Revised course gives Navy officers boost ahead of milestone tours

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Information Warfare Training Command Virginia Beach conducted a pilot of the thoroughly revamped Information Warfare Officer Intermediate Course this summer.

This two-week course, which concluded in early August, is designed as a crucial midcareer touchpoint for lieutenant commanders preparing for key milestone positions, focusing on both leadership and information warfare fundamentals.

The value of IWOIC lies in its ability to unify diverse professional experiences within the information warfare community, according to course administrators. As lieutenant commanders come from various career paths—ranging from blue-water Navy experience to roles without any shipboard assignments—this course standardizes expectations and equips them with shared foundational knowledge.

“The information warfare community is evolving rapidly, and IWOIC provides lieutenant commanders with a crucial opportunity to refresh their knowledge before their milestone tours,” said Lt. Bridget Devey, the course instructor. “The chance to engage with senior leadership and network with peers is a unique and invaluable aspect of this course.”

The updated curriculum incorporates formal lessons enhanced by expert guest speakers who bring real-world insights and operational relevance. The course includes an overview of information warfare, its integration at sea and practical activities designed to help students develop leadership philosophies and apply their knowledge in operational settings.

In course critiques, many students particularly appreciated the guest speakers, who provided valuable operational insights.

Distinguished guest speakers included Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach (then-Naval Information Forces commander), Rear Adm. Nicholas Homan (cryptologic warfare community lead) and Rear Adm. Mike Brookes (Office of Naval Intelligence commander), who shared major information warfare community developments and lessons from their extensive careers.

As part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, IWTC Virginia Beach offers more than 70 courses of instruction in information technology, cryptology and intelligence, with an instructor and support staff of 300 military, civilian and contractor personnel who train over 7,000 students annually at five training sites. It oversees learning sites at Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Jacksonville and Mayport, Florida; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia; and Groton, Connecticut.

With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, 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.