Rear Admiral Isaiah C. Cole was born on January, 15 1940.  A native of Chatham, Virginia, graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned in June 1961. Following flight training, he served as a Naval Flight Officer with Patrol Squadron Seventeen from 1963 to 1966.
After studying Mandarin Chinese at the Defense Language Institute in 1967, he reported to the U.S. Naval Communications Station, San Miguel, Philippines and deployed with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One and various other Seventh Fleet units. In 1969, Rear Admiral Cole assumed the duties of the Antisubmarine Classification and Analysis Center Officer for Commander Fleet Air, San Diego.

After re-designating as a Naval Cryptologist in 1971, he served at the Naval Security Group Command Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  Following this assignment, Rear Admiral Cole reported to U.S. Naval Security Group Activity, Misawa, Japan where he served as the Operations Officer, then Executive Officer from 1976 to 1979.  Rear Admiral Cole commanded U.S. Naval Security Group Activity, Philippines until 1981.  From that assignment he took command of U.S. Naval Security Group Activity, Edzell, Scotland until August 1984.  From 1984 to 1986 he served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Cryptology for Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe.  He was then assigned to the office of Naval Intelligence on Chief of Naval Operations Staff from 1986 until May 1988.  Rear Admiral Cole’s next assignment was as the Director of Intelligence, U.S. Atlantic Command where he served until June 1990. He commanded the Naval Security Group from July 1990 to July 1992.

From 1992 until his retirement in 1995, Rear Admiral Cole was the Deputy Director for Plans, Policy and Programs at the National Security Agency and Deputy Chief Central Security Service.

Rear admiral Cole’s significant awards include Air Medals, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Legion of Merit with three gold stars, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

Happy Birthday Admiral Cole!

Source: Echoes of our Past