Captain Nicole K. Nigro

Commanding Officer (CO)

Captain Nicole K. Nigro assumed duties as Commanding Officer of Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic, Nov. 4, 2021. NIWC Atlantic hosts more 4,900 federal civilian and military employees, and approximately 9,000 industry partners. NIWC Atlantic’s main campus is in Charleston, South Carolina, with offices spanning seven major geographical areas inside and outside the continental U.S. NIWC Atlantic is a Navy engineering and technology command, and in her role, Nigro oversees the full-spectrum research and development, test and evaluation, engineering design, development and fleet support across the complete Information Warfare domain.

A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Nigro received her commission as an ensign upon graduating the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering in May 1999. In June 1999, Nigro reported to Naval Academy Preparatory School, where she served as a volleyball and basketball coach in conjunction with teaching algebra while waiting to attend Surface Warfare Officer School.

Nigro reported to her first surface ship, USS O’BANNON (DD 987) in May 2000 where she served as the Strike Officer and Weapons officer, and later that year was designated as an engineering duty officer (EDO) and transferred to the Naval Post Graduate School where she earned her Master of Science degree in space systems engineering. After receiving her degree, she reported to SPAWAR Systems Center San Diego for her EDO qualification. During this tour she worked as the Littoral Combat Ship C4ISR Project officer and the Joint Maritime Assault Craft (JMAC) communication project manager.

In July 2007, Nigro was assigned to the Program Executive Office (PEO) Space Systems PMW-146 to work on the MUOS Test and Evaluation Team. In 2008, she volunteered as an Individual Augmentee (IA) in Afghanistan, serving as the Combined Joint Task Force Staff Reconstruction Engineer, managing the development and construction of roads. Upon returning from Afghanistan, she was reassigned within PMW-146 to work with MUOS Terminal Integration until her transfer in July 2010.

In July 2010, Nigro reported to Commander Naval Surface Forces Pacific Fleet where she served as the C5ISR Lifecycle Manager, tracking C5ISR installs for Pacific Fleet surface platforms. In July 2013, she reported to OPNAV N2/N6 where she served as the Deputy Branch Head for Protected Transport, focusing on the efforts associated with satellite communications and WAN.

Nigro reported to PEO Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I), San Diego, Calif., in September 2015 and was assigned as the Automated Digital Network System Assistant Program Manager position.In December 2017, she transitioned to the Navigation Principal Assistant Program Manager where she served until reporting to EDO School in Port Hueneme, Calif., in April 2019. There she was assigned as the Executive Officer/Senior Course director with her focus on transitioning the traditional curriculum to problem-based learning to better prepare new EDOs for their upcoming tours.

Nigro’s personal awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, one Joint Service Commendation Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals and one Army Achievement Medal.

Nigro is married to Kenneth E. Nigro, of Allentown, Pa., and has a son, daughter and four dogs.

Last Updated: 12 April 2023

Mr. Peter C. Reddy

Executive Director

As Executive Director and senior civilian official of Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic, Peter C. Reddy sets command-wide strategic goals and manages engineering and business operations for more than 4,900 federal civilian and military employees, and approximately 9,000 industry partners. NIWC Atlantic’s main campus is in Charleston, South Carolina, with several offices located inside and outside the continental U.S. Reddy is responsible for the execution of technical work applying systems engineering and programmatic discipline to deliver information warfare solutions to warfighters. He provides technical stewardship and expert advice to the Fleet, resource sponsors and stakeholders in the cyber warfare and business IT domains. He works closely with Naval Information Warfare Command (NAVWAR) headquarters and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (RDT&E) to further strengthen NIWC Atlantic’s organic engineering capabilities.

Commissioned a U.S. Marine Corps second lieutenant in May 1984, Reddy served as an Air Defense Control Officer. He served as an Air Control Officer and Weapons and Tactics Instructor at Marine Air Control Squadrons 7 and 6 in Yuma, Arizona, and Cherry Point, North Carolina, respectively. Significant operational assignments were as Command, Control, Communications Department Head at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1; and commanding officer of Marine Air Control Squadron 4, MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, deploying with his squadron to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was also commanding officer of Marine Air Control Group 38, deploying with the Group to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Reddy’s staff and acquisition assignments included Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System Project Officer at Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM), Quantico, Virginia; and Air Defense Action Officer, Air Command and Control Branch at Marine Corps headquarters. He served as Project Team Leader for the Common Aviation Command and Control System, MARCORSYSCOM; and Product Group 11 Director, MAGTF C2, Weapons and Sensors Development and Integration, MARCORSYSCOM. After a command reorganization, he was named Program Manager, MAGTF Command, Control and Communications from 2012 until his retirement from active duty in February 2014.

