New information warfare squadrons will increase readiness and lethality at sea: Officer

Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza delivers remarks as the guest speaker during an assumption of command ceremony for Information Warfare Squadron (IWRON) Two in Norfolk, Virginia. (U.S. Navy photo by Robert Fluegel / Released)

By Mark Pomerleau • Feb 17, 2026

A new pilot for information warfare squadrons within carrier strike groups will better operationalize information warfare in the fleet and improve IW lethality at sea, according to a top official.

“One of the asks that I got when I came into the job was, Mike, I really want to operationalize IW more in the fleet,” Vice Adm. Michael Vernazza, commander of Naval Information Forces, told reporters at the annual WEST conference in San Diego this week. “We want to improve the lethality of IW at sea, so to me, this was the first place to start with that.”

The Navy announced in early December that it was establishing Information Warfare Squadron (IWRON) Two, described as a first-of-its-kind unit to operationalize IW capabilities within the strike group in a 48-month pilot. Vernazza told WEST attendees this week that in addition to the East Coast-based IWRON Two, there are also plans to create a West Coast-based IWRON Nine.