Defense Official Learns about Social Media at Sea

April 23, 2010 - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Outreach and Social Media Sumit Agarwal observes flight deck operations aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, April 22, 2010. Courtesy photo U.S. NavyUSS Abraham Lincoln, at sea (NNS) – Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Outreach and Social Media Sumit Agarwal toured USS Abraham Lincoln April 22 to get a firsthand look at the Navy’s social media, technology and outreach programs at sea.

Agarwal, appointed as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Jan 19, serves as staff advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs on how best to create two-way dialogues with American citizens and the global community utilizing traditional outreach methods, as well as new/social media tools (e.g., blogs, social networks, instant messaging, photo sharing, Web 2.0 technologies).

During a tour of Lincoln’s media department, Agarwal and other technology leaders from Facebook, LinkedIn and Netflix saw how Lincoln used Facebook to communicate with families through near real-time two-way communication, photos and videos. In addition to the ship’s facebook page, Lincoln’s family association is also on facebook and preparing for communication with the ship’s commanding officer through video teleconferencing while deployed.

“Being underway aboard Abraham Lincoln showed me, in a very real way, how technology can improve quality of life for our Sailors and families,” said Agarwal.

Prior to joining the Defense Department, Mr. Agarwal ran the mobile product management team for Google’s North American operations, and helped develop Google’s mobile services for devices like iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.

As an Air Force Reserve officer, Mr. Agarwal was assigned to the 175th Network Warfare Squadron, Fort Meade, Md., as a network intelligence officer focused on cyber-warfare. From 1998 to 2004, he served as a civil engineering officer. During this time, he also deployed to Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, helping to design and build the Combined Air Operations Center.