After briefly working as a contractor supporting the Rapid Reaction Technology Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (AT&L), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Emerging Capability & Prototyping), Reddy entered federal civil service as chief engineer for the Expeditionary Enterprise Systems & Solutions Sub-Portfolio at NIWC Atlantic. He was selected systems engineer for the Marine Corps and Special Operations Command Portfolio in March 2015. In this position, he provided technical oversight for all center engineering support provided to the Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command spanning command, control, communications, cyber operations, vehicular integration, information technology, and software development and sustainment projects.

In January 2017, Reddy was selected for the Senior Science and Technology Manager (SSTM) position of NIWC Atlantic Chief Engineer/5.0 Engineering Competency Lead. He provided technical leadership of the Engineering competency, and formulated, planned and developed comprehensive sets of systems engineering best practices across NIWC Atlantic.

In January 2019, he was selected as NIWC Atlantic Deputy Executive Director, providing management oversight over the command’s customer facing departments and project management function. He entered the Senior Executive Service as the command’s Executive Director in November 2019.

A 1984 graduate of the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, Reddy also received a Master of Science in systems engineering (electronic warfare) (with distinction) from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterey, California; and a Masters of Strategic Studies (distinguished graduate) from the Marine Corps War College. He also has a Master’s in Business Administration from George Mason University and a Master’s Certificate in Information Systems and Operations from NPS. Reddy also graduated from the Air Command and Staff College and the Marine Corps War College. He is certified Level III in the Defense Acquisition Program Management and Systems Engineering Career Fields; as a Certified Systems Engineering Professional; as a Project Management Professional; and as a Professional Engineer.
 

Commander Anthony Cagle

Executive Officer

Commander Anthony Cagle serves as the Executive Officer (XO) for Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic. Working at the Hampton Roads, Virginia site, Cagle oversees research and development, test and evaluation, engineering design, development and pier side fleet support across the Information Warfare domain.

Previously, Cagle was assigned as the Flag N6 for Commander Carrier Strike Group Twelve, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).

A native of New Johnsonville, Tennessee, Cagle enlisted in the Navy in 1991, serving as an enlisted member and achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was commissioned in 2006, becoming a “Mustang,” as a Limited Duty Officer. He holds master’s degrees in information technology from the University of Management and Technology, and in Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College.

Cagle has served in information warfare billets at many levels, both afloat and ashore. His shore assignments include Naval Communications Stations in Hawaii, Diego Garcia, Bahrain, and Japan. His sea duty assignments encompass a broad range of operational and supervisory leadership roles aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), and USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7). His staff tours include Secretary of the Air Force for Space as Remote Sensing Mission Branch Chief, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff J6 as cyber requirements and capabilities Action Officer; DISA Joint Staff Support to National Military Command Center as Operations Officer; United States Joint Forces Command as J6 Information Assurance Manager; and Commander Naval Personnel Command (COMNAVPERSCOM) as an Information Systems Technician (IT) detailer. He was the first commander of CTU 1010.7.5, while serving as Officer in Charge, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Far East Detachment Okinawa, Japan.

Prior to his Flag N6 for Commander Carrier Strike Group Twelve assignment, Cagle was Remote Sensing Mission Area Branch Chief for the Secretary of the Air Force for Space.

Cagle’s awards and decorations include Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal (4), National Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), and Expert Pistol Shot Medal and various unit and campaign awards.

Master Chief Robert Mendoza

Command Master Chief

Master Chief Petty Officer Robert Mendoza is Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic’s Command Master Chief, serving at the Hampton Roads Detachment in Norfolk, Virginia. Mendoza is first generation military and a native of Houston, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Navy and reported for basic training at Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois in October 1994.

Mendoza completed Airman Apprenticeship School, known today as the Professional Apprentice Career track (PACT) program, in December 1994 before reporting to his first command, the conventional aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in San Diego, California.

While assigned to this carrier, he was assigned to the Waist Catapults V-2 Division, working with the Aviation Boatswain’s Mate – Launch and Recovery (ABE) rating, but would later cross rate and become an Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE).

