Navy Saves Trees With Digital Signatures

Navy Chief Information Officer Rob Carey approved an electronic signature policy for the Navy and Marine Corps on Aug. 27 in a move designed to save paper, improve security and save money.

Carey said the policy is not a mandate to replace hand-written signatures but rather a policy to adopt electronic signatures as the preferred means of conducting business transactions within the Navy and Marine Corps.

Electronic signatures will be certified by using the Common Access Card issued to all military personnel and qualified contractors, he said.

Ironic side note: Cary signed his new electronic signature policy with his old-fashioned hand-written signature.