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6110 Career Guide

Navy

6110: Deck and Navigation Officer

Career transition guide for Navy Deck and Navigation Officer (6110)

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Tech Roles You Could Aim For

Real industry tech roles your 6110 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.

Technical Program Manager

Product

SOC 11-3021
High match

Your experience planning and directing the activities of deck and navigation personnel translates directly into managing technical projects. Your experience with naval command and control procedures also provides a solid foundation for coordinating complex projects. You're familiar with systems similar to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

Typical stack:

Software systems literacy (read code, read architecture diagrams)Cross-team coordinationRisk and dependency managementWritten communicationStakeholder reporting

Computer Systems Analyst

Customer / Field

SOC 15-1211
Good match

As a Deck and Navigation Officer, you analyzed complex systems to ensure safe and efficient maritime operations. This experience translates well to analyzing an organization's computer systems and recommending improvements. Your training in electronic navigation systems (ECDIS, GPS) gives you a foundation in software-driven systems.

Typical stack:

Software systems literacyProcess mappingRequirements gatheringSQLStakeholder communication

Data Analyst

Data

SOC 15-2051
Moderate match

Your work involved analyzing data from electronic navigation systems (ECDIS, GPS) to make informed decisions. Your situational awareness skills will help you identify patterns and anomalies in data. Understanding of maritime law and regulations is adjacent to understanding data governance and compliance.

Typical stack:

SQLExcel / Sheets at expert levelOne BI tool (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)Statistics fundamentalsStakeholder communication

DevOps Engineer

DevOps / Platform

SOC 15-1244
Moderate match

Managing shipboard systems requires understanding how different components interact, much like managing software deployments. Your experience with damage control and emergency procedures is similar to managing incidents in a DevOps environment. Shipboard Air Traffic Radar Control (SATRC) experience is a starting point.

Typical stack:

CI/CD tooling (GitHub Actions, GitLab, Jenkins)Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Pulumi)Containers (Docker, Kubernetes)Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure)Linux

Skills You Already Have

Concrete bridges from 6110 experience to tech-industry practice.

  • Situational Awareness→ Understanding complex systems and anticipating potential problems.
  • Rapid Prioritization→ Identifying critical tasks and allocating resources effectively.
  • Team Synchronization→ Building cohesive teams and coordinating activities towards shared objectives.
  • Procedural Compliance→ Implementing and maintaining rigorous standards and protocols.
  • Naval Command and Control Procedures→ Managing complex projects
  • Electronic navigation systems (ECDIS, GPS)→ Software-driven systems.

Skills to Learn

The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not generic.

Project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum)Data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)SQL and database managementCloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible)Operating systems (Linux/Windows) administrationSystems analysis and designTechnical writing and documentation

How VWC fits

Vets Who Code accelerates the parts we teach — software engineering fundamentals, web development, AI tooling. For everything else above, the path is doable independently with the resources we link to.

See VWC Programs

Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 6110 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Ship Captain, Pilot, or Mate

$95K
High matchStable demand

Marine Engineering Manager

$140K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP)Formal engineering management training

Port Operations Manager

$110K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Logistics experienceSupply chain management knowledge

Maritime Academy Instructor

$80K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Master's DegreeTeaching certification

Emergency Management Director

$85K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)HAZMAT trainingGrant writing

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 6110 training built — and where they transfer.

Situational Awareness

As a 6110 officer, you constantly maintain awareness of your ship's position, surrounding vessels, weather conditions, and potential hazards to ensure safe navigation and mission success.

This translates to an exceptional ability to perceive and understand complex environments, anticipate potential problems, and make informed decisions based on incomplete information in dynamic situations.

Rapid Prioritization

In a fast-paced environment, you're responsible for quickly assessing and prioritizing tasks, whether it's responding to a navigational emergency, coordinating deck operations, or managing personnel issues, all while underway.

You excel at swiftly identifying the most critical tasks amidst competing demands, allocating resources effectively, and maintaining focus under pressure – a highly valued skill in many civilian sectors.

Team Synchronization

You lead and coordinate deck and navigation teams to execute complex maneuvers, conduct maintenance, and respond to emergencies. Your success depends on the seamless integration of individual efforts.

You possess a proven ability to build cohesive teams, foster clear communication, and coordinate diverse activities towards shared objectives. Your experience translates directly into effective leadership and project management.

Procedural Compliance

Adherence to strict navigational rules, safety regulations, and operational procedures is paramount. Your experience ensures you can consistently follow and enforce complex protocols.

You have a deep understanding of the importance of compliance and a demonstrated ability to implement and maintain rigorous standards. This makes you well-suited for roles requiring meticulous attention to detail and adherence to established protocols.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Logistics Manager

SOC 11-3071.00

You've been orchestrating complex movements of personnel and equipment on a ship, anticipating potential problems, and ensuring everything arrives where it needs to be, on time. A Logistics Manager does the same, but for a supply chain or distribution network. Your skills in resource management, planning, and problem-solving are directly transferable.

Emergency Management Specialist

SOC 29-9099.00

You've been trained to handle emergencies at sea, assessing risks, developing contingency plans, and coordinating responses. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you'll use those same skills to prepare for and respond to natural disasters, security threats, or other emergencies in a community or organization.

Marine Surveyor

SOC 19-3099.00

You've been intimately familiar with ships and their systems, including navigation, safety, and regulatory compliance. As a Marine Surveyor, you'll use that knowledge to inspect vessels, assess their condition, and ensure they meet safety standards. Your attention to detail and expertise in maritime operations will make you a valuable asset.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Surface Warfare Officer School (SWOS), Newport, RI

480 training hours12 weeksUp to 6 semester hours in Maritime Studies

Topics Covered

  • •Shiphandling and maneuvering
  • •Navigation techniques and equipment
  • •Maritime law and regulations
  • •Bridge resource management
  • •Seamanship skills (line handling, anchoring)
  • •Electronic navigation systems (ECDIS, GPS)
  • •Naval command and control procedures
  • •Damage control and emergency procedures

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)40% covered

Focus on advanced supply chain management principles, contract law, and global sourcing strategies beyond naval-specific applications.

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Study the five project management process groups (Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, Closing) and the ten knowledge areas as defined by PMI's PMBOK guide. Focus on standardized project management terminology and methodologies.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Port Executive (CPE)Certified Marine Port Executive (CMPE)Certified Safety and Health Manager (CSHM)

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Integrated Bridge System (IBS)Integrated marine navigation systems (e.g., Transas, Raymarine) used on commercial vessels
Voyage Management System (VMS)Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and voyage planning software
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)Commercial maritime communication systems, including satellite communication and emergency beacons
AN/SPS-73 Surface Search RadarCommercial marine radar systems (e.g., Furuno, Simrad) for collision avoidance and navigation
Gyrocompass and Automatic Steering SystemsCommercial autopilot systems and advanced marine compass technologies
Navy Tactical Command Support System (NTCSS)Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems tailored for maritime operations
Shipboard Air Traffic Radar Control (SATRC)Air traffic control radar and systems

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