Marines Discuss Information Assurance

For its August luncheon, the chapter received a briefing from Gunnery Sgt. Alonzo Lawton, USMC, information assurance manager, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force-Forward (I MEF-Forward), regarding information assurance and computer network defense during the force's recent deployment in support of operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Lawton provided an overview of significant information assurance events that occurred during the deployment and the issues they presented. He spoke on three challenges: upgrading firewalls and network sensors; implementing Host Based Security System (HBSS) on the deployed network; and helping I MEF-Forward communicators adjust to network accreditation.

The biggest goal for the communicators was to integrate information assurance and computer network defense measures without affecting combat operations while maintaining their situational awareness in regards to possible compromises on the network. Lt. Col. Matthew Limbert, USMC, operations officer, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force/G-6, led off his discussion with a description of the state of the network that I MEF-Forward took over, as well as the complex operational role that I MEF-Forward was tasked with. Both Col. Limbert and Sgt. Lawton spoke of the support provided by several agencies in the upgrade and maintenance of the deployed network, particularly the Marine Corps Network Operations and Security Command and the Defense Information Systems Agency.

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