We’ve seen news of organizations deploying their own IT systems, also known as Shadow IT, quite frequently. However, the latest case of Shadow IT has taken it to a new level, as it occurred aboard a United States Navy warship.
In the year 2023, aboard the USS Manchester while on a mission in the Pacific Ocean, a group of at least 15 senior military officers clandestinely purchased and installed Starlink satellite dishes outside the ship to create their own Wi-Fi network. This was due to the limitations of the ship’s official communication channels.
The Wi-Fi network they unleashed on the ship was named “STINKY,” which raised suspicions among some onboard. However, the group led by Grisel Marrero, Command Senior Chief, who orchestrated the purchase and installation, denied the existence of this Wi-Fi network and changed its name to resemble a wireless printer to disguise it.
Upon receiving complaints from crew members about this covert Wi-Fi signal, ship authorities attempted to locate the unauthorized devices onboard but were unsuccessful. It wasn’t until properly approved personnel installed another Starlink dish that they discovered the hidden dish mounted outside the ship. Marrero insisted that this dish was only approved for use during docking, allowing it to survive undetected for days.
In the following days, as the ship authorities became aware of the covert satellite dish, tensions rose, and Marrero ultimately admitted fault. The group of senior officers responsible for the rogue dish installation faced disciplinary action, with Marrero demoted in rank as a consequence.
TLDR: A group of senior military officers aboard the USS Manchester secretly installed a Starlink satellite dish to create their own Wi-Fi network, leading to disciplinary action and demotion for the orchestrator, Command Senior Chief Grisel Marrero.
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