Message follows:
SUBJ/2022 ON-THE-ROOF GANG (OTRG) ANNUAL AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT (CORRECTED COPY)//
MSGID/GENADMIN/FCC// REF/A/MSG/COMFLTCYBERCOM/041835ZJAN22//
AMPN/REF A IS REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS// POC/WELCH, CHRISTOPHER C./CIV/FLTCYBERCOM/EMAIL: CHRISTOPHER.C.WELCH.CIV(AT)US.NAVY.MIL/TEL:240-3733939// POC/MIDDLETON, DUANE A./CIV/FLTCYBERCOM/EMAIL:DUANE.A. MIDDLETON2.CIV(AT)US.NAVY.MIL/TEL:240-373-3939// GENTEXT/PASS TO FLEET CRYPTOLOGIC SUPPORT UNITS/SSES// RMKS/
1. Between the years 1921 and 1927, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel taught themselves to break the Imperial Japanese code and passed these skills informally to many of their contemporaries. The value of the information extracted was recognized under the auspices of OP20G, the former Office of the Director of Naval Communications. Formal training was subsequently developed and implemented in 1928 and took place, until 1941, in a specially constructed blockhouse on the roof of the old main Navy building in Washington, D.C. – hence the name “On-the-Roof” Gang (OTRG). Since 1983, the OTRG award has recognized cryptologists who exemplify leadership, initiative, resourcefulness, and dedication, and personify the highest traditions established for cryptologic excellence.
2. Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S TENTH Fleet is pleased to select the following 2021 OTRG award winners.
a. The U.S. Navy OTRG winner is CTRCM Matthew S. Stone of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. According to the nomination, Master Chief Stone has been at the forefront of cryptologic innovation, integrating and synchronizing Signals Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberspace capabilities in support of time sensitive, no-fail operational requirements. He has consistently sought out opportunities to lead cryptologic teams taking on the nation’s most complex operational and intelligence challenges – testing, validating, and operationally employing novel cryptologic systems and developing unique tactics techniques and procedures. Furthermore, he led the first successful Joint Task Force maritime enabled cyberspace operation, conducted across two geographic combatant commands that created new cryptologic access vectors for fleet commanders.
b. The U.S. Marine Corps OTRG winner is MGySgt Darry A. Cross of Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. According to the nomination, Master Gunnery Sergeant Johns’ contributions have had an enduring and extremely positive impact on the Marine Corps’ capability to conduct Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), ground Electronic Warfare (EW), and offensive cyber operations. From multiple tours with the Marine Corps Radio Battalions to strategic level postings with the National Security Agency, he has impact on the cryptologic community has been unrivaled, and his career has touched every aspect of the SIGINT enterprise. Building on his 20 years of experience where he established himself as a true subject matter expert, he continues to forge the future while managing the structure, manpower, and training for over 2,700 Marines in the 2600 Military Occupation Specialties.
3. The competition was particularly keen for this year’s nominees and congratulations also go to the following nominees: CTICM Yves Michaud, Cryptologic Warfare Activity SIXTY FIVE CTRCS Justin R. Anger, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet Staff CTTCS Logan B. Brock, Navy Information Operations Command (NAVIOCOM) Colorado CTICS Sang T. Phan, NAVIOCOM Pensacola CTRC Raymond B. Alford, NAVIOCOM Yokosuka SSgt Devon B. Nieve, Company H, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion CTT1 Robert A. Kutz, USS PORTER (DDG 78) These outstanding information warriors and cryptologists exemplify leadership, initiative, resourcefulness, and dedication, and personify the highest traditions established for cryptologic excellence by the original OTRG.
4. As part of their selection, Master Chief Stone and Master Gunnery Sergeant Cross will also be recognized by the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association for their distinct accomplishments in the very near future.
5. Congratulations and well done! VADM R. A. Myers, USN, Commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and U.S. TENTH Fleet.//
BT #0001 NNNN
Station HYPO 
24 May 2022 at 06:16
There’re still some errors in the message, Mario. In paragraph 2.b. first line they recognize MGySgt Darry A. Cross as
winner but in second line they refer to Master Gunnery Seargent Johns’s (that is a quote/unquote) as the winner; then,
towards the end of the message – para 4 – they go back to MgySgt Cross again.
In any case, CONGRATULATIONS to both winners and the runners up.
Jim King
CTOC Ret.
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24 May 2022 at 23:04
Leave it to the old CTOC to catch errors in a msg 🙂
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25 May 2022 at 14:53
Does anyone in this group know how long it took from interception by OTRG to finished translation ( actionable intel) in WW2? Asking in connection with a resesrch project.
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26 May 2022 at 16:35
A good question but it undoubtedly changed from time-to-time depending on how well along the Navy and Marine Corps personnel were in breaking the various Japanese crypto systems at any point in time.
From looking at many Intercept station log sheets obtained at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland, the intercept operators themselves—at Intercept Station H—knew far more about the formation of the Japanese Navy’s “Fleet Air Command” starting on 10 April 1941 (the date of its formation) than is indicated via a reading of all communications intelligence summaries published in the 39-volume Pearl Harbor Attack Hearings in 1946. (See, for instance, Exhibit 115 of the Joint Congressional Committee, PHA Part 17, pp. 2601-2642. These so-called Com14 daily communications intelligence summaries, in this writer’s opinion, were produced AFTER the fact.) The purpose of these phony documents is to make it appear that the Navy’s communications intelligence unit on Oahu failed to know of the existence of the KIDO BUTAI until the raid on the Pacific Fleet of 7 Dec. 1941.
Later today I will send Mario the alleged Com14 daily ComInt summary of 3 November 1941 (PHA17, p. 2603) and a HYPO intercept station log sheet of approximately 05/21/1941 as well as a HYPO daily intercept sheet of 10 April 1941. If Mario wishes to publish these documents online, I believe you experts will all see my point. (I’m a seventy-four year old untrained amateur who has been making a serious study of Pearl Harbor since October 1983.)
To sum up my analysis: High level officials in the United States Navy and in the Roosevelt Administration knew far more about Japanese plans for the commencement of hostilities against the United States than was ever testified to in the 39-volume Pearl Harbor Attack Hearings (all of which I’ve read). Because someone contacted me through the Station HYPO website just over a month ago who believes intelligence on Japanese plans was kept from the senior Army and Navy commands on Oahu leading up to the attack, I wish to state here on the record that I do not agree with any such claim. I believe that Admiral Kimmel and Lieutenant General Walter C. Short had the full advantage of the same intelligence that was available at the highest level of the Navy and War Departments in Washington, D.C.
I believe the Japanese Government’s strategy for the commencement of the Pacific War was carefully studied by many individuals in our armed services. What our senior people did, I believe, was very well considered. It is my belief that ultimately the U.S. strategy saved millions of lives world wide in World War II. (We entered the Second World War on our terms, not those of the Axis.)
Andrew “Andy” McKane IV, 0634 (Hawaiian time, 26 May 2022), P.O. Box 166, Maunaloa, Hawaii 96770.
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