Two information warfare (IW) flag officers visited Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Virginia Beach, April 7.

Rear Adm. Danelle Barrett, deputy director of current operations at U.S. Cyber Command, spoke with students from the Information Professional Basic Course (IPBC), Information Warfare Officer Mid-career Department Head Course (IWOMDHC), and Information Warfare Basic Course (IWBC), as well as IWTC Virginia Beach's Information Professional (IP) instructor cadre.

Barrett discussed where the IW community is headed and how to contribute to the community's combined efforts.

"You have to know the business of our business, and that is fleet operations," said Barrett. "It's our job to understand how our adversary thinks and to build our force for 10 years from now. Innovation is key."

Rear Adm. Robert Sharp, director, National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office and commander, Office of Naval Intelligence, served as the guest speaker for a combined Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course (NIOBC) and intelligence specialist "A" school graduation.

"[Your instructors] have given you everything you need to be successful in the fleet, but you must continue growing, learning," said Sharp. "Intelligence is an operation. It is our job to have an advantage over our adversary. Blaze your own trail. Go where you are needed and do well."

Sharp also talked with the IWOMDHC, as well as at a town hall for IWBC, where spoke about community changes and growth and answer questions.

"How we operate together, be excited about it," said Sharp, encouraging students to discover even better ways to synchronize the various elements of IW together. "It's what the nation needs us to be."

Both admirals stressed the importance of mentorship, accountability and leadership.

"We are grateful to be able to host Admirals Sharp and Barrett, to share their perspectives with our students and staff," said Cmdr. Andrew Boyden, commanding officer for IWTC Virginia Beach. "Senior IW leader engagement remains a critical piece of our mission."

IWTC Virginia Beach currently offers 69 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology, and intelligence with an instructor and support staff of 290 military, civilian, and contract members who train more than 6,000 students every year at five training sites in the Hampton Roads area. It is one of four school houses for Center for Information Warfare Training and also oversees four learning sites at Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut to continue aligning IW community training.

IWTC Virginia Beach, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel, preparing them to conduct information warfare (IW) across the full spectrum of military operations.

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