Navy to Codify Data-Driven Warfare in Upcoming MOC Manual

The Navy plans to release an updated Maritime Operations Center (MOC) manual this year, which will codify how the fleet uses data-driven technologies to maintain a competitive edge, Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, commander of Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR), told reporters Wednesday at a media roundtable.

Since being designated as the MOC Type Commander, NAVIFOR has conducted deep dives into the training and equipment of all 10 fleet MOCs. The upcoming manual will standardize these operations while introducing AI as a tool for both predictive analytics and administrative efficiency, Vernazza explained.

“There’s probably some AI to be done there with current operational planning, the future operational planning piece as well,” Vernazza said during AFCEA/USNI WEST in San Diego Wednesday. “It’ll allow us to better posture our own forces.”

The Rise of IWRONs and Line Officers

The Navy is also undergoing a fundamental shift in how it manages its human capital in information warfare (IW), Vernazza said, including IW officers from “restricted line” to “line” status, which allows them to hold command at sea. This change is being operationalized through the stand-up of Information Warfare Squadrons (IWRONs).

The Navy established IWRON Two on the East Coast in December 2025 as a 48-month pilot program. This unit consolidates disparate IW elements — including cyber, cryptology and intelligence — under a single commander who is accountable for the unit’s readiness and tactical output, Vernazza said. He added that a West Coast IWRON pilot will begin as soon as next month.

“To get to outcomes we haven’t had, we have to do things we haven’t done. And that’s one of them,” Vernazza said. “The transition of information warfare officers from restricted line to line represents a pivotal evolution in how the Navy views and employs IW capabilities across all domains of naval warfare.”

Legacy Systems and Acquisitions

Vernazza said that NAVIFOR is still responsible for sustaining its existing portfolio until replacements are formally delivered, adding he anticipates more acquisition changes soon.

“Legacy systems we have, we’re still maintaining those. So until such time as something new comes out and it’s going to replace something old, we’re still maintaining our legacy kit,” he said.

That maintenance‑and‑modernize balance is becoming more complex as the Navy accelerates adoption of commercial off‑the‑shelf tools, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, he added. Much of the acquisition reform driving that shift is happening at higher echelons, particularly through the Rapid Naval Capabilities Office and will change as the Pentagon’s acquisition strategy is enacted throughout the services, he added.

Vernazza said NAVIFOR is benefiting from modernization efforts focused on advancing warfighting technology, strengthening intelligence operations and upgrading critical systems.

“We’ve coined the term ‘modernize to innovate’ … as we modernize, we free up funds so that we can innovate in the portfolio,” he said.