Navy chief removed from command after collaborating with superiors to operate illicit WiFi network on ship
At least three times, Grisel Marrero deceived her superiors about the network.
An illegal WiFi network was installed on a warship by a US Navy command senior chief who conspired with other Navy chiefs to do so, resulting in their demotion.
A Starlink network named "STINKY" was allegedly installed on the USS Manchester by a senior enlisted Navy officer, Grisel Marrero.
In 2023, during a deployment, the senior chief set up and operated an unauthorized network, which she charged $1,000 a month to a leadership association debit card.
According to a charge sheet reviewed by Planet Chronicle Digital, Marrero lied and misled her commanding officer about the network at least three times.
In preparation for a West Pacific deployment in April 2023, Marrero collaborated with the ship's chief to install a secret network. This network would be exclusive to them, and they did not share it with the rank-and-file sailors who were forced to deploy without connectivity.
According to an internal investigation obtained by Navy Times, the chiefs used the network to check sports scores, send text messages, and stream movies.
After being found guilty of dereliction of duty and providing false official statements to commanders on May 29, she was demoted from senior chief petty officer to chief petty officer. Prior to her trial, Naval Surface Force Pacific, or SURFPAC, quietly relieved her of her leadership position aboard the Manchester, according to the Navy Times.
Cmdr. Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesman for SURFPAC, stated to Navy Times that other sailors were disciplined due to the unauthorized WiFi, but he did not provide any additional information.
The investigation warned that using a wireless network for entertainment could result in a serious security breach.
"The risk that these systems pose to the crew, the ship, and the Navy must not be overlooked."
Marrero was found to have neglected her duty to safeguard the USS Manchester from operational security risks.
The Navy Times reported that Marrero, who was the network administrator, paid for the $2,800 Starlink dish using her personal credit card. She and another chief installed the dish during an "aloft" time period when duties aren't recorded in the ship's logs.
Though there were no wireless printers on the ship, she named the network "STINKY" to make it sound like a wireless printer.
According to the sheet, when commanding officers and junior sailors noticed the network, Marrero denied its existence. She also altered the image of the data display for the Starlink account to show lower data usage.
A civilian discovered the Starlink dish on Aug. 18 while installing an authorized satellite communication system.
According to the investigation, Marrero texted a crew member at the time saying, "The gig is up."
The chiefs attempted to remove the dish after being confronted, but later informed the commanders that they had only used it while in port.
On Aug. 26, 2023, Marrero confessed to her commanding officer that she was responsible for the illegal network.
Marrero was found guilty of two counts of neglecting his duties and one count of hindering the investigation, according to court records.
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