By MCC Rafael Martie

NAVIFOR Public Affairs

Naval Information Forces hosted its first Industry Day, an interactive gathering of professionals in the information warfare realm, at the Information Warfare Hall of Heroes Auditorium in Suffolk on Dec. 6.

Small and large industry leaders across the U.S. with Information Warfare capabilities participated in a collaborative setting while exchanging information to improve the understanding of the Information Warfare Type Command (TYCOM) mission and industry capabilities. More than 64 vendors participated.

Vice Adm. Brian Brown, commander, Naval Information Forces, delivered the event’s opening remarks while thanking and recognizing everyone for making the first Industry Day a reality.

“Our goal is to have engaging and informative two-way conversations, provide an opportunity for you to learn more about what the Navy’s newest TYCOM is focused on, and for us to learn more about how you may help,” said Brown. “You have all been invited here as a result of your collective interest on how we align as a TYCOM to the Navy’s mission, and our focus areas since our establishment in October 2014. Today provides an opportunity for you to learn more about the Navy’s Information Warfare mission, and it also provides an opportunity for Information Warfare subject matter experts to engage in innovative conversations exchanging ideas, capabilities, products and services.”

The guest speaker for Naval Information Forces’s Industry Day was John North, head of Contracts and Acquisition Management, United States Fleet Forces Command.

“I am proud to be part of this and want to thank all our industry partners. This is the first event of its kind for NAVIFOR as well as Fleet Forces Command,” said North. “This is something we look forward to doing across the fleet with our other TYCOMs and supporting commands so we can be transparent with our industry partners and ensure a common understanding of our requirements.”

The face-to-face setting also provided a forum for networking with key Naval Information Forces subject matter experts and decision-makers, while fostering industry partnerships among highly capable businesses.

NAVIFOR’s Industry Day was planned and organized by Denise Roberts, director, Contracts and Acquisitions Management, Naval Information Forces.

“This is a groundbreaking event. As Mr. North indicated, this is the first industry day that has been executed under USFF,” said Roberts. “This event is an important step to enable collaboration between our information warfare community and industry to ensure our fleet is prepared to take on the challenges of the future.”

Naval Information Forces’ mission is to provide combat-ready Information Warfare forces to operational commanders, ashore and afloat, that are forward deployable, fully trained, properly manned, capably equipped, always ready, well-maintained and combat sustainable.

For more information on NAVIFOR, visit the command’s website at www.public.navy.mil/fltfor/navifor/Pages/Default2.aspx, its Navy News Web page at www.navy.mil/local/navifor or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USNavyInformationDominanceForces.