The Ship Communications Officer (SCO) is a civil service mariner (CIVMAR) employed by the Navy to serve the Military Sealift Command (MSC) onboard naval auxiliaries and hybrid-manned warships worldwide, in peace and war. MSC exists to support the joint warfighter across the full spectrum of military operations. MSC provides on-time logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, in contested or uncontested environments.
The Ship Communications Officer (SCO) is the head of the Communications Department and is responsible to the Master for all operational, administrative and maintenance functions of the Communications Department. Incumbent will keep the Master informed of all capabilities, limitations and conditions of assigned equipment in compliance with current policies and instructions; and initiate actions to correct all equipment deficiencies. Incumbent is responsible for proper planning, managing, and executing of all Communications Department evolutions and Communications Department’s role in ship-wide functions. Incumbent will manage the Command, Control, Communications, Computer (C4) systems. Responsible for the proper operation, maintenance and repair of electronic communications equipment/systems onboard the ship.
Assigned as the ship’s Communications Local Element (LE) custodian, incumbent is responsible for all centralized distribution and accounting system designed to provide appropriate safeguards for sensitive cryptographic publications, messages, documents, keying material, equipment and related devices.
Responsible for drafting instructions and implementing plans for contingency communications. In addition, responsible for drafting and implementing the EAP to include destruction and safeguarding of crypto, cryptographic equipment, classified documents and other sensitive material. Schedule and conduct drills frequently to ensure plans can be carried out as envisioned and maintain proficiency of personnel.
Responsible for ensuring an aggressive Safety Program is established and maintained in the Communications Department in compliance with current policies and instructions. Coordinate with the Electrical Safety Officer (Chief Engineer) and establish a Tag-Out/Lock-out Program within the Communications Department and ensure compliance with applicable safety standards and procedures. Ensure BI-monthly Safety Meetings are conducted for his department and submit written reports of such meeting to the Safety Officer (Chief mate and Master) for review.
Source: sealiftcommand
