New plank owners were created as Navy Information Operations Command San Diego transitioned into Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) San Diego, the change marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at Naval Air Station San Diego April 4, 2018.

As IWTG San Diego, the command's new mission will be to advance the Fleet's information warfare (IW) warfighting readiness through operational based training, highly experienced IW deployers and IW mission data management in support of afloat and ashore commands, delivering decisive advantages in the maritime domain.

"The establishment of IWTG San Diego is clear recognition of the critical capability delivered by information warfare to the fleet, highlights the warfighting nature of information warfare and demonstrates our Service's response to the increasing challenges our Navy faces," said Matthew Swartz, Naval Information Forces Deputy Commander, addressing the crowd during the ceremony.

IWTG San Diego will work with the Naval Information Warfighting Development Center to establish and update training requirements and proficiency standards in the full-range of IW mission areas and expand its cadre of experts to provide tailored unit-level training to IW shore commands, aircraft carriers, and submarines.

IWTG San Diego will also continue to leverage and deepen existing IW training processes with the platform type-commands and afloat training groups by moving from specific unit-level training during the first phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) to a continuous engagement model. This allows the IWTG to not only track unit proficiency throughout the OFRP but individual IW personnel from those units.

In the future, IWTG will provide commanders and commanding officers, afloat and ashore, a single touch point for all IW areas, allowing them to enhance their organic IW assets to achieve required objectives.

"I've seen first-hand the stellar accomplishments NIOC San Diego has performed in support of the fleet, but that doesn't mean we can't be better," said Cmdr. Robert Cadena, IWTG San Diego Commanding Officer. "While change can sometimes be difficult, I'm excited about what the future holds for this command."



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