During a 2023 deployment, senior enlisted leaders on the littoral combat ship Manchester secretly installed their own Starlink system, bypassing restricted internet access protocols. Command Senior Chief Grisel Marrero and her team set up an unsecured Starlink satellite dish and created a network named “STINKY” for their exclusive use, allowing them to stream movies and check sports scores while other sailors had limited connectivity.
The Navy has its own secure Starlink system called Starshield, designed to protect the connection and prevent tracking by enemy ships. However, the 16 chiefs on this ship opted for an unsecured commercial system, which posed significant security risks. Marrero lied about the system’s existence and falsified usage data when confronted, leading to her conviction at court-martial and a reduction in rank to E-7.
A senior Navy officer expressed deep concern about the case, criticizing the inadequate punishment given to Marrero despite her severe misconduct, including repeated lies, falsified documents, and compromising the ship’s operational security. Over 15 chiefs were involved in the network’s setup and concealment, with the investigation describing it as a “criminal conspiracy” that endangered the ship and its crew. The scheme was discovered in August 2023 when a civilian contractor found the hidden Starlink dish, leading to Marrero’s confession and acknowledgment of her deception.
Investigators condemned Marrero’s actions as “egregious misconduct,” noting that her intelligence background and advanced education should have made her more aware of the risks. Her behavior severely breached the trust expected from a senior leader, particularly following the relief of the ship’s executive officer.
