Rear Adm. Doug Small was relieved by Rear Adm. Seiko Okano during a change of command and retirement ceremony at Naval Information Warfare Systems Command headquarters in San Diego Friday.
As NAVWAR Commander, Okano will oversee 11,000 civilian and military personnel who design, develop, and deploy advanced communications and information capabilities for the Department of the Navy.
Okano is also taking over as head of Project Overmatch, an initiative to “deliver rapid integration systems and field a new naval operating architecture,” a Navy statement said.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime to lead this exceptional organization, one that stands the watch day and night for our Navy’s Information Warfare capabilities and fights every day to “own the domain,” Okano said.
“We are living in a time where information dominance is critical to national security. In this dynamic environment, our mission is clear: to deliver and sustain superior Information Warfare capabilities, enabling our Navy to fight and win in the information age.”
A native of Evanston, Illinois, Okano is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. From there, she earned a master’s in space systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, where she was also selected for transfer to the engineering duty officer community in 2001.
Her operational tours include gunnery and fire control officer, and electrical division officer on USS Belleau Wood, deployed to Somalia; and Amphibious Force 7th Fleet flag aide in Okinawa.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom she served on Joint Crew Composite Squadron One in Tikrit, Iraq to assist with defeating radio-controlled improvised explosive devices.
Her previous assignment was as program executive officer for Integrated Warfare Systems in Washington, D.C.
Wade presented Small with the Distinguished Service Medal on Friday, conferred on behalf of the President of the United States and the Secretary of the Navy.
Wade also awarded the NAVWAR workforce with a Meritorious Unit Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy, in recognition of “their distinguished service to accelerating critical warfighting capability to the fleet at an unprecedented rate.”
“I want to say thank you to the entire NAVWAR workforce. We’ve been through a lot together, and it’s been my honor to have served as your commander,” Small said.
“Be proud of the amazing work you do here and keep holding onto the mission together. You will be in good hands with Rear Adm. Okano, and I can’t wait to see what else you all will accomplish.”
After nearly 40 years in the Navy and four at NAVWAR, Rear Adm. Small is retiring from military service. Under his leadership, NAVWAR was named the No. 1 place to work in the Navy in the 2023 Best Places to Work in Federal Government rankings.
Vice Adm. John Wade, commander of the Third Fleet, was presiding officer of the ceremony.
“I’ve known Rear Adm. Okano for many years now. This is the fourth change of command where she’s followed in Rear Adm. Small’s footsteps,” he said.
“There is no better person to sustain and increase the momentum he’s made with NAVWAR. I look forward to serving with you and the NAVWAR team as we continue to bring capability forward.”
City News Service contributed to this report.
