FORT MEADE, Maryland – U.S. Navy civilian, Jeff Strulic, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, protects America from cyber threats as a member of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amber Weingart |
Information technology advances at a staggering pace. Practically all major systems on ships, aircraft, submarines, and unmanned vehicles are networked to some degree. This includes most combat, communications, engineering, and navigation systems. While connectivity provides the military with speed, agility, and precision, it also opens numerous attack opportunities for adept cyber adversaries.
Strulic attended Scranton Central High School and graduated in 1990. He graduated from Penn State in 1994 with a degree in agricultural engineering and earned a master’s in engineering management in 2016 from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Today, Strulic uses skills and values similar to those learned in Scranton.
“My parents always wanted me to have a life better than they had; being able to travel more and not worry about money,” said Strulic. "They also taught me to always treat others with respect."
Today, Strulic plays a crucial role in defending against cyber threats in support of the command’s mission to collect, analyze and report on communication signals using computers, specialized computer-assisted equipment, and video display terminals.
According to Navy officials, networks are under continuous threats of attack by a broad array of state actors, terrorist organizations, ‘hacktivist’ groups, organized crime, and individual hackers. Motivations include personal gain, information theft, discrediting the United States, sabotage, political gain, denial or degradation of the Navy’s access to cyberspace.
“As leaders and experts in Information Warfare, our sailors and civilians are at the forefront of disrupting the ability of bad actors to execute their plans, which often degrade U.S. interests,” said Vice Admiral Ross Myers, commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. 10th Fleet. “Because of our workforce and their world class skills and dedication to service, today’s Navy has the agility, tactical skills, advanced technologies and innovative mindset to succeed. Alongside our sister services, Fleet Cyber Command is on the frontlines to thwart malicious efforts in cyberspace – we are engaged against adversaries, around the globe and around the clock – 24/7/365.”
That’s why the work being done by Strulic is so important.
Serving in the Navy means Strulic is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“We need a strong Navy to project power, so that we can have freedom of navigation,” said Strulic. "We live in a time when we can't defend our nation from the water's edge. We have to have forces deployed around the world engaged in world events."
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
Strulic and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I'm proud of the construction and renovation projects that support some of our overseas missions in cyber security, places like Japan and Hawaii,” said Strulic.
As Strulic and others continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving as a Navy civilian is an honor because we get to support the warfighter,” added Strulic. "As civilians, we provide the continuity and knowledge base, because we don't transfer every two to three years like our active-duty counterparts do."