By Petty Officer 2nd Class David Finley

Special to the News-Herald

 

Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command and Naval Network Warfare Command conducted an active shooter drill at the Global Network Operations & Security Center building in Suffolk on Thursday.

The exercise was intended to train members stationed at NCDOC and NNWC for an actual active shooter incident and to ensure that all base personnel are prepared.

“It’s a shame that we live in a world that requires us to be ready to respond to such a scenario,” said Capt. Sean Heritage, NCDOC’s commanding officer. “However, since we do, it’s our responsibly to ensure we are prepared to do just that.”

The exercise was planned in advance and not in response to any threat or real-world events.

The drill also featured participation from the Suffolk Police Department, Suffolk Emergency Communications and the Department of Homeland Security.

“The Suffolk Police Department embraces opportunities to work with our military partners within the city,” Suffolk Police Chief Thomas Bennett said. “These exercises ensure that both the department and military are readily prepared to respond to active threat incidents in the City of Suffolk.”

The training was led by NCDOC’s Exercise Division Training Team coordinator, John Richardson.

“We understand the importance of conducting this type of training to include all the stakeholders in public safety,” Richardson said. “This collaborative training exercise will continue to prepare our staff for a potential critical incident that may develop in our community.”

According to Richardson, the training went well, and he was pleased with the contributions from DHS and the Suffolk Police Department.

The active shooter exercise at GNOSC is just one example of how the Navy, Homeland Security and the Suffolk Police Department are working together to provide a safe environment for sailors and staff at Cyber Command, officials said.