Information Systems Technician 1st Class Michaela Dycus, a native of Ft. Riley, Kansas, currently serves as an instructor at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach. 

She enlisted in the United States Navy in June of 2010. After completing basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, she reported to IWTC Corry Station, formerly Center for Information Dominance Corry Station, for Information Systems Technician “A” school. Following her graduation from “A” school, she reported to her first duty station, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS), Atlantic Det. Rota, Spain. While serving as the electronic key management system clerk she tracked and maintained all communications security equipment, local element records, and managed the secure terminal equipment for the installation. She earned her enlisted information warfare specialist warfare device and was selected as the Junior Sailor of the Year.

Following her tour at NCTAMS, she reported to USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), where she led and trained 35 Sailors on the day-to-day operations of three critical shipboard networks encompassing more than 1,500 pieces of equipment. She also served as a global command and control systems maritime (GCCS-M) system administrator. She assisted in the $40 million Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command system upgrade encompassing 24 command, control, communications, computer, intelligence systems including consolidated afloat enterprise network services (CANES) installation and system operability test which resulted in the Iwo Jima being the first CANES platform to meet production completion ahead of schedule. During this tour, she qualified as an enlisted surface and aviation warfare specialist. She was also essential in the establishment of the enlisted information warfare specialist program onboard and creation of the local platform qualification. 

In March 2018 she transferred to IWTC Virginia Beach to serve as a naval tactical command support system instructor before assuming the role for course supervisor of the GCCS-M system administrator course. She has provided 520 hours of instruction to 47 Sailors in preparation for their daily duties and tasks in the fleet and was selected as the Instructor of the Quarter for the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. 

“Throughout my naval career I have faced many challenges but each one has helped to shape me into the Sailor I am today,” stated Dycus. “For each challenge, I have no regrets only lessons learned.” 

IWTC Virginia Beach currently offers 65 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology, and intelligence with an instructor and support staff of 280 military, civilian, and contract members who train over 6,500 students every year at 5 training sites in the Hampton Roads area. It is one of four school houses for Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) and also oversees learning sites at Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut to continue aligning IW community training.

With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past three years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.

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