Navy commander dismissed for secretly installing satellite dish on warship
Commander demoted for covert satellite dish installation on warship
A Navy commander took doomscrolling to new heights by secretly installing a satellite dish on the warship she oversaw.
This covert decision allowed her and her crew to access social media, but it ultimately derailed her military career.
An investigation into the dismissal of Grisel Marrero, the command senior chief of USS Manchester, revealed her demotion’s cause.
Navy Chief Grisel Marrero was demoted after secretly installing a Starlink satellite dish on the USS Manchester to access social media. She hid the network, lied to superiors, and was convicted of dereliction of duty. #NavyNews #Military #RatedRed pic.twitter.com/mL2DXxSNB2
— Rated Red (@realratedred) September 10, 2024
Why did she do it?
Getting a signal while at sea is nearly impossible.
Sailors spend extensive periods on their vessels, cut off from the outside world, missing updates on news, sports, and family matters.
So, Marrero’s decision to install WiFi on her ship is understandable.
However, this compromised the ship’s safety and others.
Warships lack onboard satellites to prevent cyber attacks from jeopardising crew missions.
In April last year, Marrero and over a dozen chief petty officers pooled $2,800 to install the Starlink High Performance Kit, developed by SpaceX.
Starlink’s kit provides high-speed, low-latency internet on the move, featuring a wide field of view and enhanced GPS for consistent connectivity.
They purchased top-tier satellite equipment, the investigation noted.
They secretly installed it on the ship before departing San Diego.
Senior officers could then contact friends, but only in certain ship areas, which wasn’t sufficient.
Marrero and her team added signal boosters around the ship during a visit to Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
To conceal the WiFi, they disguised it as a printer and set up payment plans for the chief’s mess to fund it.
After being caught and lying to her commanding officer, Marrero was relieved of her duties.
This March, she was demoted to chief petty officer after pleading guilty to providing false official statements to commanders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why did the Navy boss install a satellite dish on the warship?
To allow her and her crew to access social media and stay updated with the outside world.
What satellite system did they install on the warship?
They installed the Starlink High Performance Kit by SpaceX.
How did Marrero and her team manage to hide the satellite dish?
They disguised it as a printer and set up payment plans to fund it.
Why aren’t warships designed with satellites onboard?
To prevent cyber attacks that could compromise the crew’s mission and safety.
What were the consequences for Marrero after the satellite dish was discovered?
She was relieved of her duties and demoted to chief petty officer after pleading guilty to providing false official statements.
