NIOC Yokosuka Names 2017 Deckplate Leader of the Year

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Souvannason | YOKOSUKA, Japan (January 15, 2018) Master Chief Cryptologic Technician James Dawkins, Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Yokosuka's command master chief (right), presents Cryptologic Technician 1st Class Paul Barban with the 2017 NIOC Yokosuka Deckplate Leader of the Year Award plaque. (U.S. Navy photo by Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Joshua Heflin)  

YOKOSUKA, JAPAN

03.15.2018

Courtesy Story

U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet

By ITC Thomas L. Skoff

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Yokosuka named Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 1st Class Paul J. Barban, assigned to the Fleet Electronic Support Division, as Deckplate Leader of the Year for 2017 .

Barban, a St. Louis native, reported to NIOC Yokosuka in December 2016 and serves as the Operations Department Leading Petty Officer, where he leads 72 Sailors in providing cryptologic operations support for Forward Deployed Naval Forces and signals analysis for the commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.

The NIOC Yokosuka Deckplate Leader of the Year is awarded to a first or second class petty officer who was nominated by their peers and the Sailors they lead. Barban received the strongest nomination, and was chosen from a list of highly competitive nominees.

Barban said he was extremely honored to receive the award.

“This means more to me than any other award that I’ve received in my career,” he said. “Being recognized by my peers and the Sailors that I lead is unbelievably rewarding.”

“There is no higher honor than to be recognized by your peers and your Sailors,” said Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) James Dawkins, NIOC Yokosuka’s command master chief.

Barban received a personalized plaque and had his name added to a different plaque displayed on the NIOC Yokosuka quarterdeck. He said he is grateful to be recognized this time but plans to continue working hard to live up to the title of Deckplate Leader of the Year.

“Ultimately, my most important goal is to make sure that I do everything I can for my Sailors and for the mission,” he said.

NIOC Yokosuka, as a subordinate of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet (FCC/C10F), deploys expertly trained information warfare officers and enlisted information warfare specialists, and equipment to conduct signals intelligence, electronic warfare and cyber operations in support of forces operating in the Pacific theater and U.S. 7th Fleet are of responsibility.

Since its establishment, FCC/C10F has grown into an operational force composed of more than 15,000 Active and Reserve Sailors and civilians organized into 29 active commands, 40 Cyber Mission Force units, and 29 reserve commands around the globe. FCC serves as the Navy component command to U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command, and the Navy's Service Cryptologic Component commander under the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. C10F, the operational arm of FCC, executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders. In this role, C10F provides support of Navy and joint missions in cyber/networks, cryptologic/signals intelligence and space.

For more information on Navy Information Operations Command Yokosuka, visit the command's web site at http://www.nioc-yokosuka.navy.mil/ or NIOC Yokosuka’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/niocyokosuka/.

For more news and information from Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/FCC/C10F/ or follow us on Twitter @USFLEETCYBERCOM.

• Date Taken: 03.15.2018
• Date Posted: 03.15.2018 11:30
• Story ID: 269492
• Location: YOKOSUKA, JP