Cmdr. Joseph Harrison
Commander, Cryptologic Warfare Activity (CWA) 66
21 September 2020
Cmdr. Joseph Harrison, a native of Florida, joined the Navy under the Delayed Entry Program in December 1986 and attended boot camp at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Orlando, Florida, in March 1987 before reporting to Corry Station Pensacola, Florida for cryptologic training in April 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Science in history and business administration from the Excelsior University of New York and a Master’s degree in national security strategy and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 2010.
His sea duty assignments include: USS Elliot (DD 967) during Operation Desert Storm, qualifying Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS); Pre-Commissioning Unit Bataan leading petty officer (LPO) and leading chief petty officer (LCPO) on USS Bataan (LHD 5), qualifying Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS); staff cryptologist and information operations officer for Commander, Amphibious Squardron (PHIBRON) 2 embarked aboard USS Nassau (LHA 4) where he qualified as battle watch captain during Operation Iraqi Freedom; USS Saipan (LHA 2) as the information warfare officer, qualifying as a surface warfare officer.
Shore and staff assignments include: U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Okinawa, Japan; NSA/CSS Fort Meade; Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force; Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Norfolk as a direct support officer where he completed two direct support tours and various combatant command exercises; Information Warfare Training Center (IWTC) as an instructor and CTR/CTN branch head; NIOC Pensacola as operations officer; staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (N2N6) as cyberspace action officer where he qualified as an information warfare officer; executive officer of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Sicily, onboard Naval Station Sigonella; fleet cryptologic resource coordinator (CRC) for Commander, Task Force (CTF) 80 and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet at U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC). He also served onboard Naval Personnel Command as the head of Enlisted Information Warfare Community Assignments, PERS-408.
Cmdr. Harrison’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), the Navy Achievement medal (five awards) as well as various campaign and unit awards.