Today, Commander Joseph Harrison was relieved by Commander James L. Hammersla as Commanding Officer, Cryptologic Warfare Activity Sixty Six. Commander Hammersla’s biography follows:
Commander James L. “Thor” Hammersla III, USN
COMMANDING OFFICER
CRYPTOLOGIC WARFARE ACTIVITY SIXTY SIX (CWA-66)
CDR Hammersla is a native of Bossier, Louisiana and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in June of 1991; he was honorably discharged as a Gunnery Sergeant and commissioned via Officer Candidate School in 2003. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Intelligence & National Security Policy and Master of Arts in Ancient & Classical History from American Military University and a Masters of Arts in Legislative Studies from Georgetown University.
CDR Hammersla’s operational assignments include Carrier Strike Group EIGHT as the Deputy Information Warfare Commander; USS MASON (DDG-87) as the Signals Warfare Officer and Operations Officer; Navy Information Operations Command Georgia as an Airborne Direct Support Officer aboard the EP-3E aircraft; and Naval Security Group Activity Fort Meade, Maryland as a Subsurface Direct Support Officer. While in the Marine Corps, he served in various Fleet Marine Force units. CDR Hammersla has participated in combat operations in Operations GOTHIC SERPENT, JOINT FORGE, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM and supported Operations RESTORE HOPE, JOINT ENDEAVOR, and ALLIED FORCE.
CDR Hammersla’s shore and staff assignments include the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Assured Command & Control as a Deputy Branch Head and Requirements Officer; Nimitz Operational Intelligence Center, Office of Naval Intelligence as the Director of the Global Maritime Collaboration Center and USCYBERCOM as a Cyber Battle Captain. He also served as a Defense Legislative Fellow on the staff of Senator Barbara Mikulski.
CDR Hammersla has been awarded various personal, unit, campaign and service awards. He is a qualified Information Warfare Officer, Surface Warfare Officer, Naval Aviation Observer, Navy & Marine Corps Parachutist and Combatant SCUBA Diver; he is a graduate of the Marine Corps’ Amphibious Reconnaissance School, Army Ranger School and the Pathfinder’s Course. He is also authorized to wear the Presidential Service Badge, Distinguished Marksman Badge, British Parachute Regiment and French Foreign Legion Parachutist Insignias.
Station HYPO 
17 July 2020 at 11:18
Wow, I have to say this gentleman has quite the resume and it seems there is very little he has not done, read or experienced. I wish him the best.
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17 July 2020 at 13:27
Impressive, wish we would have met while I was on AD. Best of luck skipper!
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17 July 2020 at 14:41
Uh…..DAMN!
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17 July 2020 at 16:01
There are two different groups – “tribes” if you prefer – of citizens in our country today. One tribe has been seen on television in cities from California to New York, from St. Louis to Chicago. Left in their wake are burning buildings, destroyed police cars and looted private businesses. Then there is the “other tribe”. That is the one that stands between citizens of the United States and the forces that would “take” our country for themselves. We are free only because of this “other tribe”. CDR Hammersla; I thank you for dedicating your life to being a defender of the freedom we have in our country. My respects to you and all those that allow us to keep and enjoy the American way of life. We have been blessed from the days of the Minutemen up to this very hour to have those like you who love the United States enough to defend it. Thank you again.
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17 July 2020 at 22:34
Wow! As photographed, Commander Hammersla’s fruit salad is probably the most impressive I’ve ever seen with the possible exception of Brute Krulak’s. I was delighted to see the Commander served as a Gunny in our dearly beloved Marine Corps!
Bill Green’s bests anything I’ve seen on the news recently. I’m glad I’m not the only whose had more than enough of the violent protests. Those of you who serve in our Armed Forces as Commander Hammersla has done and is doing are the American citizens I respect and trust the most.
Thank you all who wear the uniform and are serving our Country. Semper Fidelis, Commander!
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