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RIP RADM Joseph D. Burns, USN (Ret.), Cryptologist

Rear Admiral Joseph Burns, who recently passed away, served with distinction as the 40th Commander of the Naval Security Group. He led the organization from September 2001 until 29 October 2004, a period marked by significant challenges and transformation within the cryptologic and information warfare communities. Under his leadership, the Naval Security Group continued its vital mission of providing timely, accurate, and relevant cryptologic support to the Navy and the joint force.

RADM Burns’s tenure was characterized by his dedication to advancing the capabilities of naval cryptology, strengthening the force, and preparing Sailors to meet the evolving demands of 21st-century warfare. His leadership left a lasting impact on the community and the Navy as a whole.

The following biography reflects the life and service of RADM Joseph Burns.

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11 September 2025 0

Unbroken

On November 2, 1942, Phil’s crew climbed aboard Super Man (B-24 LIBERATOR) and readied to go to war. They were heading into a desperate fight. North to south, Japan’s new empire starched five thousand miles, from the snowboard Aleutians to Java, hundreds of miles north of the equator.

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23 August 2025 1

Navy fires commanding officer of San Diego Reserve Center

Capt. Russell A. Herrell was relieved of his duties on Tuesday as commanding officer of the Naval Information Force Reserve Readiness Center in San Diego.

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14 August 2025 1

The Ignored Warning Before Pearl Harbor

In the months leading up to the devastating Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, few voices within the U.S. Navy spoke out with the clarity and conviction of Admiral James O. Richardson. As Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet (CINCUS) from January 1940 to February 1941, Richardson was uniquely positioned to assess the strategic posture of the Pacific Fleet. Yet despite his experience and reasoned objections, his warnings about relocating the fleet to Hawaii were ultimately disregarded—decisions that would have profound consequences for the United States and the course of World War II.

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23 July 2025 2

The navies of the United Kingdom, France, and Italy are planning a coordinated deployment of their aircraft carriers to the Indo-Pacific

In the context of the deployment of the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and its Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific, the United Kingdom has confirmed that it is spearheading a proposal for France and Italy to join in a series of coordinated carrier missions in the region—aimed at clearly demonstrating Europe’s commitment to the security of its allies. The initiative would fall under the framework of the European Carrier Group Interoperability Initiative (ECGII), whose main objective is to enhance the ability of European navies to operate together as part of a combined Strike Group.

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6 July 2025 0

Remembering CAPT Prescott Currier, Naval Officer and Cryptanalyst

Prescott Hunt Currier was an American naval officer and cryptanalyst who contributed to American and British cryptographic cooperation during World War II and later gained recognition for his work on the Voynich manuscript. In 1941, Currier was part of a U.S. cryptologic delegation that visited Bletchley Park, where he contributed to early Anglo-American codebreaking efforts. He was awarded the Legion of Merit twice, in the Second World War and the Korean War respectively. He analyzed the Voynich manuscript in the 1970s, proposing significant structural insights that have influenced subsequent research into the manuscript’s origins.

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26 June 2025 2