| David J. Dorsett | |
|---|---|
Vice Admiral Dorsett, USN 1st DCNO for Information Dominance / 63rd Director of Naval Intelligence |
|
| Nickname | Jack |
| Born | 8 October 1956 Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina |
| Allegiance | USA |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1978–2011 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held | Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance Director of Naval Intelligence Director for Intelligence (J2), U.S. Joint Staff Director of Intelligence (J2), United States Pacific Command Commander, Joint Intelligence Center, U.S. Central Command |
| Battles/wars | Operation Southern Watch Operation Restore Hope Operation Desert Fox Operation Resolute Response Operation El Dorado Canyon Operation Attain Document Operation Prairie Fire |
| Awards | National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (3) Meritorious Service Medal (4) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal |
David John “Jack” Dorsett (born 8 October 1956) is a retired vice admiral of the U.S. Navy and was the first Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance and 63rd Director of Naval Intelligence. He served as the Director of Intelligence, Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2005–2008 prior to assuming his position on the Chief of Naval Operations staff.[1]
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Vice Admiral Dorsett was born in Roanoke Rapids and raised in Virginia. He graduated from Jacksonville University (Florida) in 1978, receiving a Bachelors degree in Political Science.
Jack Dorsett is a Naval intelligence officer, joint specialty officer, a specialist in Joint and Strategic Intelligence, and a qualified surface warfare officer. He possesses significant experience in National Security Affairs (Europe, Middle East, Asia) and in Strategic Planning. He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval War College and Armed Forces Staff College, and was awarded a Master’s Degree from the Defense Intelligence College.[2]
He began his Navy career in 1978 as an exchange midshipman with the Royal Navy, serving on the Ton class minesweeper HMS GAVINTON (M1140). His early career included duty in USS ELLIOT (DD-967), USS OLDENDORF (DD-972), and as executive officer in USS Dominant (MSO-431).
From 1983–1987, he served as an intelligence analyst and Operations Officer at FOSIC U.S. Naval Forces Europe, providing intelligence support during Operations EL DORADO CANYON, ATTAIN DOCUMENT, and PRAIRIE FIRE. In 1987, he reported to Sixth Fleet as Political-Military Officer and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.
He transferred to the U.S. Naval War College in 1989, serving as Executive Assistant for the CNO's Strategic Studies Group. He then served as the Intelligence Officer in USS RANGER (CV-61), participating in Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and RESTORE HOPE. From 1993–1996, he directed the Operational Intelligence/Crisis Management Department at the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific.
In 1996, VADM Dorsett transferred to Washington, D.C., where he directed the CNO's Intelligence Plot and then served as Director of Intelligence, Office of Naval Intelligence. From 1998–1999, he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence on the COMUSNAVCENT/COMFIFTHFLT staff, and participated in Operations DESERT FOX, SOUTHERN WATCH, RESOLUTE RESPONSE, and other sensitive, nationally tasked combat and special operations.
VADM Dorsett commanded the Joint Intelligence Center (JICCENT), U.S. Central Command between 1999–2001, where he managed intelligence support to theater forces during Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and DETERMINED RESPONSE. In June 2001, he assumed duties as the Director, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Requirements and Resources on the OPNAV staff. He was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in May 2003 and assigned as the Special Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence; in July 2005 he reported to the Joint Staff as the Director for Intelligence (J2). He was selected for promotion to Rear Admiral (Upper Half).
As a flag officer, he has served as: Special assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence; director of Intelligence (J2), United States Pacific Command; director for Intelligence (J2), U.S. Joint Staff; and, is the 63rd Director of Naval Intelligence (N2), Chief of Naval Operations. On 2 Nov 2009, VADM Dorsett assumed office as the 1st Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6).[3]
In response to the CNO’s direction, VADM Dorsett spearheaded the formation of the Information Dominance Corps (IDC)—a cadre of information specialists—consisting of more than 45,000 active and Reserve Navy officers, enlisted and civilian professionals possessing extensive skills in information-intensive fields. These specialists include information professional officers, information warfare officers, naval intelligence officers, meteorological and oceanography officers, space cadre officers, cyber engineer officers, aerographer’s mates, cryptologic technicians, intelligence specialists, information systems technicians, and civilian personnel.
The stand up of N2/N6 represents a landmark transition in the evolution of naval warfare, designed to elevate information as a main battery of the Navy’s warfighting capabilities, and firmly establish the U.S. Navy's prominence in intelligence, cyber warfare, and information management.
On 31 October 2009, the CNO established the office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6) and on 2 November 2009, VADM Dorsett assumed duties as the 1st Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance.
As the DCNO for Information Dominance, VADM Dorsett was the CNO’s principle advisor for all information capabilities. His strategic objective was to elevate information to a core navy warfighting capability and to functionally integrate intelligence, information warfare, information/network management, oceanography, and geospatial information for information age operations, while delivering assured command and control and information access to operational forces by delivering deep multi-intelligence penetration and understanding of potential adversaries, melded with deep multi-domain understanding of the operating environment.
He was further tasked with coordinating resource investment to deliver information-centric capabilities and competitive advantages while aggressively accelerating experimentation and innovation with information capabilities including remotely piloted, unattended, and autonomous capabilities adaptively networked to extend reach, penetration and persistence in denied areas.[4]
Unmanned Initiatives:
Under VADM Dorsett, the Navy made significant progress in building a network of unmanned systems that will perform ISR, communication relay, strike, and other missions.
Networking Initiatives:
Accelerating Electronic Warfare Capabilities: The Navy has begun to restore its EW advantage and develop world-class cyber warfare capabilities to tackle future threats. To that end, the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Analysis of Alternatives concluded in April 2010.[10]
Cyber Warfare Initiatives: VADM Dorsett articulated the need establish the FLTCYBERCOM / TENTHFLT to coordinate globally and serve as the Navy Component Commander to U.S. Cyber Command.[11]
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA):
NSA Bronze Medallion
This article incorporates text from an official United States Navy website. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the text is in the public domain.