The Cryptologic Warfare Officer Guide (CWOG) is a side project I started in 2010. After speaking with officers and chief petty officers who recently completed their shipboard tours, and reflecting on my own experience serving on the USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), I decided to initiate the CWOG side project. Initially, I named it the Tactical Information Warfare Officer (TIWO) handbook. This document was designed specifically for Division Officers and Division Chiefs serving onboard surface ships.

In 2021, eleven years later, I released the sixth version, now called CWOG 2021 (Rev B). I am proud to announce that this comprehensive 193-page .pdf document is now on every cryptologic-capable surface vessel in the U.S. Navy. Furthermore, it is included in the Afloat Cryptologic Manager’s course curriculum and is issued to every officer and chief petty officer attending the course.  The best part of the side-project is that it did not cost the navy a dime!

I would like to express my gratitude to CAPT Sean Heritage (Ret.) and CAPT Mike Lambert (Ret.) who inspired me to engage in side projects. As a side note, Station HYPO is another example of such a project.

Below is the table of contents. If you are interested in receiving a copy, please email me at mario.a.vulcano.civ@us.navy.mil using your official email address.

P.S. I plan to update the CWOG in late 2024.

Table of Contents

  • CWOG POC
  • Contributors for this version
  • Preface
  • Standards and Expectations
  • Personnel
  • Bills, Instructions, Doctrine, Designation Letters and Briefings
  • Instructions SIGWO are responsible for
  • Designation Letters
  • Records/Logs
  • CO’s Battle Orders
  • References and Publications
  • Spaces
  • Space Accreditation
  • PKI
  • SCI Communications
  • Pre-Deployment
  • AOR In chop Requirements
  • Watch Standing
  • Training
  • Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) Schools
  • Navy Enlisted Classifications (NEC)
  • Qualifications
  • Turnover Checklists
  • Review 8 O’clock reports
  • Supply
  • Required Accounts
  • SOPs
  • Miscellaneous
  • Acronyms and Abbreviations
  • Annex A POCs – from regional maintenance facilities to SSOs
  • Annex B Equipment and Systems
  • Annex C Security
  • Annex D ASA Checklist (CRY)
  • Annex E DISS
  • Annex F DISs Account Management Policy


Happy to be here and proud to serve!
Mario Vulcano