Cyber Command Leader Learns about Intelligence Training

By Lt. j.g. Sergio Wooden, Center for Naval Intelligence Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The Center for Naval Intelligence (CENNAVINTEL) hosted Rear Adm. William Leigher, deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/deputy commander, 10th Fleet, at the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) in Virginia Beach, July 13.

Leigher's visit was in support of current Information Dominance Corps (IDC) training initiatives and to assist CENNAVINTEL staff members in understanding changing cyber training requirements.

"We have to think through the unique intelligence requirements that come from thinking about cyberspace as the fifth operational warfighting domain," said Leigher. "Concepts like visualizing foreign cyberspace and providing indications and warning for impending cyber attacks need to be developed and included as part of the education of our future intelligence professionals."

The admiral visited the basic and advanced-level courses at NMITC and observed how CENNAVINTEL uses the integrated learning environment (ILE) to enhance and augment student learning, which consists of 75 percent instructor-led and 25 percent computer-based training.

Leigher offered his command's assistance to ensure that the appropriate level of cyber training/awareness and intelligence support implications are developed and appropriately added to all Intelligence Specialist (IS) "A" or "C" schools and Naval Intelligence Officer Basic Course (NIOBC) training. He also offered to support the Advanced Maritime OPINTEL Course (AMOC) with cyber curriculum and case studies to improve the courses analysis training and cyber awareness.

"Overall, admiral Leigher's visit brought a much-needed focus and awareness of Navy cyberspace and its importance and natural linkage to intelligence, and he shared a tremendous amount of knowledge" said Capt. Donald P. Darnell Jr., commanding officer of CENNAVINTEL and NMITC. "Our future intelligence professionals are beginning to understand cyber issues and how intelligence needs to be inextricably linked to cyber, dealing both with attacks and defense involving our networks."