Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion

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Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion
MCSB Seal md.jpg
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
RoleMilitary intelligence
Garrison/HQFort Meade
Commanders
Commanding OfficerLieutenant Colonel Danielle E. Thomas [1]
Senior Enlisted MarineMaster Gunnery Sergeant Richard E. Deuto [1]

The Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion (MCSB) is a Marine Corps Intelligence battalion of the United States Marine Corps. The battalion headquarters are located in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Mission[]

Under the operational control of the Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service (DIRNSA/CHCSS) via the Marine Corps Service Cryptologic Component Chief, Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion trains, employs, and deploys Marines in order to conduct Signals Intelligence, Information Assurance, and National-Tactical Integration activities that satisfy NSA/CSS, Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and joint force intelligence requirements.[2]

Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion mission statement

The battalion's stated purpose is "to enable and execute Signals Intelligence, Information Assurance and National-Tactical Integration activities in order to satisfy NSA/CSS, Marine Air-Ground Task Force and joint force intelligence requirements."[3]

Organization[]

The Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion headquarters are located in Fort Meade, Maryland.[4] The MCSB has seven companies,[2] five of which are based in the contiguous United States, one in Hawaii, and one in England.

Notable veterans[]

General Alfred M. Gray Jr., who served as the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1 July 1987 until his retirement on 30 June 1991, is considered the founder of Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion, although he never commanded the unit under that name. In 1955 then Captain Gray was tasked with forming two units, one to be assigned to Europe and the other to the Pacific area,[8] chosen from Marines undergoing Manual Morse intercept training at the Naval Security Group (NSG) training facility at Imperial Beach, California. These two units would form the nucleus of what is known today as Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion. Upon completion of the course at Imperial Beach, the Pacific team under his command reported for duty with the NSG at Kamiseya, Japan in May 1956. In 1958 then-Captain Gray was assigned to Hawaii to form and activate the 1st Radio Company, a tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) unit, where he would serve from September 1958 to May 1961.[9]

LtGen Vincent R. Stewart served as a company commander twice in MCSB, once at I Company when it was in Adak, Alaska, (1986–1988) and once at E Company when it was in Misawa Japan (1992– 1994). LtGen Stewart served as Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency 2015 - 2017 and as Director Marine Corps Intelligence 2009 - 2013.

LtCol Dewey G. “Guy” Jordan commanded MCSB from 2005 – 2007 and later served as the AC/S G-2 and C/S Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER) from 2012 – 2014, retiring as a Colonel in 2014. He first served as a Defense Intelligence Senior Level (DISL) executive at CYBERCOM and DIA from 2015 –2017. He has since served as a Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (DISES) executive at Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps (HQMC)as the Assistant Director of Marine Corps Intelligence and then at the National Security Agency (NSA) from October 2017 – Present.[10]

MCSB Commanding Officers[]

  • Capt Alfred M. Gray Jr., May 1956 – August 1958 (NSG Kamiseya)
  • Maj V. M. Johnson, April 1958 – September 1961 (Co G, HQ Bn, HQMC)
  • LtCol I. F. Laspada, October 1961 – July 1962
  • LtCol H. A. Vonderhyde, Jr., August 1962 – April 1965
  • Maj A. G. Ziegler, April 1965 – July 1965
  • LtCol C. W. Blyth, July 1965 – February 1968
  • LtCol C. R. Kneale, February 1968 – September 1969
  • LtCol P. J. Fennell, October 1969 – August 1972
  • LtCol C. W. Kachauskaas, August 1972 – July 1973
  • Maj U. L. Cliff, July 1973 – September 1973
  • LtCol D. L. Mitchell, September 1973 – August 1974
  • LtCol R. F. Edwards, August 1974 – March 1978
  • Col J. B. Poza, April 1978 – July 1980
  • Col J. S. Santos, Jr., July 1980 – June 1982
  • LtCol J. L. McIntire, Jr., June 1982 – August 1984
  • LtCol J. E. Deichman, August 1984 – May 1986
  • Maj R. J. Ingold, May 1986 – July 1986
  • LtCol P. Brown, July 1986 – March 1989
  • Maj L. D. Primmer, April 1989 – April 1989
  • LtCol P. Brown, July 1986 – August 1989
  • LtCol J. F. Chalkley, August 1989 – July 1991
  • LtCol K. G. Donaleski, July 1991 – July 1993
  • LtCol H. E. Poole, July 1993 – July 1995
  • LtCol S. C. Robb, July 1995 – June 1997
  • LtCol Karen S. “Kate” Prokop, June 1997 – July 1999
  • LtCol Norman C. Davis, July 1999 – August 2001
  • LtCol Joseph Judge, August 2001 – July 2003
  • LtCol Paul A. Shelton, July 2003 – August 2005
  • LtCol Dewey G. “Guy” Jordan, August 2005 – August 2007
  • LtCol John E. Walker, August 2007 – August 2009
  • LtCol Mcclendon N. Waters, III, August 2009 – September 2010
  • Maj Matthew J. Worsham, September 2010 – November 2010
  • LtCol Ryan R. Gutzwiller, November 2010 – June 2013
  • LtCol Stephen C. Riffer, June 2013 – June 2015
  • LtCol Michael R. Challgren, June 2015 – June 2017
  • LtCol Mark F. Schaeffer, June 2017 – June 2019
  • LtCol Arlon D. Smith, June 2019 – June 2021
  • LtCol Danielle E. Thomas, June 2021 - Present

See also[]

List of United States Marine Corps battalions

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion". marines.mil. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Companies". marines.mil. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Commander's Intent". marines.mil. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  4. ^ "New Joins". marines.mil. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Fort Gordon Units". gordon.army.mil. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  6. ^ "CO I Welcome Aboard" (PDF). United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  7. ^ "Military Department Organization for Cyber Operations: George J. Flynn". Congressional Testimony  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required). 23 September 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Station Hypo History of MCSB". stationhypo.com. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Cryptologic Heritage". nsa.gov. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Guy Jordan, SES". linkedin.com. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
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