The National Security Agency's (NSA) Center for Cryptologic History is pleased to announce the 2023 induction of five major cryptologic figures into the Cryptologic Hall of Honor.
This year's inductees are:
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Evelyn Akeley - Akeley's impressive record of improvisation in a fast-paced, high-stress environment reflects the finest traditions of the past century of American signals intelligence. Her accomplishments during World War II were exceeded only by those of her students, who broke virtually every Japanese army code they encountered. When she retired in 1958, she was the sixth most senior woman at NSA, outranked only by a group that included future Hall of Honor members Polly Budenbach, Ann Caracristi, Juanita Moody, and Julia Ward.
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James Lovell - William Friedman called Lovell "the [American] Revolution's one-man National Security Agency." His pioneering work as a codebreaker and codemaker gave cryptology a singular role in the emergence of our new Nation. Leveraging Lovell's decrypts, George Washington knew of the approach of a British relief force and was able to warn his French allies, thus enabling a decisive victory at Yorktown. Lovell is a landmark figure in the history of American cryptology and a model for present and future generations.
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Joseph Mauborgne, Major General, USA - MG Mauborgne was a pioneer in numerous areas of communications technology and cryptology, including radiotelegraphy, cryptologic training, cryptanalysis, and cryptography. He is credited as the co-inventor of the One-Time Pad. His leadership and foresight facilitated victory in World War II for the United States and paved the way for future successes. He initiated the first sharing of intelligence between the United States and the United Kingdom, thus beginning the "Special Relationship." William Friedman cited Mauborgne as the best director the Signal Corps had ever had.
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James Radford - Jim Radford developed Special Purpose Devices that solved intractable analytic problems, often by enhancing the performance of supercomputers by a factor of hundreds. His early projects convinced NSA it was possible to work with contractors securely on sensitive projects, and helped convince contractors it was good business to work with NSA. His innovative thinking at NSA and the Institute of Defense Analyses helped meet the challenges of the communications and computing revolutions of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
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Harry Rashbaum - As a practicing linguist, Rashbaum pioneered the use of computers in developing online working aids to support translation and transcription, as well as using technology to teach language. As a senior linguist in operations, he raised the standards for language analysts, and taught senior leadership how to make best use of their talents. He convinced NSA to improve language promotions and incentive awards, an important factor in recruitment and retention. His publications, and the people he inspired, continue to positively affect NSA language work today.
More information about the 2023 honorees will be released following an upcoming induction ceremony. The next call for nominations will be issued in early 2024, but any individual or group can make a nomination at any time.
Individuals or groups nominated for the Cryptologic Hall of Honor must have made a significant contribution through cryptology to America's national security. This may have been through a single event or a lifetime of superior achievements in cryptology. Individuals who worked for the government must have departed government cryptologic service at least 10 years prior to the nomination. Non-U.S. individuals or groups are also eligible for consideration, and their achievements, too, must have occurred at least 10 years prior to the nomination.
Visit the National Cryptologic Museum to learn more about all of the Hall of Honor inductees.