Indo-Pacific focus to aid Thomas in info warfare post, Trussler says

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — President Joe Biden’s pick to be the next U.S. Navy deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and director of naval intelligence is an ideal candidate with precious frontline experience, according to the man who currently holds the position.

Vice Adm. Jeffrey Trussler on April 3 told C4ISRNET that Vice Adm. Karl Thomas, for now the commander of the 7th Fleet in Japan, is the “perfect replacement for me,” given his time in the Indo-Pacific and exposure to at-sea issues.

“He’s operating in that environment right now,” Trussler said after a speech at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland. “Everything we’re trying to do here in D.C. — policy, requirements and resourcing, the ideas we have — he’s going to have come right from there.”

Information warfare is a fusion of offensive and defensive electronic capabilities and cyber operations. It combines data collection, analysis and manipulation to gain an upper hand. Trussler has been in the job since June 2020 and is retiring.

RELATED

Pentagon cyber policy post may stay unfilled during review

Rep. Mike Gallagher said he was disappointed by the timing, citing "many conversations" he's had that indicate an appetite for quick confirmation.

By Colin Demarest

The fleet Thomas commands is devoted to the Indo-Pacific, a massive region the Biden administration considers invaluable to international stability, financial health and military readiness. The fleet regularly works with friendly forces from Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and more; its area of operations spans more than 124 million square-kilometers.

The Senate received Thomas’ nomination March 6. It was referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee but has not yet advanced.

If and when Thomas is confirmed, Trussler said, the 7th Fleet commander should use his experience to compare and evaluate in his new post everything he’s “been seeing and doing for the last two years to everything we’re doing” in Washington.

“He’s going to provide extraordinary clarity to some of the capabilities that we need,” Trussler said.

More In Information Warfare

Tech maturing too fast for multiyear drone buys, Army’s Bush says

Locking in on the same drone year after year may not make sense amid rapidly changing circumstances, he said.

Pentagon seeks $14.5 billion for cyber spending including zero trust

“Cyber capabilities will continue to be a critical component of our national defense and, accordingly, a priority in our budget,” a senior official said.

Software revamp aims to align US Army with industry best practices

“More than ever before, software is actually a national-security imperative,” said Margaret Boatner, an Army strategy and acquisition executive.

France prepares for space wars in ‘AsterX’ European exercise

Participants from France and 15 partner countries trained for everything from jammed space communications to hostile satellites.

Central Command’s Kurilla eyes drone-countering lasers for Middle East

At least 31 directed-energy initiatives are underway across the U.S. Department of Defense. Some are more mature than others.