MEMO ROUTING p 

REF ID:A63900 

NEVER USE FOR APPROVALS, DIS.A.PPR 

CONCURRENCES, OR SIMILAR ACTION, 

'" 1 NAM£ oR Tiru Mr. William Friedman 

ORGANIZATION AND L.OcATION 

INITIALS 

DATE 

CIRCULATE 

COORDINATION 

2 

3 

4 

REMARKS 

FILE 

(./ INFORMATION 

NECESSARY 

ACTION 

NOTE AND RETURN 

5E£ME 

SIGNATURE 

TELEPHONE 

eclassifi ed and approved for release by NSA on 11-15-2013 

o E.O. 13526 
.. sseRM f IKU. 

Minutes ot the Meeting ot tm Executi w Group tor 

National Securit7 Ageney Scientific AdT.t.sory Board Attairs 

held 12 Januar,r 1956 

le A meeting or the Executive <lroup tor National Securit7 Agency 

Scientitio Adrlsoey Board Attain •s he1d at 09:30 on 12 January 1956 

in Room. 17-131., NSS. 

2. Tb>se present at the meeting werei 

a. Memberaa 

Dr. s. !:ullback, Emeutive Secretary 

Colonel lt. I. Davis., USA 

Captain A. Enderlin., USN 

Mr .. P. E. Nett 

Colonel G. W. Wildes (tor Captain J" s. Jbltw.lok., USH) 

Mro A. Levenson (.for Brig. General W. M. Burgess., USAF) 

b. l1SA Scientific Advisory Board members: 

Hr. John c. McPherson 

Mr. Wi 111 am F. Friedman 

c. Observer: 

LCDR J.. W. Peareon 

3.. The Executi w Secretar,y reported that replies bad been rece1.ved 

from a majority ot the Board members in response to the letter announcing 

the meeting to be held 15., 16 and 17 February 1956. An at!'irmative repl.;r 

ll:1.B received from Mr. H11 P. Corwlthl-- Dr .. stew.rt s. Cairns., and Dr .. 'fbward To 

Engstl"Clll., Dro John von Neumann wlll attend part ot the meetings and will 

determine which one~ atter he receives a cop,y ot the agenda. Dr .. Cl:tr.tord C .. Furnas, the new Assistant. Secretar,y ot De':t'ense (R/D),, accepted membership on 

the Board and ttlll a1ao attem a portion ot the meetings. A te1egram was 

received !rca Dr. H., P. Robertson stating that be would be available to 

attend the meetings on tm atternoon or the 16th and all c1q' on the 17th., 

Ha suggested that items which 110uld require his participation be sc~duled 

tor those days. Dr. s. s. Wilks vill not attend. the meeting as he is leaving 

this month on sabbatical leave in India and Australl.a.. 

4., Dr o Kull.back asked it there were any correct.ions to tbs revised 

minutes ot the EXSAB meeting held 5 December 1955.. Mr. Friedman commented 

that the group should be certain that the wording of the tootnote on page l 

is correct. All members agreed that these tacts were correct. Thel"Er ware 

no corrections to the m.imiteso 

SECRET 
5o Dr. ltullback suggested that the group begin arranging the 

agenda items in time sequence; items of 1Jitereet to the full Board 

mooibership to be scheduled for the last days or the m.eetiilg. 

Mr. Hert asked it the Long Range cx:»iINT pl.ans am. communiea.tion 

estimate wuld be presented. Colonel Wildes replied th&t the Long Range 

Estimate had been sublltted to the operating elanent.s and the Service 

Cryptologic Agencies. He stated that comments receiwd. indicated general 

concurrence in the Estimate with the ex.Ception o! tlX>se ~tted ey PROD. 

He indicated that PROD l«>u1d be requested to review the CCMINT portion 

again am subnit their ccmmenta by l April. General Ackerman bad concurred 

in thia procedure. Colonel Wildes expressed the opinion that be thought 

the Communications Estimate could be subnitted to the Board but said that 

this should be cleared through General canine. Dr. !tullback pointed out 

that only' a SUDl!IB.17 or tha rei:ort neod be giwn and copies ot the full 

report could be made available to the m.81lbers to read in detail f'or tmir 

comments. Mr. Friedman said that since the report is quite long and would 

require time to read 1n tull that perhaps it woUl.d be better to present onl.7 

the COMSEC and COMMUNICATIONS parts o£ the report to the Board tbia time., 

Captain Enderlin and Mr. Nett dis~aed the beet way to present 

the COMSEC and COM programs and agreed that CCli lll>uld present coomunications 

as thq tore am COMSEC wuld present the future plansa 

6. Dr. !:ullback reported that be bad seen Protenor Wilks on the 

morning ot .3 Januaey and tmv bad rev.l.ewed l!IOme of the subjects that would 

be discussed at the Board meeting. Pro!'essor Wilks indicated that when 

he returDed to the States in the fall he would consider the JX>•eibilit7 ot 

calling a meeting of the Mathematics Panel. Dr. !:ullback said that t"WO 

projects suitable tor the panel wou1d be to have them review the program 

in NSA-34,, the SCAMP project,, and comment on these activitieso 

Kr. McPherson introduced the problem ot programming and considerable discussion tollowed on what bas been accomplished in this field at 

