STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. (NNS) -- The Naval Oceanography Operations Command (NAVOCEANOPSCOM), commanded by Capt. Ronald R. Shaw Jr., established the Under Sea Warfare Reach Back Cell (USW RBC) and Information Technology Operations (IT Ops) departments at Stennis Space Center (SSC), Oct. 1.
NAVOCEANOPSCOM is an Echelon IV command reporting operationally to Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (COMNAVMETOCCOM) and aligned administratively to Commander, Naval Information Dominance Forces (NAVIDFOR).
NAVOCEANOPSCOM oversees four subordinate oceanography operations commands including over 350 military and DoD civilian personnel providing tailored oceanographic and meteorological support for afloat and ashore naval forces across the full spectrum of joint warfare worldwide.
With the addition of the USW RBC and IT Operations department, NAVOCEANOPSCOM adds 75 sailors and DoD civilians who provide anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare, naval special warfare and operational network, system, and application support for Naval Oceanography enterprise. The establishment of the two departments comes after a one-year revitalization of the Navy's operational oceanography program.
"We look forward to the synergy and new ideas of Mine Warfare and Antisubmarine Warfare [and IT Operations] and combining their talents into the Naval Oceanography Operations Command," said Shaw. Emphasizing the command philosophy of "Ready-Right-Resolute," Shaw stated that the new alignment will make NAVOCEANOPSCOM "ready to support the fleet the right way while being resolute in conducting our mission."
Shaw, a Tacoma, Washington native, has served in a variety of seagoing and shore-based assignments throughout his Navy career. He most recently served as senior oceanography assignment officer in Millington, Tennesee. Other recent tours include serving as the commanding officer of the Fleet Survey Team at SSC and as the senior meteorology and oceanography officer of U.S. Pacific Command in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
COMNAVMETOCCOM directs and oversees the collection, processing and exploitation of accurate, relevant and timely oceanographic, meteorological, hydrographic, precise time and astrometric information. COMNAVMETOCCOM is assigned as CTG 80.7 under U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and is part of the Information Dominance Corps.
Naval Oceanography has approximately 2,500 globally distributed military and civilian personnel who foster and sustain relationships with allies and international partners to enhance security cooperation and naval operations. It provides key contributions to information and undersea dominance and electromagnetic warfare. Naval Oceanography is an expert in unmanned systems, and works closely with the U.S. Marine Corps in all facets of Joint and naval warfare.
For more news from Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnmoc/.