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YOKOSUKA, Japan - After more than 50 years of service in the Pacific theater, Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Yokosuka, Japan formally disestablished on Oct. 12, 2021.
The disestablishment results from a reorganization effort to increase efficiencies and support sustained capabilities. The enduring Information Warfare (IW) Forward Deployed Navy Forces (FDNF) missions will be realigned under NIOC Hawaii, allowing additional capabilities.
Strategically placed within the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, NIOC Yokosuka provided critical Signals Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberspace support to the waterfront and enhanced national and military relationships with the Japanese. The pride and professionalism displayed by the Sailors at NIOC Yokosuka has endured throughout its storied history and many fond moments are reflected upon by its alumni.
“What I remember about my time at NSGA (Navy Security Group Activity) Yokosuka…Extraordinary Blue Jackets, Chiefs, and Officers all connected and achieving excellence for the FDNF, COMNAVSECGRU (Commander, Naval Security Group), and the Navy,” said Rear Admiral Filipowski, retired, commanding officer, NSGA Yokosuka, June 2000 to June 2002. “The Sailors, the Sailors, and the Sailors…always mission ready and always model Sailors!”
The history of NIOC Yokosuka began on Dec. 15, 1945 when the first Communications Supplementary Activity Detachment was established in Ohminato, Japan. When the Army evacuated the area in April 1946 the detachment was relocated to Yokosuka, and was designated as Communications Supplementary Activity (COMSUPACT) Yokosuka. On Nov. 22, 1948, Navy Communications Unit 35 (NAVCOMMUNIT 35) was established and added a direction finding capability to COMSUPACT Yokosuka. A full rhombic antenna field was constructed in February 1949 to make the High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) site fully operational. In 1950, Naval Security Group (NAVSECGRU) decided to shift control of the Pacific HFDF net to Yokosuka from Wahiawa, Hawaii.
To accommodate this change, NAVCOMMUNIT 35 was expanded to 38 officers and 392 enlisted and was located in renovated building F-68. The HFDF net was activated in Yokosuka on Oct. 2, 1950. On Jan. 15, 1960, the Naval Security Department (NSG) was commissioned as the U.S. Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Kami Seya. Naval Communication Facility (NAVCOMMFAC) at Kami Seya was relocated back to Yokosuka as Naval Communications Station (NCS) Yokosuka. On Jan. 23, 1968, the USS Pueblo (AGER-2) was captured by the North Koreans. At the time of the attack, NSGA Kami Seya was in communication with the ship. There were six Sailors who were deployed on the USS Pueblo; they returned to NSGA Kami Seya 11 months later.
On Aug. 1, 1969, all NAVSECGRU elements at Yokosuka were consolidated under one command structure and Naval Security Group Detachment Yokosuka, Japan, a detachment of NSGA Kami Seya, was established. In March 1971, most of the operational functions were moved from NSGA Kami Seya to NSG Detachment Misawa, Japan. On June 30, 1971, NSGA Kami Seya was downgraded to NSG Detachment Kami Seya and NSG Detachment Misawa was commissioned as NSGA Kami Seya. Activities at Kami Seya and Yokosuka became detachments of NSGA Misawa. On May 23, 1984, NSG Detachment Kami Seya was recommissioned as an NSGA. In January of 1989, NSG Detachment Yokosuka became a detachment of Kami Seya, once again.
On June 1, 1995, NSGA Kami Seya was closed permanently and NSG Detachment Yokosuka was recommissioned as an NSGA. On Sept. 30, 2005, Naval Security Group was closed and many NSG Activities were closed as well. Those that remained open were recommissioned as Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) on Oct. 1, 2005, including NIOC Yokosuka. On Jan. 29, 2010, U.S. 10th Fleet (C10F) was recommissioned under Fleet Cyber Command.
“From the moment you step foot in the building, you realize there is something special about NIOC Yokosuka,” said Commander Brian L. P. Schulz, commanding officer, NIOC Yokosuka, from July 2019 to June 2021. “Being overseas, it truly became a family-- with all the messiness and joys that brings. While that is cliché in many places both in and out of the Navy, NIOC Yokosuka actually lives it”
On Oct. 1, 2014, NIOC Misawa, Japan was officially disestablished and the remaining Sailors were assigned to NIOC Yokosuka. The Sailors of NIOC Yokosuka, Japan have ensured the historic legacy of NSGA and NIOC Misawa endures by establishing the “NSGA and NIOC Misawa Honorary Bulkhead” inside the command.
“NIOC Yokosuka was and is a fantastic command which has made outstanding
Sailors and leaders in our community successful,” said Command Master Chief Edwin Purdy, retired, NIOC Yokosuka Command Master Chief, from June 2008 to April 2011. The legacy of NIOC Yokosuka will live on in the leaders forged within its halls and will always remain within their memories.
NIOC Yokosuka’s mission was to “Deploy expertly trained Information Warfare Officers, Enlisted Information Warfare Specialists, and equipment to conduct sustained SIGINT, EW, and defensive cyber operations (DCO) in the Pacific Theater and extend similar expertise to our coalition forces. Support the deployed forces of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT) by providing highly qualified Cryptologic Direct Support Teams, maintaining cryptologic equipment via the Fleet Electronic Support (FES) shop, operating and maintaining a federated Global Signals Analysis Laboratory (GSAL), and providing cyberspace operations through Cyber Protection Teams (CPT). Furthermore, support COMSEVENTHFLT Information Operations (IO) missions and conduct technical exchanges with partners and allies in support of U.S. National and Navy strategic objectives.” This realignment will increase capabilities, allowing the legacy to not only continue, but expand to meet new threats and challenges that are no longer bound by geography.
U.S. Fleet Cyber Command (FCC) is responsible for Navy information network operations, offensive and defensive cyberspace operations, space operations, and signals intelligence. Comprised of more than 14,000 Sailors, Reservists and civilians stationed across the world, U.S. 10th Fleet is the operational arm of FCC and executes its mission through a task force structure similar to other warfare commanders.
For news and information from Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet, visit www.fcc.navy.mil/ or follow us on twitter @USFLEETCYBERCOM.
| Date Taken: | 10.12.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2021 15:45 |
| Story ID: | 407737 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, JP |
| Web Views: | 416 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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