It is fitting that Rear Admiral Parode be recognized as the first Phoenix Challenge recipient as he is, without a doubt, one of the key plank holders of the information warfare profession,” said Austin Branch, Executive Director of Information Strategy and Programs at COLSA Corporation and Co-founder and former President of IPA. Branch noted that Rear Admiral Parode’s work has helped form the foundation for a community of information professionals to evolve.
Throughout his career, RADM Parode served on staff tours that have contributed to both the Naval and information operations professions, including in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N3/5) and in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence as the deputy director for IO. RADM Parode validated IO and 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.
At sea, RADM 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 its 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.
RADM 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, RADM Parode completed Basic Cryptologic Officer training and proceeded to his first duty assignment at Naval Security Group Activity San Vito dei Normanni, Italy. His 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.