Submitted by Megan Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Chief Petty Officer Branden Dawson, a native of Tacoma, Washington, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Network Warfare Command (NAVNETWARCOM).
Dawson graduated from Henry Foss High School in 2007. Additionally, Dawson is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cloud computing from Western Governors University and is expected to graduate in 2027.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Tacoma.
“I learned growing up that you have to keep pushing forward and not give up,” said Dawson. “That applies to all the challenges I face daily, whether they are large or small.”
Dawson joined the Navy 15 years ago. Today, Dawson serves as an information systems technician.
“After high school, my job choices and opportunities were extremely mundane and limited,” said Dawson. “I had no car, no degree and no goals. Living in a single-parent household as the oldest child with two younger siblings, I didn’t want that to be my life. I wanted something better and I needed to break out on my own and make my own opportunities. A clean break and escaping from everything is what I ultimately felt was needed to achieve this. Amongst all the branches, the Navy was the one that stood out to me most. Specifically, being able to work on information technology and seeing things that those I went to school with would only dream of seeing.”
NAVNETWARCOM’s mission is to execute tactical-level command and control to direct, operate, maintain and secure Navy communications and network systems within the Department of Defense Information Networks-Navy environment.
Navy information warfare (IW) plays a role in every Navy mission, every day, around the globe. NAVIFOR’s mission is to ensure the more than 60,000 IW sailors and civilians in the fleet – experts in cyberspace, communications, intelligence, meteorology, oceanography, cryptology, electronic warfare and space – are trained, equipped, certified and ready to meet the Navy’s warfighting missions.
“Information Warfare extends from seabed to space, and is critical to our Navy’s success in competition, crisis and conflict,” said Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, the Navy’s IBoss and commander of NAVIFOR. “The more than 60,000 IW professionals across the globe are our asymmetric advantage – their expertise, professionalism, imagination and creativity are key to our Navy overcoming any adversary at pace and at scale.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Dawson serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together, we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Dawson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“The accomplishment I am most proud of is when I was accepted as a chief petty officer,” said Dawson. “At that point in my career, I was contemplating getting out of the service via a medical board. I had just come home on convalescent leave to recover from stomach surgery and was barely walking around my home when I received the call. Roughly four weeks later, I jumped in feet first and gave the rest of the chief season whatever heart and soul I was able to muster at my limited capacity. When all the dust settled and trials were finally over, I opened my eyes and felt my cover with my anchor being placed upon my head. Every day when I look at that anchor, I feel and tell myself that I’m going to make a difference and impact.”
Dawson can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the Navy has been a sincere honor and a privilege,” said Dawson. “My first reality check was when I was attached to Destroyer Squadron 15 in Yokosuka, Japan. We had just been hit by the massive 9.0 earthquake that devastated the country. I was underway less than 24 hours later on USS John S. McCain. During that event, we recovered the remains of our allies and their families.
“At one point, I was able to break away and head outside of the ship to watch the sunset. A single thought entered into my mind at that moment. Out of all the other peers I had gone to school with, I am the only one to say that I am out along the coast across the world providing humanitarian services to a foreign ally. The thought was overwhelming and made me feel so small in such a big world. However, I am making a difference in that world. That is what I strive to do every day.”
Dawson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“There are too many individuals who have impacted me these past 15 and a half years; too many to name,” added Dawson. “I just want to thank everyone who has mentored and molded me to help me become the person I am today.