On
Nov. 4, 2019, four cryptologic pioneers were inducted into the Cryptologic
Hall of Honor at the National Security Agency. Gen. Paul M. Nakasone,
Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, Director, National Security Agency / Chief,
Central Security Service, presided over the ceremony and highlighted the
achievements of each of the distinguished inductees:
Mr. Edward
M. Drake – He was the principal architect of Canadian SIGINT in war
and peacetime. His wartime leadership was a vital factor in victory over the
Axis in World War II. As director of Canada’s first permanent cryptologic
agency, he spearheaded crucial intelligence programs against Soviet threats.
Chief
Radioman Harry Kidder, USN – In the 1920s, he recognized the
importance of intelligence about Japan and conducted intercept as a voluntary
extra duty. His efforts helped convince senior Navy officers to establish
intercept sites around the Pacific. Kidder designed and taught a course on
intercept and traffic analysis for select groups of radiomen. They became the
nucleus of Navy intercept in World War II.
Col. Alva
Bryan Lasswell, USMC – While assigned at Station HYPO,
Hawaii, through World War II, he decrypted and translated Japanese fleet
messages. His work had a significant impact on U.S. Navy decisions in the
Battle of Coral Sea and the stunning U.S. victory at Midway Island, a turning
point in the war.
Lt. Gen.
Kenneth A. Minihan, USAF – As Director, NSA / Chief,
CSS from 1996 to 1999, he conceived of and drove two of NSA’s most
momentous transformations, moves far ahead of their times. Under his slogan
“One team, One mission,” real-time collaboration developed between missions
that had previously interacted only episodically.
Source: NSA
By Loren Blinde
November 8, 2019
