received 122 proposals from commands across the Department of Navy and the Department of Defense. Submissions originated from combatant commands, system commands, submarines, ships, OPNAV N2N6, IW commands, and joint commands.
While the program culminated in a pitch style presentation to the IBoss, the 118 ideas not selected were analyzed for potential further development and use within the Navy. Commands across the IW Enterprise used their professional network to connect deck-plate initiatives with mentors and subject matter experts from PEO Digital, PEO C4I, Naval Information Warfare Development Center (NIWDC), and Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command.
“Our Sailors and civilians are at the frontlines of rapid battlefield innovation,” said Vernazza. “From the unmanned drone attacks in the Red Sea to quantum computing, the character of war is changing, and our information force must be ready. The ideas presented during the Big Ideas Challenge are bringing us closer to the lethality and readiness necessary to fight and win in today’s contested environment."
Moreover, the final pitch day was open to members of the IW enterprise. This included representatives from the resource sponsor who direct and fund IW programs, and IW systems command who provide IW warfighting capability.
“Information warfare extends from seabed to space, from our subsurface platforms and capabilities to satellite communications,” said Veronica Rogers, Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategy and Planning at NAVIFOR. “Across that breadth, we heard eight pitches that touched each IW specialty. In a warfighting domain that demands constant assessment, development, and innovation, the Big Ideas Challenge, is a tremendous way to advance and sustain our Naval information warfare competitive edge.”
IW Training
Lt. Forrest Simpson, Defense Intelligence Agency, and Lt. Colby McLiverty, Office of Naval Intelligence submitted “Core Training for Complex Threats.” This proposal addresses a critical gap in training by advocating for a redesigned Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course (NIOBC).
This solution involves restructuring NIOBC into a more focused skills-based curriculum emphasizing best of breed analytical tradecraft. This approach allows for more specialized follow-on training while addressing retention concerns. This impactful solution is designed to produce versatile and agile intelligence officers, while ensuring a seamless knowledge transition, and optimizing training effectiveness with minimal resource allocation changes.
IW Readiness
Information Systems Technician Chief Petty Officer Karsten Aurella, Commander Naval Surface Group West Pacific, developed the “IT Systems Configuration Management Tool.” This solution identified a gap in tracking critical IT system updates across the fleet which could lead to security vulnerabilities, network outages, and wasted resources.
As ITC Aurella explains, "Frontline technicians told us that nearly half of their troubleshooting stemmed from unimplemented configuration changes. This tool will give our ITs the dashboard they need to track and implement these changes, drastically improving our cybersecurity posture across the fleet."
The configuration tool provides a centralized, user-friendly dashboard for tracking and managing IT system updates across the fleet. Furthermore, Sailors could access the platform to view applicable updates for their specific systems, mark completion status, and generate reports to assess configuration compliance.
"I'm thrilled this idea was selected," Aurella adds. "This tool will not only empower our IT professionals but also provide critical oversight to ISICs, TYCOMs, and SYSCOMs. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and I'm grateful for the support of my colleagues and mentors in bringing this vision to life."
This tool would streamline communication, enhance accountability, and ensure Navy IT systems remain secure, updated, and mission ready. By providing a clear overview of configuration status, the tool would empower proactive maintenance, reduce troubleshooting time, and ultimately contribute to a more resilient and effective naval network.
IW Alignment and Integration
Information Systems Technician Nuclear 1st Class Petty Officer Torin Turner, Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), proposed his “Compliance, Risk Assessment, and Management (C-RAM)” Big Idea.
As Turner explains, "Whenever I study for something job-related, I immediately start thinking, 'How can we actually use this?' That's how C-RAM was born – from a direct need to improve how we track and manage our cybersecurity tasks."
The C-RAM program provides a centralized platform for managing crucial cybersecurity tasks. This innovative solution consolidates risk assessments, compliance tracking, and reporting into a single, user-friendly system, replacing previously scattered and inefficient methods.
He adds, "The best programs always have full leadership support, and I'm so grateful to my command for enabling me to develop and implement C-RAM and set a new cyber standard."
By providing both technical teams and leadership with a comprehensive view of cybersecurity posture, C-RAM enables more effective risk prioritization, strengthens accountability, and streamlines reporting. This streamlined approach fosters proactive risk management, improves compliance, and ultimately enhances the overall cybersecurity resilience of any organization where it's implemented.
Advancing IW Warfighting Capabilities
Ms. Kimberly Morris, deputy space operations department at Naval Network Warfare Command, pitched her idea on an “Automated SATCOM Management and Control Tool.”
As Morris explains, "This concept started as a simple 'why not?' question over a conversation with a commercial SATCOM vendor back in 2018. It's evolved through countless conversations and collaborations, from junior Sailors to some of the brightest minds in the SATCOM field."
The proposed tool offers a proactive solution by integrating commercial SATCOM options and leveraging a rules-based system for dynamic resource allocation. This innovative approach empowers the Navy to maneuver within the SATCOM domain, pre-positioning resources and enabling rapid responses to changing operational needs. By providing real-time situational awareness and automating key processes, this solution enhances mission assurance, increases resilience in contested environments, and ultimately provides a critical advantage in the information warfare domain.
Morris adds, "Being selected is incredibly humbling and reinforces that this work has real value for the warfighter. That's what drives me – serving the Sailors and Marines on the tip of the spear."
NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certified combat-ready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, and WIN.
For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NavalInformationForces/ or the public web page at https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil.
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2025 14:46 |
| Story ID: | 494504 |
| Location: | SUFFOLK, US |
| Web Views: | 619 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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