Petty Officer 1st Class Vivian Wise, native to Bryan, Texas, is assigned to Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command (NCDOC). Wise graduated from Bryan High School in 1999, joining the Navy 14 years ago. Today, she serves as an information systems technician and says, “I joined when I was at a crossroads in my life without much direction or plan for the future.” The Navy provided both.
NCDOC is responsible for protecting our Navy’s networks and data from cyberattacks. The command executes defensive cyberspace operations, ensuring global power is online and functioning correctly, in addition to proactive network defense. Navy information warfare (IW) plays in a role in every Navy mission. Every day, around the clock, NAVIFOR’s mission is the ensure more than 6,000 IW sailors and civilians in the fleet are trained, equipped, and certified. Among these 60,000 are experts in cyberspace, communications, intelligence, meteorology, oceanography, cryptology, electronic warfare, and space.
“Information Warfare extends from seabed to space, and is critical to our Navy’s success in competition, crisis and conflict. The more than 60,000 IW professionals across the globe are our asymmetric advantage – their expertise, professionalism, imagination and creativity are key to our Navy overcoming any adversary at pace and at scale.”
– Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, the Navy’s IBoss and commander of NAVIFOR
90% of global commerce travels by sea, while access to the internet is reliant on undersea fiber optic cables, which must be preserved and protected. Navy officials emphasize the United States’ security and prosperity is tied to recruiting and retaining talented individuals from all over America.
Wise enjoys serving the Navy’s mission around the world and around the clock. The Navy is the front line defense of our nation, and she has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during her military service. Wise states, “I was one of the first transgender Sailors to serve openly after the policy change in 2016. It was difficult, but while doing that I also became one of the highest qualified Sailors in my division, leading a watch team during deployment.”
Wise takes pride in serving her country through military service, and is grateful to others for making this navy career a reality. “Serving in the Navy means I have an opportunity to improve myself every day,” said Wise. “I want to thank Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Brian Crume, who provided leadership and guidance through one of the most challenging times of my career,” added Wise. “I am looking forward to retiring and pursuing a degree in cyber security,” added Wise.
