by Whitten Helton
Navy public affairs
Matthew Eshnaur, a former Navy lieutenant commander and native of Platte City, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR).
Eshnaur graduated from Platte County High School in 2006.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Platte City.
“When I went to high school, I played football and we learned the pressure of maintaining a legacy after being on a 52-game winning streak with three state championships,” said Eshnaur. “I learned the lesson of commitment, hard work and pride. The football program helped me serve as a naval officer by embracing the legacy of the U.S. Navy and those who had served before me.”
Eshnaur joined the Navy 14 years ago. Today, Eshnaur serves as a Nuclear Command Control Communications Program Manager.
“I was born in Groton, Conn. in a Navy family,” said Eshnaur. “I was proud of the traditions of the Navy and the exposure my dad’s career in the submarine service presented as a child. I learned of my family’s heritage in the armed forces. There has been a family member in every major war since we arrived in Jamestown.”
Navy information warfare (IW) plays in a role in every Navy mission, every day, around the globe. NAVIFOR’s mission is to ensure the more than 60,000 IW sailors and civilians in the fleet – experts in cyberspace, communications, intelligence, meteorology, oceanography, cryptology, electronic warfare and space – are trained, equipped, certified and ready to meet the Navy’s warfighting missions.
“Information Warfare extends from seabed to space, and is critical to our Navy’s success in competition, crisis and conflict,” said Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, the Navy’s IBoss and commander of NAVIFOR. “The more than 60,000 IW professionals across the globe are our asymmetric advantage – their expertise, professionalism, imagination and creativity are key to our Navy overcoming any adversary at pace and at scale.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Eshnaur serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Eshnaur has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m especially proud to have been the Conning Officer on the USS San Antonio when Special Forces captured Abu Anas as-Libi and brought him to stand trial in New York for his role in the 9/11 attacks,” said Eshnaur.
“I’m also proud of my current role in the NC3 program because it reminds me of when I was a lineman in football. We do not get the glitz and glam of a quarterback, but without our efforts, nothing else would be possible. In that way, Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications capabilities serve as the backbone of our strategic deterrence mission for the Department of Defense, and I have supported that mission for the last four years, which has allowed me to directly shape Navy policy, procedure and capability.”
Eshnaur can take pride in serving America through military service.
“When I think of my service in the Navy, I think of the Teddy Roosevelt quote, ‘A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace,'” said Eshnaur.
Eshnaur is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I’d like to thank my wife and kids, my dad, Mike, my mom, Kim, Capt. Mark Rios, Cmdr. Jeff Stuart, Skip Hiser, Rear Adm. Tom Moninger, Capt. Corey Keniston, Capt. Anthony Littman, Cmdr. Jeff Grzebin and Cmdr. Scott Tollefson,” added Eshnaur.
