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Tactical Action Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Tactical Action Officer information

What is a Tactical Action Officer?

A Tactical Action Officer (TAO) is a qualified officer in the United States Navy responsible for the tactical employment of a ship’s weapons and sensors in combat or high-threat situations. The TAO is typically stationed in the ship’s Combat Information Center and coordinates responses to threats such as aircraft, ships, submarines, and missiles. They have the authority to direct the ship's defensive and offensive actions in the absence of the commanding officer. The TAO works closely with other officers, including the Officer of the Deck, to ensure the ship’s safety and mission readiness.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Tactical Action Officer?

To thrive as a Tactical Action Officer, you need advanced knowledge of naval warfare tactics, decision-making under pressure, and typically a commission as a naval officer. Familiarity with combat information systems, radar, sonar, and weapon control systems is essential, often supported by specialized Navy training and certifications. Strong situational awareness, leadership, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These abilities are crucial for ensuring mission success, rapid response to threats, and the safety of the vessel and crew during complex maritime operations.

What are some common challenges faced by a Tactical Action Officer during multi-threat operations, and how can they be addressed?

Tactical Action Officers often face the challenge of rapidly processing and prioritizing information from multiple sources during high-pressure, multi-threat scenarios. Balancing the need to make quick, accurate decisions while coordinating with the combat team, other officers, and command can be demanding. Successful TAOs rely on strong situational awareness, clear communication, and thorough knowledge of both ship systems and tactical procedures. Regular training, simulation exercises, and fostering teamwork help address these challenges and prepare TAOs for real-world operations.

How to become a tactical action officer?

To become a tactical action officer, candidates typically need a bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as security, law enforcement, or military studies, along with specialized training in tactical operations. Experience in military, law enforcement, or security roles, along with strong decision-making and communication skills, is also important. Certifications in tactical or security operations can enhance prospects, and candidates often undergo background checks and physical fitness assessments.

What does a tactical action officer do?

A tactical action officer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing tactical operations, often in military or law enforcement contexts. They analyze situations, make real-time decisions, and communicate with teams to ensure mission success, typically using specialized tools and adhering to strict protocols.
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Infographic showing various Tactical Action Officer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.

USW / Submarine Warfare Action Officer

McLaughlin Research Corp.

Newport, RI • On-site

$80 - $100/hr

Other

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

USW / Submarine Warfare Action Officer

Location: Newport, RI 02840 US (Primary)

Job Type / Status: Full-Time

Education: Bachelor's Degree

Clearance Level Required: Secret

McLaughlin Research Corp. has openings for Submarine Warfare Action Officers supporting NUWC Newport, RI. Action Officers support day‑to‑day operations and coordination for Department of the Navy programs, aligned to strategic Undersea Warfare mission areas. This is a full‑time, on‑site position based in Newport, RI for an Undersea Warfare Action Officer. Overall responsibilities include managing and supporting Science and Technology / Research and Development program activities, analyzing data, preparing systems engineering assessments and technical reports, and facilitating communications between stakeholders.

The Action Officer will be embedded with the government team and support senior decision makers with programmatic and technical efforts. They perform engineering and technical analyses to assess USW capabilities, advancing and supporting critical efforts associated with unmanned platforms/ robotic autonomous systems (RAS), mining/ mine countermeasures, undersea lethality & weapons, subsea‑seabed warfare (SSW), or Tactical Oceanography (TAC-O). They provide subject matter expertise in these domains that enable US Navy leadership to make assessments, decisions, and plans to deliver warfighting capabilities via emerging undersea technologies. Action Officers will serve as a liaison between military, engineering, and programmatic stakeholders. This position may involve periodic travel for test support and stakeholder technical exchanges (if necessary to support task execution).

Qualified applicants will have a strong background in problem‑solving and analytical skills, organizational skills, and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will be self‑motivated, able to rapidly assess a problem, reliable to deliver on time, quick thinking, and be able to balance the requirements of multiple stakeholders. They should preferably be familiar with systems engineering practices, providing programmatic support to decision‑makers at various levels, and undersea systems operational research and analysis.

Job Requirements
  • Bachelor’s Degree with 5+ years experience, preferably in an engineering discipline. 3 or more years of additional relevant experience from military or private sector may be considered in lieu of the Bachelor's Degree.
  • Professional experience in engineering, technical analyses, action officer roles, and/or operations research and analysis.
  • Familiarity with Navy (esp. USW and submarine warfare) operations, terminology, doctrine, and protocols.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to work independently and/or with members of integrated project teams in the accomplishment of technical task objectives.
  • Experience executing or reviewing technical studies, analysis, or design activities.
  • Active US Department of Defense Secret clearance, with an ability to be eligible for a Top Secret Clearance (if required for specific tasking).
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