Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center
Stored: Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center
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Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center (KIWC) is a specialized subcommand of the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), named after President John F. Kennedy, serving as the Navy’s Center of Excellence for strategic intelligence on irregular maritime warfare, located within the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland.
Mission
The Kennedy Irregular Warfare Center’s mission is to provide comprehensive intelligence analysis on irregular maritime threats, such as special operations forces, expeditionary warfare, coastal defenses, and non-state actors like pirates or traffickers. It supports the Navy, joint forces, and national decision-makers by delivering actionable insights to counter unconventional maritime challenges, ensuring readiness against asymmetric threats.
Parent organization
The KIWC operates under the Office of Naval Intelligence, within the Department of Defense, as one of ONI’s five Centers of Excellence, contributing to naval intelligence efforts from its base at the NMIC.
Legislation
The KIWC was not established by specific legislation but evolved from ONI’s post-9/11 focus on irregular warfare, formalized in the 2000s as part of ONI’s reorganization to address emerging maritime threats, building on earlier intelligence efforts.
Partners
- Naval Special Warfare Command for operational insights
- National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) for coordination
- Intelligence Community (e.g., CIA, DIA) for all-source integration
Number of employees
The exact number of KIWC employees is not publicly disclosed; it employs a subset of ONI’s 3,000+ personnel, likely numbering in the low hundreds, including analysts, naval officers, and specialists, with staffing adjusted to mission needs.
Organization structure
The KIWC is a distinct unit within ONI’s command structure:
Leader
The Commanding Officer of KIWC is not publicly named in current records; it reports to the Commander, ONI (Rear Adm. Mike Brookes as of March 2025), with leadership transitions typically unpublicized due to classification.
Divisions
Key functional areas include:
- Irregular Threats Analysis for non-state actors and special ops.
- Expeditionary Warfare Intelligence for coastal and riverine ops.
- Maritime Security Team for piracy and trafficking analysis.
List of programs
- Irregular Maritime Threat Assessment
- Expeditionary Intelligence Support
- Maritime Asymmetric Warfare Analysis
Last total enacted budget
The KIWC’s budget is not separately detailed; it’s funded within ONI’s portion of the Navy’s FY 2024 budget of $202.5 billion, under the DoD’s $842 billion, supporting personnel, facilities, and operations, with no specific figure isolated.
Staff
The KIWC staff includes intelligence analysts, naval officers, and subject matter experts, likely in the low hundreds within ONI’s 3,000-strong NMIC workforce, focusing on irregular warfare specialties, supported by reservists as needed.
Funding
Since its establishment, the KIWC has been funded through ONI’s appropriations under Title 10 U.S.C., with FY 2024’s $202.5 billion Navy budget covering its operations within the NMIC, without a standalone allocation.
Services provided
The KIWC analyzes irregular maritime threats (e.g., special ops, coastal defenses), supports Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) and joint forces, produces intelligence on non-state actors (e.g., pirates, smugglers), and enhances maritime security, delivering classified products to operational and strategic stakeholders.
Regulations overseen
The KIWC operates under ONI’s regulatory framework, including SECNAVINST 5530.4E for security, but does not create regulations; it aligns with Intelligence Community standards like ICD 902 for maritime intelligence.
Headquarters address
4251 Suitland Road, Suitland, MD 20746 (National Maritime Intelligence Center)
History
Named after President John F. Kennedy, the KIWC was formalized in the 2000s as ONI shifted focus post-9/11 to irregular warfare, building on decades of naval intelligence expertise. Located at NMIC since its inception, it addresses asymmetric maritime threats, evolving with ONI’s Centers of Excellence framework established in 2009.
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations: