Rear Admiral Sean R. Filipowski

Deputy Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Cyber Command

Rear  Adm. Filipowski, a native of New Jersey, graduated and was commissioned in 1982 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He subsequently graduated from the Naval War College in 1994.

Originally a Submarine Strategic Weapons System officer, he served his initial assignment in USS Nathanael Greene followed by duty at commander Submarine Squadron 18. In 1987 he was redesignated as a special duty officer (Cryptology), now information warfare officer.

Shore assignments have included U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Misawa, Japan as a division officer, assistant department head, and as the executive officer; the National Security Agency; and the Naval Network Warfare Command.

Operational assignments have included commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Staff; commander Carrier Group 7 staff, embarked in USS Nimitz, which deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Sentinel; the Joint Special Operations Command where he deployed to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Aviano, Italy in support of Operation Joint Guard; and commander 7th Fleet Staff, embarked in USS Blue Ridge, which deployed throughout the Western Pacific.

He commanded both U.S. Naval Security Group Activity Yokosuka, Japan and Navy Information Operations Command Georgia.

In his first assignment as a Flag officer, he served as the Director for Cyber, Sensors, and Electronic Warfare on the OPNAV Information Dominance Staff.  The Secretary of the Navy announced his assignment as Deputy Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Maryland on 5 July 2011.

He holds various decorations and awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

• “Decide what really matters” – Forget about developing the perfect plan.  Use the available knowledge to target the best possible outcomes.  Make your strategy ‘The Commander’s Intent’ rather than a plan.
• “Get the message across” – Tell your Sailors, Chiefs, officers and civilians the results you seek and why they matter.  Keep things simple.  Don’t overwhelm your command with instructions.
• “Give your people space and support” – Nobody can predict future outcomes.  Encourage your command to be adaptable so that they always work to achieve your main goals.  Let them operate freely within broad boundaries.

• Defined leader competencies, linked to mission/strategy and leadership positions.
• An established iterative methodology for identification and review of critical leadership positions.
• A managed process for development of future leaders-using both experience and training.
• Institutionalized procedures for assessing current performance and future potential.
• Formalization of the professional, requiring technical and leadership development.
• An established mechanism for issue resolution.
• A published implementation plan, including a communication strategy.

Rear Admiral Jan E. Tighe

 Director, Decision Superiority – OPNAV N2N6F4

Rear Admiral Jan E. Tighe was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky., and raised in Plantation, Florida. She was commissioned from the U.S. Naval Academy as an ensign (Special Duty Cryptology – now Information Warfare) in 1984 after earning a B.S. in Mathematics.

Tighe’s operational cryptologic tours include duty with Naval Security Group Activities in Florida, Virginia, Atsugi/Misawa Japan and on the Commander, Pacific Fleet staff.

In 1989 Tighe studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. She was subsequently assigned to the U.S. Naval Security Group Detachment Atsugi, Japan, where she earned Naval Aviation Observer wings while deployed as an airborne special evaluator (COMEVAL) aboard VQ-1 EP-3E aircraft in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. During her tour, Tighe served as operations officer and assistant officer in charge, in addition to accumulating over 1,200 operational flight hours in the EP-3E aircraft.

Tighe attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California., and in 2001 was awarded a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and a M.S. in Applied Mathematics. She subsequently reported to the Naval Information Warfare Activity (now Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group – Suitland), where she served as chief staff officer and chief engineer. During her tour she earned a Level III DAWIA certification in Program Management.

Tighe reported as director, Sea Warrior at Naval Security Group Command Headquarters in July 2004 where she oversaw the development of the Human Capital Strategy for NSG (Strategy for Our People) and the IW/Cryptologic community. She fleeted up to the chief of staff in August 2005 and prepared the staff for merger with Navy Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM). She also served as deputy director of Information Operations within NETWARCOM.

From July 2006 through September 2009, Tighe commanded over 2800 multi-service and multi-agency personnel at the National Security Agency/Central Security Service Hawaii in Kunia. Following command, she served for a year as the executive assistant to director, National Security Agency/chief, Central Security Service and commander, U.S. Cyber Command.

Tighe was selected for rear admiral by the FY11 Selection Board and reported as the deputy director of Operations for U.S. Cyber Command in August 2010.  She was announced as Director, Decision Superiority OPNAV N2N6F4 by the Secretary of the Navy on 5 July 2011.

Tighe has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (second award), the Strike/Flight Air Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (fourth award), and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Captain Robert V. Hoppa, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as director, National Maritime Intelligence Center, Washington, D.C.  Hoppa is currently serving as chief of staff for intelligence, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va.

Captain Dewolfe H. Miller III, who has been selected for promotion to rear admiral (lower half), will be assigned as director, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, N2/N6F2, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C.  Miller previously served as commanding officer, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), Norfolk, Va.

This Day in Naval History – July 04

1776 – American colonies declare their independence from Great Britain.
1777 – John Paul Jones hoists first Stars and Stripes flag on Ranger at Portsmouth, N.H.
1801 – First Presidential Review of U.S. Marine Band and Marines at the White House.
1831 – U.S. concludes indemnity treaty with France.
1842 – First test of electrically operated underwater torpedo sinks gunboat Boxer.
1863 – Confederates surrender of Vicksburg, Miss., gives Union control of Mississippi River.