#54 Parode on the Information Environment

#54 Parode on the Information Environment

During this episode, RADM Steve Parode discusses a variety of information-related topics including the Cold War peace dividend, the Tri-service Maritime Strategy, the Joint Concept of Information Advantage, cognitive preparation of the battlefield, and information PTSD, and Information Technology – Operational Technology (IT-OT) convergence.

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Guest Bio: Rear Adm. Steve Parode retired recently from the United States Navy after 35 years in uniform. His last assignment was with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he was the Director of the Warfare Integration Directorate. Other assignments included service with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence as the deputy director for Information Operations, also as the director of intelligence (J2) for U.S. Strategic Command, and as deputy chief of Computer Network Operations (X43) at the National Security Agency.

Rear Adm. Steve Parode, is a native of Washington, D.C., and was commissioned in 1986 from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History (Soviet Studies).  He subsequently received a Master of Arts in National Security Studies (American Government) from Georgetown University and was a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.  He is a member of the Navy’s Information Warfare Community and Space Cadre. Upon commissioning, Parode completed Basic Cryptologic Officer training and proceeded to his first duty assignment at Naval Security Group Activity San Vito dei Normanni, Italy.

At sea, Parode served aboard USS Wisconsin (BB 64) as intelligence department head and main battery targeting officer during Operation Desert Storm, where he also qualified as a surface warfare officer; two special submarine mission deployments; cryptologic resource coordinator and force protection officer for Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 8/USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) strike group and Staff Cryptologist and Information Operations (IO) director for U.S. 6th Fleet aboard USS La Salle (AGF 3) in Gaeta, Italy, where he was fleet battle watch captain during Operation Iraqi Freedom and the J2C and J39 for Joint Task Force, Aztec Silence in West-Central Africa.

Ashore, in addition to a series of assignments in fleet signals intelligence, while assigned to Naval Security Group Command, he led the first IO division and served on the Network Red Team for Exercise Millennium Challenge.  He commanded Navy Information Operations Command, Sugar Grove, West Virginia and became the first field station commander of National Security Agency (NSA) Sugar Grove Research Station.  As commanding officer of Navy Cyber Warfare Development Group, he also served as commander, Task Force 1090 as part of the U.S. 10th Fleet.

Parode’s major staff tours were in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations N3/5 as the deputy director for IO and at the office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) where he validated IO/cyber requirements; served as program manager for Special Program Capability Development; guided policy implementation for intelligence support to IO and cyber operations; and qualified as an information warfare officer and full joint duty.

As a flag officer, Parode has served as director of intelligence (J2) for U.S. Strategic Command and deputy chief of Computer Network Operations (X43) at NSA.

In July 2018, Parode assumed duties as director for Information Warfare Integration Directorate, N2/N6F, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Parode’s military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit, Combat Action Ribbon and other personal awards, various campaign and unit decorations.

About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain.

For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org.

Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

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