The Defense Department’s chief info officer, John Sherman, at this time acknowledged greater than a dozen people and groups who contributed in distinctive methods to the development of the DOD’s info know-how targets throughout 2023. 

Joining Sherman in recognizing prime performers throughout the division’s info know-how enterprise was Anne Neuberger, the deputy assistant to the president and deputy nationwide safety advisor for cyber and rising applied sciences. Neuberger supplied vital context that defined why these being acknowledged are important to the nation’s safety.

“I cheer the work that these awardees do,” Neuberger mentioned. “The president tracks national cybersecurity closely because he’s aware of the capabilities of our adversaries. This is a group who knows better than anyone the sophistication of Chinese capabilities … you know better than anyone that the data in our networks is ripe with intelligence value. So, the president tracks national cybersecurity, particularly the efforts of DOD, because of the need for the U.S. to project power around the world.” 

Right now, Neuberger mentioned, there are a variety of conflicts occurring all over the world the place the United States performs a job. She mentioned which may contain a provider within the Middle East or support to Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russia’s invasion.

“The role of DOD is a global role,” she mentioned. “As a result, the president tracks the work you do each and every day defending DOD’s networks, defending and protecting the people who put their lives at risk and the sacrifices both our civilian and our military personnel — but particularly our military personnel and our families — face every time military folks are on deployment.” 

Neuberger mentioned that of their day-to-day work, the DOD navy and civilian personnel concerned in optimizing and defending DOD’s cyber enterprise ought to know that their work is each being watched and appreciated. 

“Every day when you sit in your cubby, know the president is tracking your work; know the nation’s security relies on your work; and know we are all deeply grateful for the work you do each and every day,” she mentioned.

As a part of the 2023 DOD Chief Information Officer Annual Awards for Information Technology and Cyber Excellence, each groups and people had been both named recipients of awards or for honorable mentions. Those honored embrace:

Individual Awards 

• Patrick Light, Missile Defense Agency 
• Navy Cmdr. Christopher Gregory, U. S. Navy 
• Navy Lt. j.g. Scott Tollefson, Joint Staff 

Individual Honorable Mentions 

• Navy Capt. Donna Poulin, Defense Health Agency 
• James Evans, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation 
• Erica Thomas, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense (Comptroller) 
• Marine Corps Capt. Alexander Parades, U. S. Marine Corps

Team Awards 

• Ship Repair Facility-Japan Regional Maintenance Center, Information Technology and Cybersecurity Department Team, Department of the Navy 
• twenty second Communications Squadron, Cyberspace Operations Flight, United States Air Force

Team Honorable Mentions 

• Advanced Enterprise Capabilities Division Team, United States Air Force 
• Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability Program Team, Defense Information Systems Agency 
• Department of Defense Information Networks Inspection Analysis Tool Team, U. S. Cyber Command 
• Joint Service Catalog Team, Defense Finance and Accounting Services 
• seventeenth Test and Evaluation Squadron, Cybersecurity Team, U. S. Space Force 
• MyPay Fraud Prevention Team, Defense Finance and Accounting Services 
• Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group, Defense Cyberspace Operations Division Team, U. S. Marine Corps