By MC3 Michael Ehrlich

Members of NPS' Information Technology and Communications Services (ITACS) team are pictured in the university's 'server farm' in Ingersoll Hall, Jan. 27. Under their leadership, and through an exhaustive team effort, ITACS successfully completed NPS' required network accreditation for the institution's .EDU designation.

NPS Provost Dr. Douglas A. Hensler described the critical role ITACS plays in academic support.

"ITACS' own stated strategic imperative is to 'enable the NPS mission.' By securing our .EDU designation, ITACS enables our students, faculty and staff to execute their mission in a protected venue of academic freedom," Hensler noted.

Unique among Navy networks, the achievement marks the first .EDU network to receive a full three-year Authority to Operate (ATO) directly from Navy Fleet Cyber Command.

The NPS.edu network was established more than 10 years ago, but this is the first time it has gone through the Navy's grueling accreditation process. Navy accreditation ensures that NPS remains in compliance with Navy information security measures, while the .EDU network provides the freedom necessary for a graduate education institution.

Pictured above, from left, are Director of Cybersecurity Bob Goodwin, Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of ITACS Joe LoPiccolo, Applications Systems Engineer Juana Wells, Information Systems Security Manager Artie Gross, Director of Classified Computing Programs Don Free and Deputy CIO for Operations Chris Gaucher.