Navy Officer Demoted for Sneaking Satellite Dish onto Warship for Internet

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A recent investigation has revealed that a U.S. Navy chief installed an unauthorized Starlink satellite dish on a warship to access the internet while deployed. The chief reportedly aimed to allow herself and fellow enlisted officers to scroll through social media, check sports scores, and watch movies during their mission.

Typically, internet use is restricted on naval vessels to safeguard military operations and avoid cybersecurity risks.

In a quiet move, the Navy relieved Grisel Marrero, the command senior chief aboard the littoral combat ship USS Manchester, from her position in late August or early September 2023. This information was disclosed following parts of the ongoing investigation, with the Navy Times being the first to report on the situation.

According to investigators, Marrero, who previously worked as an information systems technician, and several senior leaders purchased a Starlink High Performance Kit for $2,800. They had it set up in April 2023, just before the deployment of the San Diego-based USS Manchester.

During their deployment, Marrero and over a dozen other chief petty officers utilized the satellite connection to send messages home and stay informed about current events. They even invested in signal amplifiers during a stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after they discovered that the satellite signal did not reach all parts of the ship.

The group managed to pay the $1,000 monthly bill for the Starlink service using the Chief Petty Officer Association’s debit card. However, this internet access was not shared with lower-ranked sailors on the ship.

To conceal their actions, Marrero altered the name of the satellite network to “Stinky,” masquerading it as a printer. She even denied the network’s existence and intercepted a comment regarding it that had been made in the commanding officer’s suggestion box.

Marrero did not provide a response to an email inquiry from the Associated Press seeking her comments on the matter.

In March, she faced a court-martial, where she pleaded guilty to charges of dereliction of duty and providing false statements to her superiors. As a result, she was demoted to chief petty officer post-trial.

Marrero’s removal from command occurred “due to a loss of confidence in her leadership abilities,” according to a statement from Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Cindy Fields.

Cmdr. Fields emphasized that senior enlisted leaders within the Navy are expected to maintain the utmost levels of responsibility, reliability, and leadership and will be held accountable if they fail to meet those standards.

This incident is not isolated; recently, another commander from the destroyer USS John McCain was dismissed after he was photographed firing a rifle with the scope mounted backward. This image generated significant ridicule for the Navy across social media platforms.