5SA as well as in outside organizatiorus. Dr. ltullback said that an attempt 

should be made to consider the developnent o.f' an appropriate syWx>llsn .for 

cryptana.'.cysis to 1Jimpl.if7 the problem ot mecha.nit'.a:J.ly translating their. 

into the language ot the machines.. Mr. McPherson said that if the Agency 

wnted. assistance .from the Board on this problem, a. requsst £or assistance 

sb:>uld be presented to the Board. Dr. l'.ullback said Hr. Lathroun .from 

HSA-.35 was working on related problems and suggested tha.t be be asked to 

atte:nd the meeting and present bis problems; an outline ot what. b9 proposes 

to do and in:lieate that if &rl7 Board members are in a position to assist 

they should contact him. 

7. Captain Enderlin said that he was prepared to report on "Rece=nt 

dowlopnents :ln commmications as they attect NSA, am general NSA probleme 

ot connunication" on aey day that the group agreed upon.. He suggested 

tha.t the report on tuture oonmmieations be tied in with his report. 

(Captain Enderlin left the meeting at 101.0.) 

2 

SECRET 
s. Dr.. ltullback suggested tint the ttntatiw agenda which had been 

distributed be considered item by' item to determine which day each item. 

should be considered. 

Mr .. McPherson said in planning the program tor each dq, the 

group should r«nember that the Board members uaual.17 bad to leaw earJ.7 

on the last da.7.. Ha also suggested that the tirL'J't ~be a preHm:tnar.r 

or introductoey meeting. 

Dr. Kullbaok expresaed. tbs o¢.n1.on that Dro Fumas could prob-9.b]Jr 

be present tor onl.7 one day. In reply to Mr. MoPhereon•s suggestion that 

Dr. Furnas be giwn one-halt da1' ot indoetrin&tion. Dr. ltullback said that 

General CaniD9 would probably invite Dr. Furnas to v.l.eit the Agency for a 

tour prior to tha meeting .. 

The Group then considered each item. as it appeared on the tentative 

agenda: 

Rfvj.ew and Appro~or ~lL-2L6-:Z Aprll. 1922 ~ 

Mr. Friedman asked whether or not the minutes wre still in 

dra!'t rom. Dr. ltul1be.ck replied tha.t he had one or t110 questions to 

discuss ld.th Mr. McPherson betore they were sent out to the Board members .. 

It was agreed that appro'fBJ. of the minutes of the previous Board meeting 

would be the f'irst item on the agenda and eould bo app:rowd by- the members 

present. 

Review of the Robertson Rewrt and. its Recommenc:\!._\ions...r. 

Dr. l:ullback said that he thought the Robertson Report would 

be ot interest to Dr. Furnas and aJ..90 since Dr. Robertaon would be hare 

for tm latter part of" the meetings that this item should be on the aganda 

tor Friday. SeTeral members expreeeed the opinion that this should be 

the final discussion on the Robertson Report and Mr. McPherson said that 

the Board wuld continue to use this report as a check llit until a new 

report was vritten. Mr.. Friedman said he thought another re'View by a 

Committee or the Board would be appropriate. A discussion .tollowed regardil'le 

the preparation of a new report and it was telt that a gemral discussion by 

the Board members atter the presentation on the Robertson Report. would 

possibly result in some interesting canmenta on this subject. 

Jew Bo!;rd Buf!ness, 

Mro McPherson suggested that new Boa.rd busimss be added to 

the agenda so that the members would haw an opportunity to present; items 

tor consideration.. It was agree that this would be the last item o:t 

business on Friday. 

SECRET 
) . 

Dr. Kullba.ek suggested that this item it irlcluded b9 schaduled 

tor Friday. Mro Friedman inquired about the atatits of this item. and asked 

ltho W0\1ld make the report on the problem. Mr. McPherson &aid that tbs Board 

had never organised a committee to study tba problem. and said be had discussed it with General C&n1ne and tb97 ha.d tried to get Proteeeor Wilks to 

work on it. Mr. Friedman eaid that the last rept>l"t b9 bad was that it was 

being held in abeJance until Dr. Baker's return arid suggested that Genel".al 

Canine be allked. about the status ot ibis report. 

Qiecussion of Sett.i.ng up an Exehapg! Research Fellowship. 

