John A. Samford
Encyclopedia
John Alexander Samford was a former director of the National Security Agency
.
, in 1905. He graduated from high school in 1922 and then spent one year at Columbia College
, New York City
. In 1924 he received a senatorial appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated in 1928, 131st in a class of 260.
Second Lieutenant Samford's first assignment was that of a student officer at Brooks Field, Texas. In 1929 he received his pilot wings at Kelly Field and was eventually rated a command pilot.
Lieutenant Samford's first assignment after Kelly Field was Fort Crockett
located at Galveston, Texas
. In 1930 he returned to Kelly Field where he served as a flying instructor. In 1934 he was ordered to an Engineering and Armament School at Chanute Field, Illinois From 1935 until 1942 he held various assignments in Panama
, Virginia
, Louisiana
and Florida
.
Colonel Samford was assistant chief of staff, G-1, Headquarters Third Air Force
, in Tampa, Florida
, when appointed chief of staff of the VIII Air Force Composite Command located in Northern Ireland
.
In 1943 Colonel Samford was appointed deputy chief of staff of the Eighth Air Force
, and later chief of staff of the VIII Bomber Command.
In 1944 Colonel Samford was promoted to brigadier general and appointed chief of staff of the Eighth Air Force. In October 1944 he was appointed deputy assistant chief of staff, A-2, Headquarters U.S. Army Air Forces.
In January 1947 Brigadier General Samford was appointed commander, 24th Composite Wing which soon thereafter became the Antilles Air Division of the Caribbean Air Command.
In May 1949 Brigadier General Samford was appointed commandant of the Air Command and Staff School. He was promoted to major general in 1950 and held a brief appointment as commandant of the Air War College
before being appointed director of intelligence of the U.S. Air Force.
In December 1954, General Samford went to Russia.
In November 1956 Major General Samford was appointed director of the National Security Agency and promoted to lieutenant general, he held this post until his retirement on November 23, 1960. His successor as NSA director was Admiral Laurence H. Frost
. He died on December 1, 1968.
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
.
Biography
Samford was born at Hagerman, New MexicoHagerman, New Mexico
Hagerman is a town in Chaves County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 1,168 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hagerman is located at ....
, in 1905. He graduated from high school in 1922 and then spent one year at Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1924 he received a senatorial appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated in 1928, 131st in a class of 260.
Second Lieutenant Samford's first assignment was that of a student officer at Brooks Field, Texas. In 1929 he received his pilot wings at Kelly Field and was eventually rated a command pilot.
Lieutenant Samford's first assignment after Kelly Field was Fort Crockett
Fort Crockett
Fort Crockett is a government reservation on Galveston Island overlookingthe Gulf of Mexico originally built as a defense installation to protect the city and harbor of Galveston and to secure the entrance to Galveston Bay,...
located at Galveston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In 1930 he returned to Kelly Field where he served as a flying instructor. In 1934 he was ordered to an Engineering and Armament School at Chanute Field, Illinois From 1935 until 1942 he held various assignments in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Colonel Samford was assistant chief of staff, G-1, Headquarters Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, when appointed chief of staff of the VIII Air Force Composite Command located in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
In 1943 Colonel Samford was appointed deputy chief of staff of the Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, and later chief of staff of the VIII Bomber Command.
In 1944 Colonel Samford was promoted to brigadier general and appointed chief of staff of the Eighth Air Force. In October 1944 he was appointed deputy assistant chief of staff, A-2, Headquarters U.S. Army Air Forces.
In January 1947 Brigadier General Samford was appointed commander, 24th Composite Wing which soon thereafter became the Antilles Air Division of the Caribbean Air Command.
In May 1949 Brigadier General Samford was appointed commandant of the Air Command and Staff School. He was promoted to major general in 1950 and held a brief appointment as commandant of the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
before being appointed director of intelligence of the U.S. Air Force.
In December 1954, General Samford went to Russia.
In November 1956 Major General Samford was appointed director of the National Security Agency and promoted to lieutenant general, he held this post until his retirement on November 23, 1960. His successor as NSA director was Admiral Laurence H. Frost
Laurence Hugh Frost
Laurence Hugh Frost was a U.S. admiral who served as Director of Naval Intelligence and Director of the National Security Agency....
. He died on December 1, 1968.