An overview of operational security considerations for husbanding service providers of the U.S. navy

The United States is continually facing threats from state and non-state actors. Operating in and around the areas where these entities have influence poses unique threats to the ability to carry out the mission of sustained forward presence. Husbanding service providers (HSP) are the primary source of logistics support for U.S. Navy ships calling to foreign ports. The nature of HSP work necessitates access to sensitive information, which can provide clues to the nature of naval operations. Properly vetting third-party and contracted logistics support providers is crucial in maintaining security of operations. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general overview of operational security implications of contracting HSPs to serve the U.S. Navy abroad.