World War I began the modern era of code breaking and intelligence gathering. Major Ralph Van Deman, the “father of American Intelligence” created the Military Intelligence Section in the Army General Staff and a Cipher Bureau (MI-8) within this section.
However, it was World War II that provided a significant and visible victory for military intelligence agencies and laid the groundwork for what eventually became the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA).
One larger than life personality defining the early history of US intelligence agencies was William “Wild Bill” Donovan. Although was a successful lawyer, and would later become assistant attorney general during the Hoover Administration. He enlisted in the army just before the United States entered World War I.
He would distinguish himself through two world wars as the only American to have received out nation’s four highest awards: The Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal and the National Security Medal.
During World War II, President Roosevelt appointed Donovan to create an intelligence service, and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) began in June 1942.
Under Donovan’s leadership, the OSS collected and analyzed information needed by the Joint Chief of Staff to conduct clandestine operations that were not carried out by other federal agencies or the military.
After the war, the agency became a civilian organization that would coordinate global intelligence gathering and execute operations under the banner of the CIA.
The NSA is the US intelligence agency within the DoD that is responsible for cryptographic security and signals intelligence.The NSA grew out of the communication intelligence activities of US military units during World War II. The origins of the NSA can be traced to an organization originally established within the DoD , under the command of the Joint Chief of Staff as the Armed Forces Security Agency (AFSA), on May 20, 1949.
The creation of the NSA was authorized in a letter written by President Harry S. Truman in June 1952 (although the letter was classified and remained unknown to the public for more than a generation).
The NSA, although not a creation of Congress, is still subject to congressional review, even though it is one of the most secret of all US intelligence agencies. Its director is a military officer of flag rank, a general or admiral.
Early days of US Intelligence
