Rear Admiral Isaiah C. Cole biography follows:
REAR ADMIRAL ISIAH C. COLE
UNITED STATES NAVY, RETIRED
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.
Rear Admiral Cole is married to Gisela Mohring. They have two sons, David and Eric and five grandchildren.
Source: Echoes of our Past
Happy birthday Admiral!
15 January 2021 at 11:29
I had the pleasure and honor to work for then Commander Cole when he was the Ops officer at Misawa. I was not surprised at all that he made flag rank.
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15 January 2021 at 13:52
Ike Cole is a great person and example of leadership. He could make you feel engaged with simple questions about complex subjects. Happy birthday!
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15 January 2021 at 15:15
I was and remain honored to have served with and studied under Admiral Cole in multiple roles and venues from 1977 until the present. He and Gigi were and are an absolutely delightful couple; I enjoyed “practicing” my German with Gigi – and her mother! – when opportune. The Admiral’s combination of good humor, sly wit, thoughtful professionalism and calm demeanor were unfailing, never letting him – or us – down. He is the senior USNA graduate I ever met in the SECGRU, and from the day of my arrival at Misawa onward, he never failed to uphold the terms and tenets of “Navy Blue and Gold.” Well Done on your birthday, Boss – and many more!
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15 January 2021 at 16:12
Congratulations RADM Cole. We may have crossed paths at San Miguel and VQ-1 where I served in 1966-67. I wish you all the best in your new role.
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15 January 2021 at 17:08
A super man. Enjoyed working with him. He’ll be missed.
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15 January 2021 at 17:23
Then LCDR Cole and I were involved in the early days of satellite reconnaissance support to Navy. On one occasion we met on a Saturday, at Nebraska Avenue to field fleet requirements received by other than normal channels. Great guy, good sense of humor, fun to work with. Happy Birthday.
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17 January 2021 at 20:53
Another NFO to Cryotologist!
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27 September 2021 at 15:39
I served with Lt Cole on the Enterprise with NAVSECGRUDET3 on the Enterprise and again in MIsawa with CDR Cole. I lost track of him after Edzell. Great guy. Nice to hear he made Admiral.
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