By Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Kevin Barnes, Center for Information Warfare Training Det. Fort Gordon
FORT GORDON, Ga. – Lt. Kevin Lees transferred responsibility as the officer in charge of the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) Det. Fort Gordon to Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Kruppa during a change of charge ceremony onboard Fort Gordon, Dec. 17.
CIWT’s Commanding Officer Capt. Nicholas Andrews presided over the event, where he thanked Lees for his dedicated leadership and welcomed Kruppa.
“We had a unique situation this July where we were going to have to gap this position upon the retirement of the previous OIC,” said Andrews during his opening remarks. “Kevin Lees stepped up to fill this gap on short notice and has done a fabulous job. Continuity of operations has been seamless, and he is turning over a great organization to Joe Kruppa.”
Under Lees’ leadership, the 39 Sailors and one civilian assigned to CIWT Det. Fort Gordon trained over 160 joint service students in 1,914 hours of instruction. They provide enlisted "C" school and other specialty training for cryptologic technicians, electronics technicians, and information technology specialists to both Army and Navy students alike.
When Lees made his final remarks to the detachment, he said, “What I have learned here is that you need to rely on your experts, their strengths, their skills to succeed in your mission. Outline what needs to get done, don’t micromanage it, and your people will surprise you and take care of you every time. Thank you for teaching me this and making me a better leader.”
Kruppa reports from Special Reconnaissance Team 2 where he served as tactical information operations officer, troop commander, and chief staff officer. Prior assignments include Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command / CTF1020; Computer Network Operations Development Program at the National Security Agency; and subsurface direct support at Navy Information Operations Command Hawaii.
“The mission of this detachment to train the Navy’s best and brightest in our area [of expertise] requires a high standard of performance, and it is not a responsibility that I take lightly,” stated Kruppa in his first remarks after assuming charge. “Standing up here this morning, it is extremely humbling to recognize that I’ve been trusted to lead this magnificent group of chiefs and Sailors who have exceeded that standard.”
As a training location for the Center for Information Warfare Training, CIWT Det. Fort Gordon delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations. CIWT Det. Fort Gordon specializes in training to fleet Sailors in the areas of satellite communications operation and maintenance, maritime cryptologic systems operation and maintenance, and language training graduating approximately 225 students in 30 courses of instruction annually.
With four schoolhouse commands, two detachments, and training sites throughout the United States and Japan, CIWT is recognized as Naval Education and Training Command’s top learning center for the past two years. Training over 21,000 students every year, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services. CIWT also offers more than 200 courses for cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, electronics technicians, and officers in the information warfare community.
For more news from Center for Information Warfare Training enterprise, visit www.navy.mil/local/cid/, www.netc.navy.mil/centers/ciwt/, www.facebook.com/NavyCIWT, or www.twitter.com/NavyCIWT.