When a warship’s crew begins their deployment duties, their internet access is frequently restricted for operational safety and to avoid a potential online attack by hostile actors. However, these rules did not stop some crew members aboard a US Navy ship, USS Manchester, from using “Secret Wi-Fi.”
During a deployment in 2023, a senior enlisted leader of the gold crew of the U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Manchester covertly set up an unauthorized Wi-Fi network using a Starlink satellite internet dish, according to a damning internal probe obtained by Navy Times.
The enlisted leader on board, Senior Chief Grisel Marrero, hatched a plot with the ship’s chiefs to install the secret, unauthorized network for their exclusive use while the ship was readying for deployment in the West Pacific in April 2023.
A cohort of a few senior leaders installed a Starlink satellite internet dish on top of the ship and used a Wi-Fi network they dubbed “STINKY.” The network was installed to check sports scores, communicate with their families, and stream movies. So, while these top leaders had full internet connectivity, ordinary sailors remained disconnected from such advancements and typically lacked access to the internet.
The internal investigation noted that the use of these wifi terminals had major consequences for the crew’s and the ship’s security. It rebuked the officers by observing: “The danger such systems pose to the crew, the ship, and the Navy cannot be understated.”
The newer details published by Navy Times come months after it reported in June 2024 that the former command senior chief of the gold crew of USS Manchester entered a guilty plea to allegations that she had installed an unapproved Wi-Fi system on board and had lied to superiors about it, in a court-martial proceeding.
At that time, the publication reported that Senior Chief Grisel Marrero was discreetly relieved of her leadership position aboard the USS Manchester in September 2023 by Naval Surface Force Pacific (SURFPAC) before her trial, citing a “loss of confidence” as indicated by the command. In March, she was sentenced, resulting in a reduction of her rank to E-7.
The complete Manchester inquiry file, including any supplementary enclosures, has not been disclosed yet. Nonetheless, it states rather categorically that everyone in the chief’s mess was aware of the hidden system and that those who chose not to accept it were considered responsible for failing to report the wrongdoing.
According to the investigation, chiefs and senior chiefs who knew about the Wi-Fi system and helped conceal or use the scheme received administrative nonjudicial discipline at the commodore’s mast.
The Starlink dish was mounted on the Manchster’s O-5 level weather deck during a “blanket” aloft period when sailors must dangle high above or over the side of the ship.
Records indicate that Marrero activated the system the night before the ship sailed into the West Pacific waters of the U.S. 7th Fleet, although it’s unclear who installed the equipment for Marrero due to the redactions present in the publicly accessible version of the report.
Over 15 Manchester leaders colluded with Marrero to acquire, set up, and operate the Starlink technology on board the vessel. The investigation concluded that “this agreement was a criminal conspiracy, supported by the overt act of bringing the purchased Starlink onboard USS MANCHESTER…After the system’s operational status, any new member of the CPO Mess who then paid into the services joined that conspiracy.”
This has spiraled into a massive conspiracy because the Starlink terminals are not completely immune to tampering and hacking by hostile state and non-state actors. This could pose a grave risk to the safety of the vessel and the crew, a threat multiplied in the West Pacific.
The network remained undiscovered until June of last year when a crew member attempted to notify the ship’s commander about it. To avoid penalty, Marrero intercepted this message and concealed the Wi-Fi deployment. When questioned, she presented falsified documents and lied to her superiors.
The investigation points towards deep malice and manipulation by Marrero. She was accused of purposeful neglect of her responsibilities, fabricating statements, and impeding the course of justice.
That said, while the installation of the Starlink Wi-Fi aboard Manchester has been flagged as a threat to security, the US Navy has installed a strained Wi-Fi network onboard an aircraft carrier to bolster performance and readiness.
Starlink Internet — Bane Or Boon?
Meanwhile, the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) has equipped the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, with Starlink and Kymeta terminals. This installation is part of the Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore (SEA2) program, which leverages low-orbit satellites to deliver high-speed internet access.
This was revealed last month when the US Navy published images of Information systems technicians Ashton Brandt and Brett Norton installing the Starlink and Kymeta terminals on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
This technology is expected to significantly enhance the quality of life at sea by providing sailors with fast, dependable, and secure internet access, thereby improving their overall connectivity.
A press release from the US Navy stated that since SEA2 went fully operational on the USS Abraham Lincoln, sailors’ experiences at sea have improved significantly.
As Cmdr. Kevin White, the combat systems officer aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, stated that SEA2’s primary aim is to extend its functionality beyond mere tactical uses.
The latest technology offers a reliable connection, enhancing morale and boosting productivity in the workplace. As the US Navy has stated, this innovation has fostered a new internet culture aboard vessels, which prioritizes the safe and responsible use of Wi-Fi while navigating the seas.
A Super Bowl celebration on board the USS Abraham Lincoln on February 11 prominently illustrates the impact of SEA2.
The high-speed internet that SEA2 supplied allowed the carrier to broadcast a live stream of the game for the first time, which was attended by 800 sailors. Another example showed Commander White on a live video call with an officer on another carrier belonging to the Italian Navy.
In addition, the US Navy declared that SEA2 would soon be implemented on all Navy ships and other shore locations to benefit an even wider spectrum of Navy troops and operations. Naval communications are now much faster and more dependable, thanks to the approximately 7,000 Starlink and OneWeb satellites orbiting the Earth at a distance of 375 to 750 miles.
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