Hammond thwarts cyber threats for U.S. Navy

FORT MEADE, MD. – A local sailor is working to protect America from cyber threats as a member of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.

Lieutenant Mike Hammond of Huntsville graduated from Randolph School in 2003 and Vanderbilt University in 2007. Hammond serves with the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command in its operational arm with U.S. 10th Fleet. He manages operations and defense of the Navy’s networks.

“Alabama is a Southern town, and I was raised with good family values to work hard to succeed,” Hammond said. “Military norms were established back home, because my dad did four years active duty and 20 years in the Navy Reserves.”

Practically all major systems on ships, aircraft, submarines and unmanned vehicles are networked to some degree. Connectivity provides the military with speed, agility and precision, but the technology also opens numerous attack opportunities for adept cyber threats.

“The U.S. Navy’s success in cyberspace is necessary for all missions that our nation expects us to be capable of carrying out including winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas,” Vice Admiral Mike Gilday, commander of FCC, said.

“While The Navy continues to make great strides in maintaining its technological edge in the cyber domain, it is our sailors and civilians who form the basis of our success. Their drive and creativity are critical to winning in such a competitive environment,” Gilday said.

Networks are under continuous threats of attack by numerous terrorist organizations, ‘hacktivist’ groups, organized crime and individual hackers. Motivations include personal gain, information theft, discrediting the United States and Navy, sabotage and political gain.

“I’m also proud of my deployment to Afghanistan as part of a reconstruction team in development and infrastructure,” Hammond said. “Additionally, I enjoyed being stationed on a ship and traveling all around the world.”

“Serving in the Navy goes back to the day I joined and the reason why I was there to join something bigger than myself,” Hammond said. “Very few people spend their lives in the Navy and only in the Navy. I’m here to do something. I hope people can benefit that are willing to serve.”

Note: Personnel in the Navy Office of Community Outreach, which has headquarters in Millington, Tenn., travel the globe and collect sailors’ stories. M. Dawn Scott wrote Hammond’s story.

For more information, visit outreach.navy.mil.