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Quantico G-6 gets high marks in cyber security

14 Aug 2014 | John Hollis Marine Corps Base Quantico

The U.S. Cyber Command recently came away impressed after a thorough Command Cyber Readiness Inspection at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Quantico’s G-6 rated a nearly perfect score following a close scrutiny of base cyber security operations from July 21-25. Director Rich Logsdon’s team of dedicated civilians and Marines scored an 84.7 percent on the unclassified network and an 85.1 on the classified network.

The highest possible score is 87 points.

U.S. Cyber Command, which delegates the Defense Information Systems Agency to perform the on-site inspection of each military installation’s various systems and security measures to ensure they are compliant with Department of Defense standards, was so impressed with Quantico’s system management that it has asked about the base’s business practices. U.S. Cyber Command officials said they rarely see such scores and were impressed by the teamwork between MCB Quantico and all its tenants.

"I was expecting probably a 78 to 80," Logsdon said. "I knew we were better than that, but I also know how hard a CCRI is. I know how in-depth those inspectors get."

Logsdon, a former Marine staff sergeant, credited his team’s success to the support given to them by Quantico and the entire tenant leadership.

"From top to bottom, you couldn’t ask for that kind of support anywhere," Logsdon said.

The inspection involved a comprehensive review of all cyber security areas, including leadership management, physical security, administration, training, network configuration, network operations and command operational behaviors. The impressive results reflect IT and security management across the installation.

"This is a team win for Quantico and its tenants," Logsdon said.

Quantico’s strong showing is even more impressive, given the recent turnover of the Navy Marine Corps Internet to the G-6 in 2013. G-6 has yet to hire all the new contractors who it will need to run things and only about half who have been employed so far can even work on the network.

"There was a lot of hard work put into it," said Landon Fielder, a network operations manager. "I think it paints a pretty good picture of how we do business."

G-6, whose wide range of responsibilities include base telephones, a computer network used daily by 12,000 users and even the radios used by base police and firemen, won’t be up for another CCRI inspection for three years.

But they’ll hardly be resting on their laurels in the meantime.

"I think we’ll do even better the next time," said Ty Bartel, regional services manager. "I don’t see why not."


Marine Corps Base Quantico