New leader takes charge at IWTC Goodfellow detachment

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Lt. Cmdr. Nicholas Leyba transferred responsibility as officer in charge of Information Warfare Training Command Monterey’s Detachment Goodfellow to Lt. Cmdr. Yolanda Gutierrez on July 11.

“I am genuinely impressed by the staff and instructors’ caliber and honored to be part of the command,” Gutierrez said upon arrival. “I am looking forward to serving students, staff and the Center for Information Warfare Training.”

Gutierrez intends to continue Leyba’s legacy of student education and fleet readiness with a focus on quality of life and service at IWTC Monterey Detachment Goodfellow, she added.

The new officer in charge enlisted in the Navy in 2006 under the electronics technician rating. Following assignments at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic and the pre-commissioning unit for USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), she attained her commission in 2011 through the Seaman to Admiral Program after graduating summa cum laude from Old Dominion University.

Gutierrez reported to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Operations Center as deputy chief of the Cyber Analysis Group and the Intelligence Directorate’s special technical operations chief. While heavily involved with the information warfare community, this is her first tour within the CIWT domain.

Under Leyba’s charge, the 51 Sailors and civilians assigned to Detachment Goodfellow delivered 89 cryptologic courses across three schoolhouses to 525 students. In addition, he coordinated the renovation of a $1.25 million headquarters building and development of the Navy’s first permanent barracks in San Angelo.

Leyba thanked the Sailors of Detachment Goodfellow and reminded everyone to “never forget the Sailor-first mentality/culture that we operate on, which includes yourself and your family.”

“Whether you’re training future firefighters or teaching our IW Sailors on the significance of timely and accurate I&W, you all lead from the front,” he added.

Leyba said the Detachment Goodfellow assignment rejuvenated his Navy career. He will now return to sea and serve with the Nimitz Strike Group in Washington state.

As part of the CIWT domain, Detachment Goodfellow aligns under IWTC Monterey and oversees follow-on accession training for more than 200 Sailors at any given time.

With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, the Center for Information Warfare Training provides instruction for over 26,000 students every year, delivering information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic, information systems and electronics technicians; intelligence specialists and officers in the information warfare community.