Aviation Training

Corry Station was first established and called Corry Field.  Corry Field was the first auxiliary field established by the Navy to support flight training operations at the Pensacola Flight School.  In 1922, a site north of Pensacola was obtained from the Escambia County Commission on a no-cost, five-year lease.

The airfield name honors the memory of Medal of Honor recipient LCDR William Merrill Corry Jr., who died as a result of burns received while attempting to rescue a fellow officer from a crashed and burning aircraft.  LCDR Corry was a passenger in the plane, was thrown clear of the crash, and then attempted to save the other pilot.  LCDR Corry was one of Naval aviation’s pioneers, having been among the first aviators to receive the Navy’s “Wings of Gold” and the first Floridian to become a Naval aviator.

 At the end of the lease period the site was deemed too small.  A new and larger site located three miles north of NAS Pensacola was presented to the Navy by the County Commission.
On November 1, 1928, the new site was dedicated Corry Field and the older field became an outlying field (OLF) known as Old Corry Field. Old Corry Field Road in Warrington remains as a vestige of this early symbol of Navy flight training.
In 1932 construction of hard surfaced runways, hangars, and other buildings transformed Corry Field into a first-class training field, one of the first airfields in the United States to be hard surfaced. The new Corry Field actually consisted of two separate fields, each with three asphalt runways. The longest runways were 4200 feet in length.
In the years preceding America’s entry into World War II (WWII), primary flight training, fighter training and multi-engine land-plane training was conducted at Corry Field. An instructor school was also housed there. In 1943, Corry Field was designated a Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) and primary flight training was moved to other airfields in the area.  For the remainder of the WWII, Corry Field hosted advanced training in multi-engine land-planes, using SNB aircraft.  A transport squadron operating R4D and R5O aircraft was located there as well, because the runways at NAS Pensacola were too short for the safe operation of these aircraft.  At the end of the war, Corry Field was decommissioned as a NAAS, but remained an active training field until its closure in 1958. At the time of closure, Corry Field provided the basic instrument portion of primary training in SNJ, SNB, and T-28 aircraft.
Communications/Cryptologic Technician Training
During WW II, the U.S. Navy Radio Station operations at Bainbridge Island,
WA was comprised of Supplementary Station that included a Communications Technician (CT) intercept School.  In October, 1951 training was officially established as a U.S. Naval School, Communications Technician (Supplementary Training), however, it closed three years later in December, 1953.
Shortly after WWII, on October 1, 1949, a second CT “A” school was established in U.S. Naval School, Imperial Beach, CA, near San Diego.  When the school closed in Bainbridge Island, only the Imperial Beach CT School remained.  On July 1, 1957, the school was redesignated Navy Communication Training Center (NCTC) Imperial Beach, CA; however, three years later it was decided to relocate at Corry Station in Pensacola FL.
In March, 1960, more than a year of inactivity, NAAS Corry Station was redesignated a Naval Communications Training Center (NCTC), and during the summer contractors worked converting hangar bays built in the early 1930s for fighter planes into classrooms and laboratories.  On January 3, 1961, NCTC Corry Station opened its doors to the first class of CT training.  LCDR Carmichael, an On the Roof Gang member, was selected as the first Officer In Charge (OIC).  Years later building 3744 is named in his honor.
In September, 1973, the Chief of Naval Operations changed NCTC Corry Station to Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC), Corry Station, Pensacola, FL.  NTTC Corry Station was among the first Navy technical schools to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This accreditation certified the courses of instruction offered giving students college level credit for courses completed.