In September 1996, he reported to Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) North Island Sea Operations Detachment (SEAOPDET). While assigned to SEAOPDET he deployed to Australia, Tasmania, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sasebo, Thailand, and Jabel Ali aboard USS Constellation (CV 64) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

His subsequent sea duty and overseas assignments include: Helicopter Mine Countermeasures (HM-15) – twice assigned, Strike Fighter Squadron One Four Six (VFA 146) - deploying 10 times to Bahrain, and aboard the following ships: USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Bataan (LHD 5), USS Wasp (LHD 1), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), and USS George Washington (CVN 73). Additionally, he served as ship’s company aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) where he also is a plank owner.

Throughout his career, he completed deployments in the Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Fleet areas of responsibilities and participated in Operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve.

His shore duty assignments include tours at AIMD North Island in San Diego, California and Navy Recruiting District in Houston, Texas.

In October of 2020, he reported to Strike Fighter Squadron Eight Three (VFA 83) at Oceana, Virginia, where, as Maintenance Master Chief, he led his squadron through various detachments and a deployment with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Final Countdown.

Mendoza is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 212) and holds a Bachelor’s of Science in human resource management, and a Master’s degree in business management.

Mendoza’s personal awards include: Enlisted Aviation Warfare; Enlisted Surface Warfare; Meritorious Service Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (10 awards) and various unit and campaign awards.
 

Mr. Kevin J. Charlow

Deputy Executive Director

As Deputy Executive Director, Kevin Charlow provides the overall technical leadership for the planning, execution and quality of the work performed at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic, applying systems engineering and programmatic disciplines to deliver Information Warfare solutions to warfighters.

Charlow reports directly to Executive Director Peter C. Reddy, supporting command-wide strategic goals and the management of engineering and business operations for more than 4,900 federal civilian and military employees, and approximately 9,000 industry partners.

As a Senior Scientific Technical Manager (SSTM) leader, Charlow maintains technical decision authority over projects and oversees their execution, ensuring compliance with customer requirements, architectures, engineering standards and official Command/Department of the Navy/Department of Defense policies.

Working closely with Naval Information Warfare Command (NAVWAR) headquarters and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E), Charlow helps strengthen NIWC Atlantic’s organic engineering capabilities while establishing the Command’s future direction of research and development based on high-level requirements.

Charlow brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from three decades as a Department of the Navy engineer. Since he launched a federal career in 1986 as an electronics engineer for the Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Center in Charleston, he has held many leadership positions at NIWC Atlantic. His previous assignment was serving as the SSTM and Department Head for NIWC Atlantic’s Expeditionary Warfare Department, where he was directly responsible for delivering Command, Control, Computer, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Cyber, and Information Technology systems and engineering services to meet the expeditionary and mobile operational needs of the Navy, Marine Corps and Special Operations Command. In that role, he oversaw a team of engineers, scientists, logistics specialists, technical specialists and financial managers, providing strategic direction and managerial oversight of the Department’s programs and projects.

Charlow earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer engineering from Clemson University. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration with emphasis in computer and information resources management from Webster University. He is Level III certified in both Program Management and Systems, Planning, Research, Development and Engineering (SPRDE) from the Defense Acquisition University. In 2014, he graduated from the Federal Executive Institute leadership course, “Leadership for a Democratic Society.”

Charlow is a member of the Acquisition Professional Corps and has received several awards including a NAVWAR Lightning Bolt Award and numerous letters of appreciation and certificates.

Commander Manuel Biascoechea

Officer in Charge, New Orleans Detachment

Commander Manuel Biascoechea is the Officer of Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic's serving at the New Orleans Detachment in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Prior to NIWC Atlantic, Biascoechea served as the Chief, Intelligence Operations, Joint Intelligence Operations Center - South, Intelligence Directorate (J2), United States Southern Command.

Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a commission in the U.S. Navy in September 1998. 

Biascoechea completed Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola, Florida, following he reported to VAQ-129 in Whidbey Island, Washington, for training as an EA-6B Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO). He then served as ECMO, Personnel Officer and Aircraft Division Officer while attached to VAQ-137, deploying aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), accumulating over 1,000 flight hours. His first National Capital Region (NCR) shore tour in OPNAV N51 was dissected by a stint in Iraq, working as an Electronic Warfare Officer while attached to the 393rd Corps Support Battalion in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). From there, he transitioned to 6th Fleet in Naples, Italy, where he served as an Air Logistics Officer in CTF-63.

