The National Security Agency lthough ‘code- making’ and ‘breaking’ date back thousands of years, modern cryptologic communications intelligence activities in the United States A started in Word War I with radio commu- nications technology. In 1917, the US Army established the Cipher Bureau (MI-8) within its Military Intelligence Division (MID), under Herbert Yardley. The MID assisted the radio intelligence units in the American Expeditionary Forces fighting in Europe and in 1918, created the Radio Intelligence Service for operations along the US-Mexican border. THE BLACK CHAMBER General Pershing took his mobile inter- cept vehicles, known as mobile tractors, to listen to radio messages sent by the Mexican Government. The US Navy had also created a unit, but this was absorbed General Pershing Herbert Yardley (by agreement), in 1918, into Yardley’s civilian ‘Black Chamber.’ The US military and State Depart- ment continued to support the ‘Black Chamber’ until it was terminated in 1929. SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE The Army’s role was assumed in the small Signal Intelligence Service (SIS) of the Army’s Signal Corps under the watchful eye of William F. Friedman. The US Navy’s cryptanalytic role was reborn formally in 1924 in the ‘Research Desk’ under Com- mander Laurance F. Safford, within the Office of Naval Communications. Much emphasis was placed on securing US military communications (COMSEC), but both services developed radio intercept, William F. Friedman at work in his office States and Britain recognised the need to expand the organisations in terms of manpower, resources and equipment. The US and UK started to cooperate in the sharing of scientific and technical information. Friedman’s SIS provided details of its successes against the Japa- nese, while Britain revealed details of the breaking of the German military messages enciphered on the ENIGMA machines. Eventually, US cryptologists were inte- grated into the UK operation based at Bletchley Park. WWII naval research buildings at Bletchley Park, England EYE SPY ISSUE 2 3 , 2004 EYE SPY ISSUE 2 3 , 2004 NSA Origins In 2002, the National Security Agency turned 50. Eye Spy presents a fascinating overview of how the world’s most secret organisation came into being... Laurance F. Safford © LAW ENFORCEMENT PICTURE LIBRARY IMAGES COURTESY NSA/DOD/US NAVY/US ARMY radio direction finding and processing capabili- ties prior to WWII; the organisations achieved particular success against Japanese diplomatic communications. In 1930, a new Secretary of State, Henry Stimson, withdrew funding for MI-8. Thereafter, Yardley, no longer in service, wrote a revealing book, The American Black Chamber, which publicised MI-8’s achievements. Among other things, it prompted foreign governments to search for and adopt new encryption methods. After Yardley’s ‘Black Chamber’ closed, the Army looked to Friedman’s SIS to manufacture and break codes. Possibly the best cryptologist of his time, Friedman became known as the ‘father of modern Army cryptology.’ Friedman also played a part in the incarceration of ‘rumrunners’ during America’s prohibition period. Britain and American successes during WWII proved the value of communica- tions intelligence (COMINT). Politicians and military strategists in the United 62 63 SECRET SERVICES
origins
Mar 26, 2016
States and Britain recognised the need to expand the organisations in terms of manpower, resources and equipment. The US and UK started to cooperate in the sharing of scientific and technical information. Friedman’s SIS provided details of its successes against the Japa- nese, while Britain revealed details of the breaking of the German military messages enciphered on the ENIGMA machines. Eventually, US cryptologists were inte- grated into the UK operation based at Bletchley Park.
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The National Security Agency
lthough ‘code-making’ and‘breaking’ date backthousands of years,modern cryptologiccommunicationsintelligence activitiesin the United StatesA
started in Word War I with radio commu-nications technology. In 1917, the USArmy established the Cipher Bureau(MI-8) within its Military IntelligenceDivision (MID), under Herbert Yardley.The MID assisted the radio intelligenceunits in the American ExpeditionaryForces fighting in Europe and in 1918,created the Radio Intelligence Service foroperations along the US-Mexican border.
THE BLACK CHAMBER
General Pershing took his mobile inter-cept vehicles, known as mobile tractors,to listen to radio messages sent by theMexican Government. The US Navy hadalso created a unit, but this was absorbed
General Pershing
HerbertYardley
(by agreement), in1918, intoYardley’s civilian‘Black Chamber.’
The US militaryand State Depart-ment continued tosupport the ‘BlackChamber’ until itwas terminated in1929.
SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
The Army’s role was assumed in the smallSignal Intelligence Service (SIS) of theArmy’s Signal Corps under the watchfuleye of William F. Friedman. The US Navy’scryptanalytic role was reborn formally in1924 in the ‘Research Desk’ under Com-mander Laurance F. Safford, within theOffice of Naval Communications. Muchemphasis was placed on securing USmilitary communications (COMSEC), butboth services developed radio intercept,
William F. Friedman at work in his office
States and Britain recognised the need toexpand the organisations in terms ofmanpower, resources and equipment.The US and UK started to cooperate inthe sharing of scientific and technicalinformation. Friedman’s SIS provideddetails of its successes against the Japa-nese, while Britain revealed details of thebreaking of the German military messagesenciphered on the ENIGMA machines.Eventually, US cryptologists were inte-grated into the UK operation based atBletchley Park.
WWII naval research buildings at Bletchley Park, England
E Y E S P Y I S S U E 2 3 , 2 0 0 4 E Y E S P Y I S S U E 2 3 , 2 0 0 4
NSAOriginsIn 2002, the National Security Agency turned 50. Eye Spypresents a fascinating overview of how the world’s mostsecret organisation came into being...
Laurance F. Safford
© LAW ENFORCEMENT PICTURE LIBRARY
IMAGES COURTESY NSA/DOD/US NAVY/US ARMY
radio direction findingand processing capabili-ties prior to WWII; theorganisations achievedparticular success againstJapanese diplomaticcommunications.
In 1930, a new Secretaryof State, Henry Stimson,withdrew funding forMI-8. Thereafter, Yardley,no longer in service,
wrote a revealing book, The AmericanBlack Chamber, which publicised MI-8’sachievements. Among other things, itprompted foreign governments to searchfor and adopt new encryption methods.
After Yardley’s ‘Black Chamber’ closed,the Army looked to Friedman’s SIS tomanufacture and break codes. Possiblythe best cryptologist of his time, Friedmanbecame known as the ‘father of modernArmy cryptology.’ Friedman also played apart in the incarceration of ‘rumrunners’during America’s prohibition period.
Britain and American successes duringWWII proved the value of communica-tions intelligence (COMINT). Politiciansand military strategists in the United
62 63
SECRET SERVICES
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