The facility’s mission became more diversified with the addition of the Naval Schools of Photography and the Consolidated Navy Electronics Warfare School.  In January, 1990 the NTTC Corry Station’s training capability expanded even further as the first Opticalman/Instrumentman school classes convened (which closed in 1996), Instructor and Information Systems School.  From 1995 to 1999, Corry Station served as host of multi-service electronic warfare training, with the addition of the Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School.  During this time, NTTC Corry Station assumed responsibility as the Executive Agent for the Communications Signals Collection and Processing Courses for the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS).
Establishment of the Center
Early in 2003 the Center for Cryptology was established under the Navy’s Revolution in Training (RiT).  Center for Cryptology was one of 14 military controlled institutions Learning Centers under the Naval Personnel and Development Command (NPDC) tasked with developing and maintaining the Sailor/Marine training continuum.
On January 10, 2005, NPDC authorized the establishment of the Center for Information Dominance (CID), Corry Station.  On January 31, 2005, CID commenced operations by merging the Center for Information Technology (San Diego) and the Center for Cryptology (Corry Station, Pensacola).
Because CID was established from an ongoing training enterprise, its first classes, consisting of Cryptologic Operators on the east coast and Navy Operational Security Staff Planners on the west coast, graduated the very next day.  The Secretary of the Navy formalized the merger in OPNAVNOTE 5450 on June 28, 2005.
The impetus for this change was the Navy’s Executive Review of Navy Training (ERNT) published in July 2001.  The ERNT determined the Navy’s training, however effective, was inefficiently delivered and was failing to adequately integrate new technologies into training development and delivery.  Acting on the ERNT’s recommendations, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) created Task Force Excel (TFE) to begin the monumental task of fundamentally reorganizing the Navy’s training infrastructure, methods and outcomes.  The RiT was the collective term used to describe this reorganization effort.
Navy training has continued to evolve and always focused on changes to improve productivity and save unnecessary costs.  In 2010, NPDC was disestablished and NETC N7 assumed the responsibilities to increase training effectiveness.  Their immediate goal was to ensure prompt development, deployment, and delivery of effective, high quality training, leveraging state of the art technology and philosophies to satisfy approved and resourced Fleet requirements.
CID has also evolved and in the fall of 2011 incorporated naval intelligence training; disestablishing the Center for Naval Intelligence and realigning the Navy and Marine Corp Intelligence Training Center (NMITC) and Fleet Intelligence Training Center (FITC) under CID.  Additionally, two shore training detachments were established as commands and titled, CID Unit Corry Station Pensacola (CIDUCS) FL and CID Unit Monterey (CIDUM) CA and assigned the cyber training mission.  CID currently manages all individual enlisted and officer training in the professional fields of Cryptology, Information Technology, and Intelligence.  CID is responsible for 16 Learning Sites, which includes; four commands and two detachments conducting training throughout the United States and Japan.  Specific commands listed below.
  • CID LS PACNORWEST, WA
  • CID Unit Monterey
  • CID Unit San Diego
  • CID LS Yokosuka
  • CID LS Pearl Harbor
  • CID LS Medina, TX
  • CID Det Goodfellow AFB
  • CID LS Keesler AFB, MS
  • CID Unit Corry Station, Pensacola FL
  • CID Unit Hampton Roads,  VA
  • CID LS Fort Meade, MD
  • CID LS Groton
  • CID LS Mayport, FL
  • CID Det Fort Gordon
  • CID LS Kings Bay, GA
  • CID LS Jacksonville, FL

