Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Furst, a native of Cookeville, Tennessee, is serving at the Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) at Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida.
As the executive officer at IWTC, Furst is serving among the future generation of information warfighters.
Furst joined the Navy 12 years ago. Today, Furst serves as a cryptologic warfare officer.
“I had a college professor that was a mentor of mine and he mentioned that if you wanted to get into intelligence, the military was a good route to begin that path,” said Furst. “The more I looked into joining the Navy, the more I became interested in serving my country.”
According to Furst, the values required to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Cookeville.
“I was an exchange student during my senior year,” said Furst. “I learned to live in a new environment, adapt to be comfortable and resilient to change and uncertainty, and these lessons have allowed me to be flexible during my Navy career,”
IWTC, one of Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT)’s four training commands, provides schooling for the Navy and joint services in cryptologic, information systems and cyber functions, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
Headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, CIWT delivers trained information warfare professionals to the Navy and joint services, enabling optimal performance of information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.
CIWT trains enlisted personnel and officers in all functions of information warfare covering fields ranging from military intelligence, cyberwarfare and information systems to electronic warfare and cryptologic operations throughout the scope of their Navy careers. CIWT trains more than 26,000 students annually, with an average of 3,700 students attending classes daily. CIWT constantly strives to modernize training taught using emerging technology and the Persistent Cyber Training Environment to train the next generation of information warfare professionals.
Serving in the Navy means Furst is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Currently our global international order has been written by U.S. foreign policy,” said Furst. “The Navy is the enforcer for that policy and ensures free trade and our front lines and protects our way of life.”
Furst and the sailors he serves with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of my wife for her fortitude during my deployment to the Middle East on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which ended up being eight months after multiple extensions,” said Furst. “During that time, as a family, we were able to weather a difficult deployment all the while, my wife raised our son and daughter, even at a time with a broken foot.”
As Furst and other sailors continue to train and perform the mission they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Most people search for purpose in their life,” added Furst. “The Navy provides me with pride and purpose knowing what I do helps contribute to the freedom we enjoy every day.”
The Naval Education and Training Command is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command. Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, Naval Education and Training Command recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.
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