Rear Admiral Janice M. Hamby is the Vice Director for C4 Systems, the Joint Staff.
A native of Medina, Ohio, Hamby was commissioned from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Navy ROTC program in 1980. Early assignments included duty at Naval Regional Data Automation Center, Washington, and commander, Naval Base Pearl Harbor and plans and project management department head at the Data Processing Service Center, Pearl Harbor. She attended Boston University earning a Master of Science in Information Systems Management and a Master of Business Administration, graduating from both programs with highest honors. She was subsequently assigned as assistant professor of Computer Sciences at the U.S. Military Academy and then served as deputy director of the Communications Operations Directorate at Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station Washington. In 1994 she reported to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) “Ike,” as part of the initial assignment of women to naval combatants. She participated in Eisenhower’s deployment to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy completing her surface warfare qualification during Ike’s 1994 Mediterranean deployment. In August 1995 she transferred to USS George Washington (CVN 73) to serve as the first afloat combat systems officer to combine Information Systems Management, Combat Systems Maintenance and Telecommunications Systems Management in one department.
Hamby graduated from the U.S. Naval War College in November 1997, earning a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Awarded the Vice Adm. Arthur Cebrowski award for best essay related to information warfare, command and control warfare and related systems and technology issues, she graduated with distinction and was named Presidential Honor Graduate. Hamby was then selected to serve as an associate fellow on the Chief of Naval Operations’ Strategic Studies Group.
Hamby assumed command of Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Jacksonville, Fla., in August 1998, also reporting to Commander, Navy Region South East in an additional duty capacity as program manager for Information Technology. During this assignment she served as the Navy’s Southeast Region Y2K Coordinator for both computer systems and imbedded facilities.
Hamby is a 2001 graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and winner of the National Defense University Foundation Writing Award for best essay on joint matters. She served on the staff of Commander, Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe, as command liaison to the COMSIXTHFLT staff and special assistant for information management and information operations issues. She assumed major command of U.S. Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, Europe Central, Naples, Italy, in October 2002.
Following her major command tour Hamby served on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff as the FORCEnet Capabilities Assessment branch head and FORCEnet Warfare pillar deputy (N704B). During this tour she accepted a temporary assignment as the director of Knowledge and Information Management on the staff of the Multi-National Force – Iraq, Baghdad, Iraq. In July 2006 she reported to her first flag assignment at Naval Network Warfare Command as director of Global Operations. In May of 2008 she reported as Director, Command Control Systems, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command. In May of 2009 she was selected for a second star and July of 2009 reported as Vice Director for C4 Systems, Joint Staff, J6, the Pentagon.
Hamby’s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal with three Gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, the Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, the Army Achievement Medal, the Navy Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal and various unit commendations and awards.