ESTABLISHMENT OF MARITIME CYBER WARFARE OFFICER (MCWO) DESIGNATOR 188X:

RTTUZYUW RHOIAAA0001 1772309-UUUU--RHSSSUU 
ZNR UUUUU 
R 262308Z JUN 23 MID120000255485U 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// 
BT 
UNCLAS 
 
NAVADMIN 143/23 
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/JUN// 
 
SUBJ/ESTABLISHMENT OF MARITIME CYBER WARFARE OFFICER (MCWO) DESIGNATOR 188X// 
 
REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/17JAN19// 
REF/B/DOC/COMNAVPERSCOM/21JUN22// 
 
NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 1210.5B, LATERAL TRANSFER AND REDESIGNATION OF ACTIVE 
COMPONENT OFFICERS IN THE NAVY.  
REF B IS MILPERSMAN ARTICLE 1212-010, LATERAL TRANSFER AND CHANGE OF 
DESIGNATOR CODES OF REGULAR AND RESERVE OFFICERS.// 
 
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the establishment of the Maritime Cyber 
Warfare Officer (MCWO) designator (188X) within the Information Warfare (IW) 
Community. 
 
2. MCWO establishment is a major milestone in building out the Navy Cyber 
Community. MCWOs are experts in cyberspace operations focused on both 
Offensive Cyberspace operations (OCO) and Defensive Cyberspace operations 
(DCO). MCWOs will conduct repeat operational and leadership tours within the 
Cyber Operation Force (COF) and Cyber Mission Force (CMF), including tours on 
National Mission Teams, Cyber Mission Teams, Cyber Protection Teams, and 
Cyber Support Teams. MCWOs will have the opportunity to conduct 
exploitation analyst and integrated on net (ION) training as well as serve as 
team leaders, planners, and operations officers. Control Grade MCWOs will 
have opportunities for O5 command and major command, as well as senior staff 
positions at Fleet Cyber Command, Commander Tenth Fleet, Joint Force Head 
Quarters Cyber, Cyber Mission Force Pacific, and US Cyber Command. 
 
3. The Active Component (AC) MCWO/1880 community is conducting an initial 
selection panel outside of the lateral transfer/redesignation board process 
for the initial conversion to MCWO. Applications for redesignation into the 
MCWO Community are now welcome for the next 90 days. Information Warfare 
Officer (IWO) qualified line officers with documented cyber focused 
education/training are eligible to apply. Officers currently serving-in or 
having completed a tour within the CMF are preferred. 
All applications must have the concurrence of the current (losing) community 
manager and detailer to ensure their eligibility for redesignation. 
Application package requirements are outlined in paragraph 4 of reference 
(a), which begin with the application being submitted to the current (losing) 
community manager via the commanding officer of the applicant. Completed 
applications should then be submitted via e-mail to Ms. Jana Rittman, 
Assistant IW Community Manager at BUPERS-31_IWC_FCT@NAVY.MIL no later than 90 
days following the date of this NAVADMIN. Additionally, applicants can 
receive the most up-to-date guidance on the application process on the MCWO 
webpage located under the Information Warfare Officer Community Management 
tab at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-
Management/Officer/Active-OCM/Restricted-Line/Information-Warfare/. 
Applicants will be notified of their selection status once the initial list 
of MCWO accessions has been approved. 
 
4. AC MCWO/1880 will begin accepting redesignation applications from all 
communities beginning with the February 2024 lateral transfer and 
redesignation board. Information on that process is available 
at: https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-
Management/Boards/Administrative/Transfer-Redesignation/. 
 
5. The Reserve Component (RC) MCWO/1885 Community will begin conducting 
redesignation panels in Fiscal Year 2024 for conversion to MCWO. All 
applicants must meet eligibility requirements outlined in reference (b). 
Officers with documented Cyber focused education/training, Cyber industry 
certifications, and/or civilian experience are eligible to apply. Interested 
applicants can find application requirements and procedures posted on 
https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Career-Management/Community-
Management/Officer/Reserve-OCM/Selected-Reservists/RC-IWC/. All applicants 
require concurrence from their respective (losing) reserve officer Community 
Managers prior to submitting an application. All applicants must be able to 
obtain a top secret/sensitive compartmented information security clearance. 
Applicants will be notified of their selection status once the initial list 
is approved. Interested officers should contact the RC point of contact in 
paragraph 6. 
 
6. For AC MCWO questions, contact LCDR Noadiah Sikinger, MCWO Officer 
Community Manager, phone (901) 874-2793, e-mail BUPERS-31_IWC_FCT@NAVY.MIL. 
For RC MCWO questions, contact Ms. Patricia Pifer,  
Reserve IW Officer Community Manager, phone (901) 874-2976, 
e-mail patricia.a.pifer.civ@us.navy.mil or LT Charles Youngblood, Reserve IW 
Assistant Officer Community Manager, phone (901) 874-4309,  
e-mail charles.c.youngblood.mil@us.navy.mil. 
 
7. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or cancelled, 
whichever occurs first. 
 
8. Released by Vice Admiral Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.// 
 
BT 
#0001 
NNNN 
UNCLASSIFIED//