WELCOME TO NAVY INFORMATION OPERATIONS DETACHMENT GROTON

Officer in Charge

     LCDR “Irv” Smith enlisted in the Navy in 1993.  Following basic training at NTTC Great Lakes, IL, Smith attended Aviation Administrationman (AZ) “A” school at Meridian, MS.  His first assignment was to Patrol Squadron Special Projects Unit ONE (VPU-1) in Brunswick, ME from 1993 to 1998.  During that time, he received a B.S. in Business administration and Accounting. 

     In May 1998, Smith was commissioned via Officer Candidate School at Pensacola, FL.  Upon his commissioning as an Information Warfare Officer, Smith reported to NSA/CSS Georgia where he served from 1998 to 2001.  During his tour at NSA/CSS Georgia, he qualified as an Operations Watch Officer and Subsurface Direct Support Officer (DSO).  As a DSO, he deployed on LANTFLT and PACFLT combatants in the USCENTCOM AOR.

     In 2001, Smith reported to USS MAHAN (DDG 72) in Norfolk, VA.  During this tour, he was the Ship’s Signals Exploitation Space (SSES) Division Officer and the Search and Recovery (SAR) Officer.  While stationed on MAHAN, Smith qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer.

     In 2003, Smith reported to Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Colorado at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, CO.  During this tour, he was assigned as a Department Head, Reserve Integration Officer, and Resource Manager at the Aerospace Defense Facility.  While at NIOC Colorado, he deployed to Qatar for five months as the CENTCOM Forward Headquarters, Cryptologic Services Group Operations Officer.

In 2006, Smith reported to Commander Naval Forces Europe – Commander Naval Forces Africa - Commander SIXTH Fleet in Naples, Italy.  While in Naples, he served as an ISR Collection Manager and Intelligence System Officer.  Additionally, he qualified as a Fleet Intelligence Watch Officer.

     From April 2009 to August 2011, Smith was assigned to Commander Carrier Strike Group TWELVE (CCSG-12) in Norfolk, VA.  CCSG-12 is embarked on USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) and returned in July 2011 from a 6-month combat deployment in support of operations in C5F and C6F.  He served as the N22, Flag Cryptologist (CRC), Special Security Officer (SSO), and Space Systems Officer.  He qualified as an Information Dominance Warfare Officer and was also designated as a member of the Space Cadre.  In May 2010, Smith was awarded a Masters in Human Relations.

LCDR Smith holds various personal, unit and campaign awards.