USS Manchester (LCS-14)
In 2023, aboard the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship, USS Manchester, a gaggle of senior enlisted folks, led by then-Command Senior Chief Grisel Marrero, decided they’d had enough of the Navy’s tight leash on internet connectivity. These sailors weren’t just any crew; they were seasoned veterans who should’ve known better. Yet, there they were, rigging up their own bootleg Starlink system they dubbed “STINKY” — a cheeky nod, no doubt, to the stealth and stink of their covert operation.
Now, the Navy has its own secured version of Starlink called Starshield, designed to keep prying eyes off our position and communications. It’s top-notch gear meant to keep us safe from adversaries who’d love nothing more than to sniff out our secrets. But Marrero and her co-conspirators, 16 chiefs strong, weren’t content to wait for the brass to roll out the secure stuff. They slapped together an unsecured commercial antenna — a sitting duck for any enemy with a half-decent tech guy.
Marrero wasn’t just bending the rules; she smashed them. She lied through her teeth about this jerry-rigged setup, and even cooked up some fake usage data when the captain got suspicious. Eventually, the house of cards fell when a civilian contractor caught sight of the rogue dish. Under the weight of her deceit, Marrero cracked, confessing to the commanding officer about the whole sordid affair.
This wasn’t just a breach of protocol. It was a full-blown security hazard, a slap in the face to the trust and responsibility vested in every chief. The investigation called it a “criminal conspiracy,” a serious charge that reflects the gravity of jeopardizing ship and crew.
Marrero, who should have been savvy enough to foresee the peril given her intelligence background, faced the music at a court-martial, got busted down one rate, and watched her career get torpedoed. More than 15 chiefs got snagged in this mess, each facing their own music under non-judicial punishment.
This episode wasn’t just a lapse in judgment. It was a stark reminder that even the most seasoned can falter, and when they do, the stakes are nothing short of potentially placing the entire crew in the crosshairs of enemy action.
You can read the story at Navy Times.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Grisel Marrero joined the Navy on August 20, 2002. After completing basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes she attended Information Systems Technician “A” school at NTC Great Lakes, Ill. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Security and Digital Management. Marrero is a graduate of U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 225/Green).
Marrero first served at Submarine Group Eight, followed by U.S. Second Fleet as the afloat Flag communicator. She was Sailor of the Year at Combat Direction Systems Activity Dam Neck, completed two combat deployments with Mobile Communications Team attached to SEAL Team Two, and held multiple positions in the joint intelligence and operations departments at U.S. Southern Command.
After serving as the Navy element Senior Enlisted Leader at SOUTHCOM, Marrero was selected for the Command Senior Enlisted Program in February 2021.
Marrero is the Command Senior Chief for USS Manchester (LCS 14) Gold crew.
Her personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal (four awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), Army Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal (six awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various other unit and campaign awards.