GULFPORT, Miss. - U.S. Navy sailors keep a weather eye on everything from the depths of the world’s oceans to the far reaches of the atmosphere. Training for those responsible for ensuring the Navy can operate and dominate in those domains begins at Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) Gulfport, located at Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Mississippi.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Derek Harkins |
Chris Olsen, a native of Bay Shore, New York, is a civilian currently stationed at IWTG Gulfport serving as an anti-submarine warfare subject matter expert for the METOC community.
Olsen graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1986. Additionally, Olsen earned a bachelor’s in operational meteorology from Mississippi State University in 2011.
Olsen retired from the Navy in 2009 as a chief aerographer’s mate after 23 years of service and began a career as a Navy civilian 15 years ago.
“I joined the Navy originally for the GI bill,” said Olsen. “I had some awesome opportunities and got to see the world. By the time I was 21, I’d been to 14 countries. I liked it so I stayed. I had an amazing opportunity when I was about to retire. An instructor billet had opened up at PDD South at Stennis Space Center. I retired and took it.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bay Shore.
“Growing up, I learned my love of the water and desire to go beyond the bounds of the great South Bay,” said Olsen. “I’d gone through pre-pilot training in high school and had also plotted weather charts. I was an aviation electronics technician in my first five years in the Navy. I got out of the aviation electronics technician rate and then became an aerographer’s mate, the second thing I wanted to do.”
IWTG Gulfport, along with its sister ITWGs in Norfolk and San Diego (IWTG-N/SD), is an echelon V command within the Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) training system, and Commander, Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NIWTG) serves as the main training agent of NAVIFOR for information warfare training and assessment, according to Navy officials.
The four major courses offered at IWTG Gulfport are focused on meteorology, oceanography and hydrography.
As such, the training group in Gulfport also plays a pivotal role in providing the fleet with the highest quality sailors trained in the fields of cyber, electronic warfare, cryptology, intelligence, and meteorology and oceanography to support the Navy’s forward-deployed naval forces and its efforts to streamline maintenance and deployment cycles.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Olsen supports a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Olsen has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“What I’m most proud of is that when 9/11 happened, I was in a position to do something about it,” said Olsen. “I was the METOC chief at Naval Special Warfare Mission Support Center in Coronado. I was able to directly support the guys who were going in and doing the things that needed to be done when they were going into Afghanistan. I was doing forecasts for deployed SEAL teams.”
Olsen can take pride in serving America through military and government service.
“Serving in the Navy continues the tradition,” said Olsen. “My dad was Navy and he told me all the stories when I was little. He served in the western Pacific, but I didn’t get to go to any of the places he went when I was in. I went to Japan as a civilian.”
Olsen is grateful to others for helping make a career supporting the Navy possible.“I want to thank my family back home for supporting me, no matter what I did,” said Olsen. “I also want to thank my high school teachers and all the folks I still think about today for sending me on the right path.”
Olsen graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1986. Additionally, Olsen earned a bachelor’s in operational meteorology from Mississippi State University in 2011.
Olsen retired from the Navy in 2009 as a chief aerographer’s mate after 23 years of service and began a career as a Navy civilian 15 years ago.
“I joined the Navy originally for the GI bill,” said Olsen. “I had some awesome opportunities and got to see the world. By the time I was 21, I’d been to 14 countries. I liked it so I stayed. I had an amazing opportunity when I was about to retire. An instructor billet had opened up at PDD South at Stennis Space Center. I retired and took it.”
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bay Shore.
“Growing up, I learned my love of the water and desire to go beyond the bounds of the great South Bay,” said Olsen. “I’d gone through pre-pilot training in high school and had also plotted weather charts. I was an aviation electronics technician in my first five years in the Navy. I got out of the aviation electronics technician rate and then became an aerographer’s mate, the second thing I wanted to do.”
IWTG Gulfport, along with its sister ITWGs in Norfolk and San Diego (IWTG-N/SD), is an echelon V command within the Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) training system, and Commander, Naval Information Warfare Training Group (NIWTG) serves as the main training agent of NAVIFOR for information warfare training and assessment, according to Navy officials.
The four major courses offered at IWTG Gulfport are focused on meteorology, oceanography and hydrography.
As such, the training group in Gulfport also plays a pivotal role in providing the fleet with the highest quality sailors trained in the fields of cyber, electronic warfare, cryptology, intelligence, and meteorology and oceanography to support the Navy’s forward-deployed naval forces and its efforts to streamline maintenance and deployment cycles.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Olsen supports a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Olsen has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“What I’m most proud of is that when 9/11 happened, I was in a position to do something about it,” said Olsen. “I was the METOC chief at Naval Special Warfare Mission Support Center in Coronado. I was able to directly support the guys who were going in and doing the things that needed to be done when they were going into Afghanistan. I was doing forecasts for deployed SEAL teams.”
Olsen can take pride in serving America through military and government service.
“Serving in the Navy continues the tradition,” said Olsen. “My dad was Navy and he told me all the stories when I was little. He served in the western Pacific, but I didn’t get to go to any of the places he went when I was in. I went to Japan as a civilian.”
Olsen is grateful to others for helping make a career supporting the Navy possible.“I want to thank my family back home for supporting me, no matter what I did,” said Olsen. “I also want to thank my high school teachers and all the folks I still think about today for sending me on the right path.”