The issue only came to light after several months when a civilian specialist discovered the antenna while installing the militarized version of Starlink, known as Starshield, which is currently being deployed on numerous US Navy ships. By that time, the senior chief petty officer of the USS Manchester had managed to deceive the officers, who themselves couldn’t locate the illegally installed system.
The Great Need for Internet to Boost Morale
The story reached the media following the verdict issued by a military court against Command Senior Chief Petty Officer Grisel Marrero (there is no direct equivalent of this rank in the Polish Navy, only a similar warrant officer). The verdict came in March of this year. Marrero pleaded guilty, taking responsibility for installing the Starlink system, hiding the fact, and lying to her superiors. As a punishment, she was demoted by one rank, removed from the crew, and transferred to the personnel reserve. Some documents related to the investigation and indictment were obtained by the industry portal "Navy Times."
According to these documents, Marrero began her illegal project in March 2023, a month before the USS Manchester set out from its base in San Diego on a months-long mission in the central and western Pacific. Along with another non-commissioned officer, she ordered SpaceX's Starlink system, which provides fast internet access from anywhere on Earth via a constellation of low-orbit satellites. Normally, internet access on US Navy ships at sea is limited because it's provided by military satellites, whose bandwidth for entertainment purposes is restricted and has the lowest priority for communication. Months without internet, or with minimal access, have become a factor negatively affecting crew morale.
During the investigation, Marrero explained that her intention was to improve the crew’s morale by giving them access to the internet. The illegal network was mainly used to watch Netflix, follow sports results, and communicate with family members. However, her explanation was not believed because she restricted internet access through Starlink and the makeshift Wi-Fi network to other non-commissioned officers. All 15 serving on the ship were aware of her actions and contributed to funding the project to varying degrees. Additionally, after docking in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the non-commissioned officers expanded their Wi-Fi network using regular civilian signal boosters purchased from a local store.
Non-Commissioned Officers vs. Officers
The existence of an additional Wi-Fi network on the cramped deck of an Independence-class ship, with at least 53 crew members, could not be kept secret for long. By May, after leaving Pearl Harbor, rumors had become so widespread that they reached the ship’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Colleen Moore. She confronted Marrero, who denied everything. Soon after, another confrontation occurred following more reports, but Marrero again denied the allegations. A physical inspection conducted by officers turned up nothing. They stood little chance against the handiwork of non-commissioned officers, who are the most technically experienced crew members and know the ship inside and out. Everything was well hidden, and no one thought to check the highest open level of the superstructure, where the antenna was located.
After the issue died down for about a month, reports of the illegal network began to surface again. Although Marrero did everything she could to prevent them, including removing complaint letters from the commander’s designated box, rumors persisted. The scenario repeated itself twice more, with an additional inspection yielding no results. The truth only came to light in mid-August during a stop at the base in Guam. A civilian specialist, installing the Starshield system's antenna on the mast, noticed a civilian Starlink antenna below. A few days later, the information reached the commanding officer.
Under Marrero’s leadership, the non-commissioned officers tried to downplay the scale of their offense, even going as far as falsifying usage statistics to convince the commander that they had only used the system while in port. However, the investigation documents describe the forgery as "very poorly executed." Additionally, one non-commissioned officer attempted to take the blame in place of Marrero. Nevertheless, Lieutenant Commander Moore gave no credence to their explanations and reported the matter to her superiors and military investigators. The official investigation lasted until November, with the verdict delivered in March.
A Seemingly Small, But Dangerous Act
Installing Starlink and a makeshift Wi-Fi network on a Navy ship may seem like a minor infraction, but it's a serious matter, one that shocks seasoned sailors. Electronics on board must be carefully calibrated to avoid interference with each other. This isn’t just about weakening data transmission but about the proper functioning of radar systems or electronic warfare equipment—elements that can determine life or death. Additionally, every electronic device emits electromagnetic waves, which can always be detected with the right tools. In modern warfare, this is a crucial method for locating opponents. While Starlink doesn’t emit particularly strong signals, it can still be detected and approximately located under the right circumstances, potentially making the ship a target. This is why the electromagnetic emissions of ships, whether from communication systems or radar operations, are strictly controlled and, in some cases, limited to an absolute minimum. Crews may have to go without internet for weeks or months if the ship receives orders to enter radio silence mode, for example, when sent to a crisis zone.
There’s also the cyber threat to consider, such as hacking attempts on devices connected to an uncontrolled network. Since the entire non-commissioned officer cadre of the ship was reckless enough to participate in this scheme, they could have inadvertently created opportunities for data leaks or cyberattacks on the ship’s other systems. Interestingly, Marrero had completed specialized courses and training in cybersecurity, and she held positions responsible for communications and intelligence operations.
Nothing more is known about the punishments for others involved in the scheme. Marrero was demoted by one rank, and her career may have been effectively frozen, although she was not discharged from service. No mention has been made of penalties for the other non-commissioned officers. Commander Moore may also face repercussions, as ship commanders are responsible for the actions of all their subordinates. Even if they did nothing wrong directly, they can still bear the consequences of failing to properly supervise the crew and prevent such actions from being conceived.
