Partnerships Matter at IWTC Corry Station

Courtesy Photo | 180110-N-XX082-004 PENSACOLA, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2018) Royal Navy Cmdr. Katherine Clare (left), British defense staff with the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Royal Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Paul Thomas, instructor at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station pose for a photo outside IWTC Corry Station headquarters during Cmdr. Clare’s visit Jan. 9-10, 2018. Clare visited the Center for Information Warfare Training and IWTC Corry Station to tour training facilities and discuss future information warfare training integration with the United States and United Kingdom. (U.S. Navy photo by IWTC Corry Station Public Affairs/Released)  

PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES

01.10.2018

Courtesy Story

Center for Information Warfare Training

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Maritime security challenges require cooperative solutions and strong partnerships. They require navies, like the United Kingdom’s, that are willing to patrol international waters and share critical information with regional partners to combat criminal activities around the globe. We must continue to work as a unified team, and when this occurs, the world’s waters become a safer place.

One example of this type of strong partnership between the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy is evident everyday at Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station.

Chief Cryptologic Technician Paul Thomas, a Royal Navy sailor, serves at IWTC Corry Station through the Personnel Exchange Program (PEP). Thomas is billeted as an instructor, fully integrated with the U.S. military and civilian staff.

According to Thomas, the U.S. and U.K. navies share a common naval heritage and legacy of cooperation and partnerships since the first half of the 19th century. “During WWII, our nations collaborated along with other Allies to decrypt the German ‘Enigma’ cipher. Poland was able to initially break the code and shared that ability with their French and British Allies,” shared Thomas. “The ‘codebreaking’ ability was improved within Bletchley Park and information was then shared across this network of partners as an invaluable source of military intelligence throughout the rest of the war.”

"The Navy's Personnel Exchange Program is just one example of the U.S. Navy working closely with the Royal Navy to increase security and prosperity worldwide," said Cmdr. Chad Smith, commanding officer of Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station. "Chief Thomas is a seasoned maritime warfighter, and truly vital to the training and readiness of our information warfare force.”

“I have the ability to share knowledge from my own country’s history and heritage, teaching students from a slightly different perspective that otherwise might not be afforded to them,” said Thomas.

The combined partnership between IWTC Corry Station and the Royal Navy bolsters opportunities to build and improve shared national interests. This strong cooperative partnership will ensure the U.S. and Royal navies remain at the forefront of the information warfare and maritime domains.

IWTC Corry Station, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare (IW) across the full spectrum of military operations.

For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training organization, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cid/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, http://www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or http://www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.

• Date Taken: 01.10.2018
• Date Posted: 01.14.2018 09:43
• Story ID: 262063
• Location: PENSACOLA, FL, US