Congratulations CDR Mike Elliot, this year’s winner of the Captain Joseph J. Rochefort Information Warfare (IW) Officer Distinguished Leadership Award!

R 161045Z FEB 16

FM COMFLTCYBERCOM FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
UNCLAS
SUBJ/2016 CAPTAIN JOSEPH ROCHEFORT INFORMATION WARFARE OFFICER DISTINGUISHED
LEADERSHIP AWARD//
MSGID/GENADMIN/C10F//
REF/A/MSG/COMFLTCYBERCOM/191045 OCT 15//
AMPN/ REF A IS REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS//
POC/BRUCE WARD/CIV/TENTHFLT/-/TEL:  2403733939//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/PASS TO FLEET CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT UNITS/SSES/

RMKS/1.  Captain Joseph John Rochefort was a major figure in the U.S. Navy’s

development of cryptologic and intelligence capabilities from 1925 to 1947.
He headed the Navy’s fledgling cryptanalytic organization in the 1920’s and
provided singularly superb cryptologic support to the U.S. fleet during World
War II, leading to victory in the Pacific.  At the end of his career (1942-1946),
CAPT Rochefort successfully headed the Pacific Strategic Intelligence Group in
Washington.  In 1986, he posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
for his contribution during the Battle of Midway.

2.  Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. TENTH Fleet is pleased to announce

Commander Michael Elliot, USN, assigned at OPNAV N2/N6 as this year’s winner of the
Captain Joseph J. Rochefort Information Warfare (IW) Officer Distinguished
Leadership Award.  CDR Elliot, peer nominated by LCDR Eren Cataloglu, has an
outstanding resume.  He served as Commanding Officer NIOC Yokosuka and led 230 Sailors
and civilians, personally developing the first-ever IO, Cyber, and EW relationship
with a critical Pacific Theater ally. He led the upgrade of Japan’s SIGINT Lab,
established a SIGINT Quicklook Operation for FDNF Special Missions, and oversaw the
effort to identify critical capability gaps in afloat counter-C4ISR systems.  Throughout
his impressive 20 year career, Commander Elliot has consistently sought out and excelled
in our community’s most challenging operational assignments. He’s not only used these
experiences to master each of our community’s core competencies but along the way, he
used his unique personal attributes of selflessness “we over me”, technical
inquisitiveness, and personalized mentorship to inspire the Sailors and joint service
members he served with to reach their full potential.

3.  I would also like to acknowledge this year?s runner up, CDR Rachel Velasco-Lind,

for her significant leadership contributions to the IW mission.  CDR Velasco-Lind is
currently serving on the OPNAV N8 staff.

4.  Special thanks to the officers who provided peer nominations for this year’s

consideration.

5. Congratulations and well done.  VADM Jan E Tighe, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command

and U.S. TENTH Fleet.//

BT