FORT MEADE, Md. - Lt. Cmdr. Taylor Soer, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, 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.
Soer attended Archmere Academy and graduated in 2008. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, with a degree in information technology, in 2012. Today, Soer uses skills and values similar to those learned in Wilmington.
“My high school wrestling coaches, Mr. Wojtelwicz and Mr. Riehl, taught me toughness, resiliency and leadership that gave me a strong foundation to build off of throughout my naval career,” said Soer. "Because I moved around a lot as a kid, I think that forced me to become very adaptable. I learned how to integrate with new people and teams and how to build and maintain relationships."
Today, Soer 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 Soer is so important.
Serving in the Navy means Soer 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.
“Because 70 percent of the earth is water, we have the ability to project power from the sea,” said Soer. "This helps us provide security for our national interests. We have a forward-deployed naval force that is ready to respond to any need anywhere in the world."
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.
Soer and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I'm most proud of the time I served as the damage control assistant aboard USS O'Kane from 2015 to 2017,” said Soer. "Being able to train the crew aboard this destroyer to ensure we were ready to save the ship if necessary was very rewarding."
As Soer and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Service to country means a lot to me because my family has a strong history of military service,” added Soer. "Both my mother and father served in the Navy. My sister is in the Army and my brother served in the Marine Corps. Both my grandfather served and one served in the Navy during World War II and the other started his service in the Army during World War II and continued until he retired as a colonel."