An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .gov**
A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Search
Search

Search

-  About    -  Leadership             
  -  Mission & Combat Support             
  -  Cybersecurity             
  -  Signals Intelligence             
  -  Central Security Service             
  -  Locations             
  -  Research             
  -  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility             
  -  Cybersecurity Collaboration Center      -  Collaborative Partnerships             
    -  Enduring Security Framework             
    -  DIB Cybersecurity Services             
    -  Standards and Certifications             
    -  Artificial Intelligence Security Center 
-  Press Room    -  Press Releases & Statements             
  -  News & Highlights             
  -  Declassification & Transparency Initiatives             
  -  Cybersecurity Advisories & Guidance             
  -  Telework and Mobile Security Guidance             
  -  DoD Microelectronics Guidance             
  -  Research Publications 
-  Careers    -  Unique Pathways             
  -  Innovation 
-  History    -  National Cryptologic Museum             
  -  Cryptologic History             
  -  National Cryptologic Memorial 

HomeHistoryCryptologic HistoryHistorical FiguresHistorical Figures View

# NSA Historical Figures

                Download            

# George R. Cotter

##                 2020 Hall of Honor Inductee            

Mr. George Cotter’s exceptional cryptologic service spanned more than half a century. He ultimately held senior positions in technical and management areas, to include NSA Chief of Staff and Chief Scientist.   

Mr. Cotter fostered technical innovation in many fields, particularly computers.  He greatly facilitated NSA’s entry into high performance computing, and his efforts were key in maintaining the Agency’s qualitative edge over the country’s adversaries.  He worked directly with commercial designers of high-performance computers to engineer devices suited to cryptologic work, and worked with Agency programmers to make effective use of them.   

His influence extended beyond computing itself and into computer security.  As founding director of what became the National Computer Security Center, he pioneered solutions to many network issues.

His expertise led many Directors of NSA to place him on high-level committees outside of NSA and assign him as liaison to other government entities.  With an extraordinary range of representation, he deeply influenced technical developments in the Intelligence Community, the Defense Department and the whole of government.   

Mr. George Cotter played a key role in preserving NSA’s lead in advanced computing, and in fielding a global cryptologic architecture that has positioned NSA and our partners to operate successfully in cyberspace.

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

african american honoreeBiographyhistorical figurehall of honorGeorge R. Cotter2020