In a decisive step to elevate information warfare to the front line of naval power, the Navy activated Information Warfare Squadron Two to bolster carrier strike group readiness.

The East Coast based unit is the first of its kind, created to unify scattered information warfare efforts into one cohesive command and control structure. The ceremony in Norfolk, Virginia, marked the official roll out on December 5.

Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, head of Naval Information Forces, said that the Navy’s information warfare elements have often been “disparate,” despite their importance. He stressed that the new squadron is about more than optics or paperwork; it is about building a practical, united capability for the fleet.

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The new squadron structure is meant to create a “unified force” that can support carrier strike groups.

The Navy is pursuing a pilot program with a 48-month testing period, a period designed to determine how best to consolidate and refine information warfare doctrine for deployed carrier strike groups. This is not a minor reorganization.

It is a focused effort to ensure that information superiority translates into real battlefield advantage for the fleet.

Naval Information Forces says the unit will bring together elements from regular carrier strike group staff, as well as Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, Navy Information Operations Command, the Strike Group Oceanography Team and others.

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Capt. Jon O’Connor, the commander of the new unit, described its mission as being “about warfighting, pure and simple.” The quote captures the seriousness with which leadership views information warfare as a core combat function, not a peripheral capability.

“IWRON-2 will not only meet, but exceed the standards of excellence because we must. Our mission demands it. We are here to strengthen the readiness, lethality, and survivability of our Carrier Strike Groups by integrating our advanced IW capabilities,” he said, per the Navy.

The words underscore a commitment to pushing doctrine into action, with tangible improvements to how carriers operate in contested environments.

The new squadron is the first of its kind; the number matches up with the carrier strike group it is a part of.

This architecture reflects a deliberate alignment between information warfare and traditional fleet leadership, ensuring the right authorities oversee the right capabilities at the right times.

A second squadron is expected to be set up on the West Coast next year, signaling a broader rollout if the pilot proves successful.

The activation comes amid a wider shift in how the services view information and electronic warfare. Earlier this year, the Army shuttered its 1st Information Operations Command, a decision that reflected a broader reorientation toward Theater Information Advantage Detachments and new electromagnetic warfare units.

The changes reflect a shared belief that winning future battles will depend as much on information dominance as on firepower.

From a conservative perspective, these steps align with a straightforward view of national defense: strengthen readiness, improve coordination, and ensure the United States maintains a decisive edge in the information space.

President Trump has consistently stressed a strong, ready military, and supporters point to moves like IWRON-2 as practical demonstrations of that philosophy in action.

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War and a vocal advocate for robust defense reform, would likely view these initiatives as essential to modernizing the force and ensuring rapid decision making under adversarial pressure.

The IWRON-2 effort also dovetails with a broader push to bring information operations closer to the front lines, so counters to disinformation and electronic warfare can be deployed with the same speed as traditional weapons.

By creating a unified command for information warfare across carrier strike groups, the Navy aims to reduce redundancy and improve interoperability. This approach makes sense because it translates complexity into clarity, and complexity into speed.

The outcome of the pilot will matter not only for today’s operations but for the strategic posture of the United States in coming years. If successful, the model could inform a wider transformation across services, reinforcing the view that information warfare is a critical factor in decisive victory.

In that sense, IWRON-2 represents more than a new squadron; it signals a renewed commitment to decisive, integrated warfare that blends cutting edge capability with disciplined command.

As the Navy forges ahead, supporters will be watching closely how this new framework performs under real-world stress. The goal remains to protect and empower the fleet with information advantages that translate into lasting deterrence and sustained lethality.

The men and women assigned to IWRON-2 are tasked with delivering that outcome, and their success could shape how the United States conducts naval warfare for years to come.

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