Job Description

As an Information Warfare Officer, you will be directly involved in every aspect of naval operations, deploying globally to support Navy and Joint military requirements. You will deliver vital information to decision makers by attacking, defending and exploiting networks to capitalize on vulnerabilities in the information domain.

Like all Navy Officers, Information Warfare Officers must have a four-year degree from a college or university. If you don’t have a bachelor's degree but are still interested in a challenging career supporting Navy Information Warfare operations, check out enlisted positions in:

• Information Technology
• Cryptology
• Intelligence
• Meteorology/Oceanography

Specific Responsibilities

Your responsibility as a member of the information warfare community is to deliver information superiority. This is achieved through the application of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Computer Network Operations (CNO) and Electronic Warfare (EW) expertise.

Other responsibilities of a Navy Information Warfare Officer typically include:

• Leading Information Dominance personnel across the spectrum of military operations
• Developing and operating cutting-edge network exploitation and defense systems
• Planning and delivering information warfare effects during exercises and operations

Work Environment

Your role as a Navy Information Warfare Officer will take you to sea, air and shore commands around the globe. You may also have the chance to serve at one of the National Security Agency Cryptologic Centers. What’s more, you could have the opportunity to lead Information Dominance Sailors both afloat and ashore.

Training & Advancement

Prospective Navy Information Warfare Officers attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Newport, Rhode Island.

After completing OCS, you will attend the Navy Information Warfare Basic Course (IWBC) in Pensacola, Florida, learning:

• Information Operations
• U.S. Cryptologic System
• Electromagnetic Theory
• RADAR
• Satellite Fundamentals
• Military Communications
• Signals Collection Operations
• Tactical Cryptology
• Collection Management
• Traffic Analysis
• Signals Intelligence Reporting
• National Security Strategy
• Computer Networks
• Physical Security

After graduation, your initial assignment will be at one of the four National Cryptologic Centers, where you’ll qualify as an Information Dominance Warfare Officer:

• San Antonio, Texas
• Kunia, Hawaii
• Augusta, Georgia
• Fort Meade, Maryland

Education Opportunities

Vital communications demand highly educated Officers. These are some of your opportunities:

• Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, allows the opportunity to earn an advanced degree. The school offers advanced degrees (master’s or doctoral) in many programs.
• The Junior Officer Career Cryptologic Program is a competitive three-year program that will broaden your education and experience and includes an intensive internship at the National Security Agency.

Pay Range

You may earn better pay options for certain duties and proficiencies:

• Special sea pay
• Hazardous duty incentive pay
• Foreign language proficiency pay

Qualifications

Navy Information Warfare Officers are required to have a four-year degree from a college or university.

After the Navy

Career Officers often enjoy increased responsibility and challenges that can include command and major staff duty. The specialized knowledge and expertise you gain as an Information Warfare Officer, coupled with your security clearance, may prepare you for future employment with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or National Security Agency (NSA) if you decide to return to the civilian sector when your service is finished.