Laurence Hugh Frost
Encyclopedia
Laurence Hugh Frost was a U.S. admiral
who served as Director of Naval Intelligence
and Director of the National Security Agency
.
Frost graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1926 and served in various ships and shore stations throughout the 1920s and 1930s. He was the commanding officer of when that destroyer was attacked by a German U-boat on 4 September 1941. This was the first attack by Germany on a U.S. warship during World War II
and occurred while the U.S. was officially neutral, some three months before America entered the war.
After decorated service in WWII, Frost was assigned to Naval Intelligence and later saw combat as commander of the cruiser in the Korean War
. He was Chief of Staff to Commander First Fleet in 1952. He commanded Destroyer Flotilla Four, Atlantic Fleet in 1955-1956 and was Director of Naval Intelligence from 1956 until 1960. As head of Naval Intelligence he tried to change the U.S. policy on the rebellion in Indonesia.
Frost became director of the National Security Agency
in November 1960 with the rank of Vice Admiral
. He held this post until 1962. Holding these posts during the beginning of the space race
, Frost was involved in early decisions to promote surveillance satellites such as the Navy's ELINT program.
In an effort to reduce tensions, soon after his arrival at NSA, Frost appointed Robert F. Rinehart as chairman of the National Security Agency Scientific Advisory Board specifically because he was the newest member of the board with only a few months' experience and so had fewer "pre-acquired biases" in Rinehart's words. According to the NSA, "In 1962, when Vice Admiral Laurence Frost was unexpectedly transferred from his position..." Gordon Blake
was his replacement.
After a final tour of duty at the Potomac River Naval Command, Admiral Frost retired in 1964.
His papers are preserved at the Operational Archives Branch of the Naval Historical Center
in Washington, D.C.
. He is listed as a rear admiral
by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
which holds an 11-page transcription of an oral interview he gave in 1970. portions of it remain "closed".
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
who served as Director of Naval Intelligence
Office of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
and Director of the National Security Agency
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...
.
Frost graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1926 and served in various ships and shore stations throughout the 1920s and 1930s. He was the commanding officer of when that destroyer was attacked by a German U-boat on 4 September 1941. This was the first attack by Germany on a U.S. warship during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and occurred while the U.S. was officially neutral, some three months before America entered the war.
After decorated service in WWII, Frost was assigned to Naval Intelligence and later saw combat as commander of the cruiser in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He was Chief of Staff to Commander First Fleet in 1952. He commanded Destroyer Flotilla Four, Atlantic Fleet in 1955-1956 and was Director of Naval Intelligence from 1956 until 1960. As head of Naval Intelligence he tried to change the U.S. policy on the rebellion in Indonesia.
Frost became director of the National Security Agency
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...
in November 1960 with the rank of Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
. He held this post until 1962. Holding these posts during the beginning of the space race
Space Race
The Space Race was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national...
, Frost was involved in early decisions to promote surveillance satellites such as the Navy's ELINT program.
In an effort to reduce tensions, soon after his arrival at NSA, Frost appointed Robert F. Rinehart as chairman of the National Security Agency Scientific Advisory Board specifically because he was the newest member of the board with only a few months' experience and so had fewer "pre-acquired biases" in Rinehart's words. According to the NSA, "In 1962, when Vice Admiral Laurence Frost was unexpectedly transferred from his position..." Gordon Blake
Gordon Blake
Gordon Aylesworth Blake was a U.S. Air Force lieutenant general who served from 1962-1965 as director of the National Security Agency .-Early life & training:...
was his replacement.
After a final tour of duty at the Potomac River Naval Command, Admiral Frost retired in 1964.
His papers are preserved at the Operational Archives Branch of the Naval Historical Center
Naval Historical Center
The Naval History & Heritage Command is the official history program of the United States Navy and is located at the historic Washington Navy Yard in the District of Columbia.-Mission :...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He is listed as a rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
John F. Kennedy Library
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is the presidential library and museum of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. It is located on Columbia Point in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, next to the Boston campus of the University of...
which holds an 11-page transcription of an oral interview he gave in 1970. portions of it remain "closed".