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Naval Information Forces Gets New Commander

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Vice Admiral Mike Vernazza takes command of NAVIFOR as Vice Admiral Kelly Aeschbach retires after 34 years of service with the Navy.

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Adm. Daryl Caudle, Commander, Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, and Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza participate in a cake-cutting ceremony during a change of command ceremony on July 26.
Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle, Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach and Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza participate in a cake-cutting ceremony during a change of command ceremony on July 26, 2024. Photo Credit: U.S. Navy/Robert Fluegel

Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) swore in Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza as commander July 26. Vernazza takes most recently served as commander of Fleet Information Warfare Command Pacific/Information Warfare Task Force (TF-501).

Outgoing NAVIFOR Commander Vice Adm. Aeschbach retired after 34 years of service within the U.S. Navy.

Vernazza served in a series of roles across the Navy, including command operations officer at the Joint Forces Command Intelligence Command, deputy branch head for Battlespace Awareness Programs in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), team lead for intelligence and irregular warfare at OPNAV and director for intelligence at Carrier Strike Group 11 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

 “I’m looking forward to building on the incredible work Vice Adm. Aeschbach and this team have accomplished over the last three years,” Vernazza said in a press release. “The complexity of our Navy’s mission sets and the rapidly changing security environment mean that [information warfare] will always be in demand — and we must keep a laser focus on warfighting readiness.”

Aeschbach joined NAVIFOR in May 2021, after previously serving as commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence and director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office.  

While serving as a commander of NAVIFOR, Aeschbach centered her efforts on manning, training and equipping American and international partners in information warfare. Aeschbach streamlined command form and functions while emphasizing the importance of fresh perspectives and shifting course from the previous methods of information warfare.

“Your work has been critical in ensuring IW can meet the unceasing demand our Navy faces to stay in competition and to win the fight tonight and the future fight,” Aeschbach said as she relinquished command. “There is no doubt that I am leaving today so incredibly proud of what our team has collectively accomplished. Truly, every single member of our command, our teammates across the IW community and the many supporters and cheerleaders sitting here today should rightly share in that pride.” 

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