CHIPS Articles: CID Unit Monterey Changes Command

Cmdr. Andrew Newsome relieved Cmdr. Chris Slattery as commanding officer for the Navy command responsible for developing fleet-ready Sailors who possess the basic foreign language skills necessary to support the nation's warfighting and intelligence operations.

"The Navy, and indeed all of the military, must always be ready to sail into the breach," said Slattery, addressing the Sailors in his command committed to the task of mastering a foreign language at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). "While our lethality remains unmatched, it will be rendered ineffective if we are unable to understand and even predict our adversary's actions, whether on the high seas of the Pacific, the deserts of Iraq and Syria, or the ether of cyberspace."

As Slattery departs for his next assignment at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, one of his significant accomplishments involved increasing language testing proficiency. During Slattery's 15-month tour, CID Unit Monterey rose from being ranked last to first of the military services for the scores achieved by students on the Defense Language Proficiency Test.

"Our military needs crack linguists to help fight all of our adversaries throughout the world," said Slattery. "One day you will be asked to go into harm's ways, where your life will be put in danger in order to accomplish the mission like so many who have gone through DLI before you. This is why we serve."

Guest speaker Capt. Maureen Fox, CID headquarters commanding officer, spoke of the challenges of becoming a linguist through the rigorous demands of DLI.

"I'm sure we are all aware that the defense language programs are among the military's most challenging initial accession schools," said Fox. "It's hard to get through this, but the Sailors that the Navy brings here are talented and have the potential. So, we deliver these young Sailors to Cmdr. Slattery and his team and say, effectively, 'Shape them, mold them and ultimately deliver this much needed language capability to us in about a year.'"

Fox continued, praising Slattery for his exceptional performance, which was recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal.

"During Cmdr. Slattery's tenure, he shepherded more than 1,100 Sailors through these (language) courses with almost 200 of those earning associate's degrees and more than 50 earning performance awards," said Fox. "Just this morning, I was extraordinarily humbled to watch one of Cmdr. Slattery's Sailors win the Commandant's Award at the graduation — a young Sailor who has qualified in eight languages."

After reading his orders and assuming command, Newsome took the opportunity to address his staff and students.

"You are the Navy's foundation, and you are the key to furthering our advantage as the most fearsome fighting force that the world has ever known," said Newsome. "It's an exciting time to be part of the Information Dominance Corps, and I am both excited and humbled for the opportunity to serve you. This is a day that I have thought about for quite some time, and I look forward to working with you to ensure that we are a mission-ready Navy family."

A native of Somerset, Ky., Newsome graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998. He also attended the Naval Postgraduate School, earning his Executive Master of Business Administration degree, and received a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He served as a surface direct support officer, cryptologic readiness group division officer, fleet cryptologic augmentation officer, and information technology department head while stationed at Naval Security Group Activity San Diego.

Newsome's most recent assignment was serving at U.S. Fleet Cyber Command at Ft. George G. Meade, Md.

For more on CID Unit Monterey visit https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ceninfodom/monterey/ and http://www.monterey.army.mil/Tenant_units/cidum.html. Also find them on Facebook.

For more news from Center for Information Dominance, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/.