Newest group of IW WTIs are heading to the Fleet!
04 October 2022
Norfolk, Va. -- On Sept. 27 the Naval Information Warfighting Development Center (NIWDC) held a patching ceremony and designated 22 Information Warfare (IW) Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) in its ninth class of IW WTIs. Armed with their new patches, these WTIs will be sent back into the Fleet.
This class is also the first to graduate from the Naval Information Warfare Advanced Weapons School (NIWAWS), a significant milestone in IW history. NIWAWS showcases the growth and the continued evolution of the IW identity and in training WTIs, and meets the challenges of modern information warfare across all domains with vigor, thought, leadership, and creativity. In total, 16 commissioned officers and six senior enlisted members successfully completed this challenging 10-week course and are now armed with more knowledge and a network of 147 WTIs to resource to aid in the accomplishment of the IW mission at large. NIWAWS’s first graduates encompass the Meteorology and Oceanography, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Command and Control/Cyber Operations communities, all coming together to expand the depth on impact of operations in a contested environment. The continued presence of the Marine Corps with their Electronic Warfare graduate continues to be an integral part of the execution of the Tri-Service Maritime Strategy.
Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, commander, Naval Information Forces, along with NIWDC Commander, Capt. Bryan Braswell, presided over the patching ceremony. Also in attendance was Rear Adm. Gregory K. Emery, commander, Naval Information Forces Reserve.
Aeschbach commended the graduates, stating, “What you’re now ready to provide our Fleet is so incredibly critical. Now more than ever, as our Navy and nation are facing threats across every domain, we need your collective talent, your experience and your innovation to solve the hard challenges and ensure our Navy can win, today and in any future fight.”
During the class candidates met with Vice Adm. James Kilby, commander, Task Force 80 and deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces. Kilby reiterated the importance of WTIs and what they bring to the Fleet. “You’re in a group of innovators. I commend you for being a WTI.” He added, “Everyone is going to look at you differently. And they should.”
In closing Kilby said, “Much will be expected of you. You must pay your newfound knowledge forward, and when we call you to attack warfighting problems, we expect you will answer.”
NIWDC is the U.S. Navy’s IW tactical center of excellence, which enhances fleet high-end warfighting capabilities and readiness across the operational and tactical levels of war. For more information on NIWAWS, visit
https://intelshare.intelink.gov/sites/NIWDC-Doctrine-CIE/IW_WTI/SitePages/Home.aspx or email
IW_WTI@navy.mil. To keep up to date with the latest news from NIWDC, visit
https://www.navifor.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Operational-Forces/NIWDC/ or NIWDC’s Facebook page,
https://www.facebook.com/NIWDC .
-USN-