Biascoechea reported to Whidbey Island in 2009 for a department head tour with VAQ-133. There he served as Electronic Warfare Office, Administration Officer, and Operations Officer while deploying to Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq and aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in support of OIF and OEF. After a year in the United States Naval War College, where he earned his master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, he moved back to the NCR, this time serving as a Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction planner at the Strategic Command’s Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He then deployed aboard USS John C. Stennis once again, this time as the ship’s Strike Operations Officer.

Commander Alexander Williams

Officer in Charge, Naval Forces Europe-Africa Site

Commander Alexander Williams serves as the Officer in Charge of Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic’s site in Naple’s Italy serving Naval Forces Europe and Africa interests and is responsible for providing regional oversight.

Williams comes to NIWC Atlantic after serving as the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Principle Assistant Program Manager (PAPM) for Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I). In this role, he led a team of more than 500 civilian, contractor, and military personnel responsible for the cost, schedule, and performance of six programs and projects. Williams led one of the first DoD programs to transition to the Adaptive Acquisition Framework Software Acquisition Pathway which enables delivery of intelligence capability to the Fleet in months rather than the traditional hardware-centric, four-to-seven-year process.

A native of Fort Ord, California, Williams received his commission as an ensign through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering in 2006. In 2017, Williams earned a Master of Science in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Califormia. He was recognized for his outstanding thesis in the field of autonomous systems. Williams holds a professional engineer license for industrial engineering in the state of California and Project Management Professional certification through the Project Management Institute.

Williams started his career as a Surface Warfare Officer. His tours included assignments as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer and Force Protection Officer on the USS John L Hall (FFG 32); as the Training Officer and Staff Tactical Action Officer with Commander Destroyer Squadron Two Four; and as the Deputy Operations and Training Department Head at the Naval Satellite Operations Center during launch and early on-orbit activities of the first Mobile User Objective System satellite, MUOS-1.

Williams lateral transferred to the Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) community in 2012. During his first EDO assignment at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, he served as the Integration Test Director and Modeling and Simulations Lead for the Joint Space Operations Center Mission System. He then pursued a systems engineering graduate degree from the Naval Postgraduate School before returning to sea as the C4I Systems Maintenance Officer forward deployed in Europe onboard the Sixth Fleet command ship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20). Williams returned to San Diego as the Force Level Class Desk Officer responsible for force-level ships’ C4I integration and modernization management before being selected as the Distributed Common Ground System-Navy Future Systems Assistant Program Manager and later selected as the acting PAPM for ISR programs before transitioning to NIWC Atlantic.

His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), along with various other campaign and unit awards.

Lt. Commander Tricia D. Nguyen

Officer in Charge, Middle East

Lieutenant Commander Tricia D. Nguyen serves as the Officer in Charge of Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic’s Middle East site in Bahrain. She is responsible for the delivery and sustainment of information warfare technologies for ashore and afloat platforms within U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet.

A native of San Jose, California, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in earth science and a commission as an ensign from the the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 2013 at Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. In 2019, Nguyen earned a Master’s Degree in applied physics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. In 2021, she attained Joint Professional Military Education Phase I from the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island Nguyen is Space Cadre VS5/VR1.

As a Surface Warfare Officer, Nguyen served aboard USS MOBILE BAY CG 53 as the Main Propulsion and the joint Electronics and Communications Officer. During her tour, she deployed to 7th Fleet with the JOHN C. STENNIS CSG. She also served as Damage Control Assistant onboard USS BULKELEY DDG 84, where she was involved in various operations in the North Atlantic. In 2020, she reported to NIWC Pacific as an Engineering Duty Officer. She led teams of military, scientists and engineers and supported a diverse range of projects, from the Coalition Warfighter Program to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Rapid Prototyping and Experimentation Council. During this time, she received one patent and published three papers. She was selected to work for the Chief of Naval Operations Novel Modernization Task Force and Project Overmatch Science & Technology in support of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command 7.0, which included the planning and execution of the 2021 Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX). She assumed her current role at NIWC Atlantic’s Middle East site in December 2022.

Her awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (three awards) and various service medals and unit awards.