More than Navy Training

 The courses managed by CID are technical training courses specifically designed to prepare individuals for serving in Fleet and National Security positions.  Completion of a course is documented in the student’s official military training record and by the awarding of a course completion certificate.  As a military training organization, CID does not conduct training specifically designed for certain college “levels.”  Through review by the American Council on Education (ACE), courses are evaluated for equivalency with civilian training in terms of semester hours and levels.  Some programs are recommended for college equivalency credit at the Lower Level, Upper Level and Graduate Level.
Officer and Enlisted Students
Rate/Designator                                               ~Average Throughput
Cryptologic Technician Technical                                2,731
Cryptologic Technician Collection                               3,353
Cryptologic Technician Interpretive                          2,063
Cryptologic Technician Maintenance                             791
Cryptologic Technician Networks                                1,369
Cryptologic Limited Duty Officer                                     113
Cryptologic Chief Warrant Officer                                  147
Information Warfare Officer                                            978
Information Systems Technician                              10,002
Information Systems Officer                                            574
Information Systems Limited Duty Officer                 182
Information Systems Chief Warrant Officer              100
Intelligence Specialist                                                     2946
Intelligence Officer                                                            1552
Intelligence Officer Reserves                                         1602
Corry Station Commanding Officers
Naval Communications Training Center (NCTC):
CDR Ben Fricks, Jr.                                         Mar 1960            Aug 1960
*CAPT Rudolph J. Fabian                              Aug 1960             Jun 1961
CDR Ben Fricks, Jr.                                         Jun 1961            Aug 1961
CAPT John S. Lehman                                   Aug 1961            Jun 1965
CAPT James C. Hargreaves                          Jun 1965             Jul 1966
CAPT Gaspare B. Tamburello                       Jul 1966               Jul 1969
CAPT George P. McGinnis                            Jul 1969               Aug 1971
Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC):
CAPT Emerson C. Dehn                                Aug 1971             Sep 1973
CAPT Donald H. Rand                                   Aug 1974             Jun 1977
CAPT Jerome J. Galinsky                              Jun 1977              Jun 1980
CAPT Charles L. Burns                                  Jun 1980              Jul 1982
CAPT Denny M. Carder                                  Jul 1982              Nov 1984
CAPT David C. Gill                                          Nov 1984            Sep 1987
CAPT Joseph D. Burns                                  Sep 1987              Jul 1990
CAPT Ivan M. Dunn                                        Jul 1990               Jun 1993
CAPT George M. Schu                                   Jun 1993              Aug 1996
CAPT Hugh F. Doherty                                  Aug 1996              Aug 1999
CAPT Ronald J. Wojdyla                                Aug 1999             Aug 2001
CAPT Edward H. Deets                                  Aug 2001             Nov 2002
Center for Cryptology:
CAPT Edward H. Deets                                  Nov 2002             Aug 2004
CAPT Kevin R. Hooley                                   Aug 2004             Jan 2005
Center for Information Dominance (CID):
CAPT Kevin R. Hooley                                   Jan 2004              Aug 2007
CAPT Connie L. Frizzell                                 Aug 2007             Jun 2009
CAPT Gary Edwards                                      Jun 2009              Oct 2011
CAPT Susan K. Cerovsky                               Oct 2011             Sep 2014
CAPT Maureen Fox                                        Sept 2014            Present
*OIC of COMINT Station “C” on Corregidor Island Philippines.  On February 4, 1942, CAPT Fabian was in the first of three groups to evacuate off the island because of the Japanese invasion of the Island.  CAPT Fabian established COMINT intercept site in Melbourne Australia for the remainder of the WWII.
CID Unit Corry Station Pensacola (CIDUCS) FL
By 2005, CID HQ Corry Station was managing all Navy Information Technology (IT) and Cryptologic training worldwide.  However, training members of the armed services was performed by CID Detachment Corry Station, the subordinate command.  During this time CDR Roy Bertram at CID HQ had the responsibility of serving as CID HQ XO and CID Detachment Corry Station Officer-In-Charge.
In order to make Navy Information Dominance training more mission-effective, CID officially stood up CID Unit Corry Station (CIDUCS) command on November 14, 2011. This new command came from CID Detachment Corry Station Unit.  CDR Lucy Sung, serving as CID HQ XO and OIC, established the new command as Plank Owner Commanding Officer in accordance with Navy precedent and pay grade eligibility rules.
CIDUCS Commanding Officers:
CDR Lucy Sung                              Nov 2011       Jul 2013
CDR Christopher Bryant                Jul 2013          Sep 2015
CDR Christopher Eng                    Sep 2015        Present
The Evolution of Corry Station continues

On February 2, 2016, the CNO, redesignated the Information Dominance Corps to the Information Warfare Community.  As a result of this announcement, CID HQ Corry Station proposed the command name change to Information Warfare Training Center (IWTC).  CIDUCS followed a similar proposal, but the command included the name Corry in the name because of the historical significance of the name “Corry.” Both commands are waiting for name change request to be approved.  Since 1961, regardless of the name of the command, Corry Station never stopped training members of the armed services in the art and science of cryptology!

