November 26, 2024
RDML Kurtis A. Mole (Deputy Commander, Fleet Cyber Command/Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber (Navy)) will provide remarks honoring the service that is required to ensure our Nation’s freedom. RDML Mole will then discuss the integration of Information Warfare across the spectrum of joint operations in the context of current events and ongoing competition with pacing threats and adversaries, who are working daily to destabilize the international rule of law at sea, on land and in space. Finally, he will discuss our most important and critical capability – our people – and the role veterans and organizations like JHU-APL play in current efforts, and the value of service – past and present.
Rear Adm. Kurtis A.​ Mole is a native of Bowie, Maryland. He enlisted in the Navy in 1988 as a Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) and completed training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. Rear Adm. Mole graduated and commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 with a Bachelors of Science in Economics and minor in Chinese. Rear Adm. Mole also holds an Information Systems Certificate from Naval Postgraduate School, a Masters of Business Administration from National University, and a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Rear Adm. Mole served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard USS Leftwich (DD 984) and at Assault Craft Unit 5 as Officer-in-Charge of a detachment of Landing Craft Air Cushion. Following his re-designation as a Cryptologic Warfare Officer in 2000, he was the Information Warfare team leader for USS Constellation and USS Carl Vinson Strike Groups, the senior cryptologist for USS Kitty Hawk Strike Group, the Information Warfare Commander for USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group; and finally the Information Operations Officer for Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet embarked USS Blue Ridge. He has completed multiple deployments to the Arabian Gulf and western Pacific.
His duties ashore include Mission Director at the Aerospace Data Facility-Colorado, Executive Officer at Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Whidbey Island and NIOC Maryland, Head of Information Warfare Community Enlisted Assignments at Navy Personnel Command, Director’s Fellow at the National Security Agency, Senior Operations Officer at the National Security Operations Center, Deputy Chief, NSA/CSS Cybersecurity Threat Operations Center, and Commanding Officer of NSA/CSS Hawaii.
As a flag officer, Rear Adm. Mole served as Deputy Commander, Navy Space Command.
Rear Adm. Mole is the recipient of multiple unit and personal awards. He is a qualified surface and information warfare officer.