Center for Information Dominance Unit Monterey Holds Change of Command Ceremony

MONTEREY, Calif. (NNS) -- The Center for Information Dominance Unit (CIDU) Monterey held a change of command ceremony Oct. 26.

Cmdr. Michael "Sean" Cooney relieved Lt. Cmdr. Thor Martinsen to become CIDU's second commanding officer.

The secretary of the Navy authorized the official name change of the Center for Information Dominance Detachment Monterey to CIDU Monterey, Oct. 31, 2011 and Martinsen was its first commanding officer.

"It has been an honor to be the first commanding officer of the Center for Information Dominance Unit Monterey, and with you, write our own chapter in the Navy's history at the Presidio of Monterey," said Martinsen. "During the last 1000 days we trained over 1,250 cryptologic linguists, special operators, as well as Intelligence and Foreign Area and Exchange program officers who are now serving in every theater and area of operation. These Sailors have been given language skills critical to overseas contingency operations and intelligence and global engagements around the world."

Martinsen continued, speaking directly to the students in attendance.

"You are the reason we are here. You make me proud to be in the Navy every day. Continue to work hard and excel at language. Before you know it, you will be in the fleet and will be called upon to use the skills you are being taught here."

Guest speaker Capt. Susan Cerovsky, commanding officer, Center for Information Dominance (CID), spoke of Martinsen's accomplishments during his tenure.

"He [Martinsen] set in place a climate based on Navy Core Values and teamwork, instilling in his crew an uncompromising dedication to training excellence," said Cerovsky. "His adamant focus on safety within his unit resulted in the unit winning the Commander, Navy Education and Training 2010 Unit Safety Award.

"Under his [Martinsen] leadership, his command pioneered the use of academic early intervention and counseling along with peer-to-peer tutoring. The unit's academic success rate has risen to an all-time high of 73 percent. His focused efforts and collaboration with foreign area officer community leadership also resulted in the Navy officer success rate at CIDU Monterey increasing from 57 to 72 percent."

Cooney, who graduated from the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in 1994 as a Russian linguist, attended the Naval Postgraduate School Information Warfare curriculum in 2002 and received a Master of Science degree in Information Warfare Systems Engineering in 2004. He served in department head, executive officer and individual augmentee (IA) billets, while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His most recent assignment was executive officer at Navy Information Operations Command, Ft. Gordon, Ga.

"The profound honor of this opportunity humbles me to the core and our work is cut out for us as we continue supporting our Navy's mission both here and abroad," said Cooney. "I ask that all of you [CIDU staff] continue to give your best in your commitment to yourself, your families, the Navy, and our local communities. We have an enduring charge to uphold the highest standards in support of our Constitution and in support of our fellow Americans. We will carry out this charge with the utmost professionalism and enduring pride, dignity and respect."

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a reception and cake-cutting at the multipurpose room in the Middle Eastern II language building.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.