Tenant Commands onboard Corry Station NASP Base
Information Warfare Training Center (IWTC) HQ, Corry Station. As the Immediate Supervisor In Charge of 16 subordinate learning sites or units, the mission of IWTC is to deliver full-spectrum Cyber, Intelligence, and Information Warfare training to decision superiority.  IWTC Corry Station manages learning sites at following locations:
CID Unit Corry Station provides technical and military training in Cryptology, Information Technology, Electronic Warfare, Cyber Operations and Instructor Training to produce well-trained, motivated and disciplined personnel in support of U.S. and Allied operational forces.
Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Pensacola.  NIOC Pensacola’s mission is to execute cyberspace operations and SIGINT tasks in support of naval and joint forces and national tasking authorities.  NIOC Pensacola is subordinate to Fleet Cyber Command/Commander Tenth Fleet (FCC/C10F).
Department of Homeland Security, Pensacola
MARDET NAS Corry Station, FL
Air Force
Army
Pensacola Boys’ Base – Hosts Pensacola Boys’ Base under the guidance of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, it serves as the temporary home for some troubled teens that have in one way or another run afoul of the law.  Volunteers spend at a minimum one hour per week to be a mentor and positive role model for a troubled youth.
Building and Rooms Dedicated on Corry Station
The three barracks are dedicated on Corry Station to honor those enlisted cryptologist who were killed in action.
Building 1082 (Smith Hall) – CTC Melvin D. Smith was KIA while serving in the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967. Chief Smith was an instructor at Naval Technical Training Center (Corry Station during the 1960s).
Building 1084 (Traughber Hall) – CPL Stephen L Traughber was KIA while serving in Vietnam in first Radio Battalion September 10, 1967.  He was 21 years old.
Building 1090 (Graves Hall) – CT1 Curtis A. Graves was KIA while serving in the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967.
To honor the On the Roof Gang instructors and to connect Corry Station to the Naval cryptologic history, the following school-house buildings are dedicated on Corry Station are dedicated:
Building 511 (Kidder Hall) RMC Kidder was served in the Asiatic Fleet and was the first On the Roof Gang instructor (OTRG).
Building 512 (Gunn Hall) – Served as an OTRG instructor.
Building 513 (Daniels Hall) – LCDR Daniels served as an OTRG instructor while enlisted.
Building 514 (McGregor Hall) – OTRG member and instructor.
Building 516 (Pederson Hall) – LT Perderson was killed while serving in the USS Enterprise operating in the Indian Ocean on January 13, 1975.  He served as an EWO, AEWO, Instructor in the following squadrons: VAW 13, VAQ 129, VAQ 130 and VAQ 137.
Building 3744 (Carmichael Hall) – LCDR Carmichael was an OTRG member and the first OIC of Corry Station.  Responsible for moving cryptologic training from Imperial Beach California to Corry Station in 1960.
Building 1099 (Kidd Hall) – Isaac Campbell Kidd was an American Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. Kidd was killed on the bridge of the USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the highest ranking American killed by the Japanese during WWII.
Other Buildings
Building 3781 (Mast Hall) – CDR Peter A. Mast served in the NAVSECGRU throughout his career.  He died on October 7, 1988 as a result of from a heart attack while conducting physical training onboard Corry Station.
Building 3711 (Gym) (Wenzel Hall) – EWC Rodger A Wenzel died on May 9, 1976 from cancer.
Building 535 (Gary R. Schuetz Memorial Clinic) – This was the branch medical clinic, now the veterinary clinic.  CWO3 Schuetz was a Physician’s Assistant.  He died on September 25, 2002 from liver cancer.  Building 535 was dedicated in his honor in late October 2004.

Rooms Dedicated

 

Mr. Chuck Bragg conference room located on the upper deck of building 501.  Mr Bragg is a retired CTOCS and former Executive Director to the Commander Officer.  He provided primary oversight of all NTTC/CID detachments from the late 1970s until 2007.

Mr. Dan Lynch Conference room located in building 513, room 134.  Mr. Lynch was in charge of Cryptologic training systems on Corry Station.  This room was dedicated between 1999 and 2000.

EWCM(SW) Richard A. Mahanke Conference room located in building 3781 (Mast Hall).  Master Chief Makanke served as the Fleet/Functional Integration Manager for Corry Station.
James Daniel Campbell (JD) MGySgt (ret) died on February 23, 2009, while serving Information Assurance Manager (IAM) for Corry Station.
EWCM(SW) Wayne Pollock Conference room located in building 516, room 122. This room dedicated on June 21, 1999.
Time Line
Corry Field auxiliary field Flight School …………………1922-01 Nov 1928
Corry Field outlying field (OLF)…………………………….01 Nov 1928-1943
Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Corry Field………1943-1958
U.S. Naval School, Imperial Beach, CA…………………01 Oct 1949-Jul 1957
NCTC Imperial Beach, San Diego, CA………………….Jul 1957-Mar 1960
NCTC Corry Field, Pensacola FL………………………….Mar 1960-Sep 1973
NTTC Corry Station, Pensacola, FL………………………Sep 1973-Jul 2003
Center for Naval Cryptology (provisional)……………….Sep 4, 2002
Center for Naval Cryptology (officially established)…..Nov. 19, 2002
Center for Cryptology Corry Station (established)……Apr 28, 2003-10 Jan 2005
CID HQ, Corry Station…………………………………………10 Jan 2005-Mar 2016
CID, Detachment  Corry Station…………………………….2007-14 Nov 2011
CID, Unit Corry Station………………………………………..14 Nov 2011-Mar 2016
IWTC Headquarters (proposed)……………………………Mar 2016-Present
IWTC Corry Station (proposed)…………………………….Mar 2016-Present
Sources:
U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA)
Center for Information Dominance (CID) Headquarters
Center for Information Dominance (CID) Unit Corry Station
U.S. Naval Air Stations of World War II, by M. L. Shettle, Jr.

Edited by Mario Vulcano