Station HYPO

The Trump administration’s recent unveiling of the Golden Dome, a sweeping missile defense architecture, has invoked swift condemnation from China.

In response to the announcement, Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin issued a joint rebuke—timed, pointedly, on the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end. As tanks and soldiers rolled through Red Square, the mood felt less like commemoration and more like a throwback to Cold War brinkmanship. The irony was hard to miss.

Recently, I had the honor of serving as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA) reunion in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In preparing for the event, I spent time reflecting on what message I wanted to share. My thoughts kept returning to something personal — the feeling I get each morning as I pass through the gates of Corry Station on my way to work, training future Cryptologic Warfare Officers. I realized how special Corry Station is — not only for its mission today but also for its deep ties to two pivotal events in U.S. Navy and cryptologic history: the Battle of Midway (4–7 June 1942) and the attack on the USS Liberty (8 June 1967).

The only satisfactory method of ensuring unity of effort lies in due preparation of the minds of the various commanders, both chief and subordinate, before the outbreak of hostilities. Such preparation comprehends not only adequate tactical and strategic study and training, but also a common meeting ground of beliefs as to the manner of applying principles to modern war.