Mr. Friedman Mid that this should also be discuased on 

Frida.7 e.nd asked if a repl1' bad been received .tram Mr. Jones,, Director, 

GCHQ. Dr. Kullback brought the group up-to-date on this problem and said 

that plans w:re stll1 firm .for Dr. Leibl~r to discuss this with Mro Jones 

when he goes to Londona It was agreed that this would be one of. the items 

under New Boa.rd Businesso 

NSA Prob1ems or Communication. 

Dr .. Pl'.ullback said that agreement on the presentation ot 

this item h8,.d been reacmd earlier in the meeting and suggested that it 

be discussed either Wednesday or Thursd&y. It was agreed that this would 

be on the agenda .f'or Thursday atternoono 

Report on the Activ.ltiea o:t each ot the Board PaneltU, 

Mr. McPherson said that m had nothing to report on thia 

item since the Board had been inactive during the last twelve months 

except tor indi ddual consul.tations. He suggested tmt perhaps he could 

be furnished with a. list or the individual consultants and bring this to 

the attention ot the Board. Dr. Kullback agreed to furnish Mr. McPmrson 

v.f.th this list am said that it wuld be appropriate at this time to 

present the problem. tor the M&thema.tic&J. Panel which bad been previous:cydiscussed. Any othar problems ~ne might have for 8.111' of the panels 

could be presented at this time .• 

Report on Agency Progress and Programs •• 

All members agreed tha.t th.tee presentations should be given 

on the tirst day= ot the meeting,, 

In repl;r to Mr. Net.r~s question,, it was agreed tha.t PROD,. 

CONSEC, R/D and Stat.£ would each have one-hal.t hour for presentation of 

their report and fitteen minutes tor discussion,, a1lowing 45 minutes in 

all tor each of the reports. 

SECRET 
Co1onel \fi,l.des asked whether or ~t a: brtetillg on tha 

college recruitment program and t.h& trogre•s on the building at Fort 

Meade should be presented to the Board. Both ~pol"'ts we:re presented 

at the last meeting ot the Board. abd. it us agreed tbat membera ehould 

be brought up-to-date on both items. This w1ll. b8 a pa.rt of tbs Statt presentation~ 

Hr. HePbaraon said that in tb:ts connttction he thought 9Clll90m should giw a ehort brietirig on ke~ Field am show how it· fits 

in with the BSA open.tion. He emphasized tha.1# he wanted to bring to the 

attention ot the members tb&t :WSA was e. 'large opei"a.tion., In thia connection Coloml. Wildes suggested tha.t 80!i1e fn&htion might be ude of i'oreigu 

collaboration.. He added that he would. ~ a •hort briefing on this 

subject. Mr. Levenson said that POOD woUld include decentralisation in 

their report which -would cover soms aapeets ot this subject. 

Repqtt on Eguient Acguisi.tioll!.:. 

Mr. McPherson said that mthet- than have this eubject as a 

separate item be would suggest that R/D present this report in connection 

with their report on progress. Colonel Dads asked it CCMSEC 1110uld also 

present a rerort. on their et}lrl.pnent and Mr .. McPherson illdicated that the 

Board would be interested in such a report. Mr. Nett said that he bad 

planned tor the COMSEC report to include equipwmts now being aerri.ce 

tested. Dr. !:ullback agreed that <.XE.SEC should re}X>rt on equipnent that 

ha.e reached the aervice test stage am beyond and R/D would rep::>rt on 

COMSEC equipnents not yet in the service test state and on equipnents on 

the anal.7tical side. 

Report on Cbapges in Bo.a.rd J4embership, 

A liat of Board members was circulated to the Groupo Mra 

McPherson aaid tmt perhaps it would be hel.ptul. to lave someone fl"Om 

Lincoln Laboratories as a msber ot tbs Board and euggested Professor 

Je.7 w. Forrester as a possible candidate in dew or tb9 fact tmt he is 

mv a member of the Electronics Panel and had been instrumental. in 

arranging vi.Bits to Lincoln Laboratories tor NSA people. It was agreed 

tlat this would be dincueeed. with Gemral Canine .. 

Smguuz ot the PHASE I, It 1 llI Docuuents on Mechanisation, 

The group agreed that this subject should be the first item 

tor discussion on Thursdq moming. Mr .. McPherson sa.id that the SUIZIUar;f 

should not be too detailed but b:road enough to let the members know tb9 

basic contents and interesting enough mo tbe.t the individual members would 

want to come back am read it. Dra Kullback said that Mr. HauB'Qll.n1 Mr. 

Hogan and someone trcm Mro Schierlmann's off'ice could cowr the broad 

pbaaea of the report an:l be would make the arrangements. 

SEi:RET 
pis9yssion ot UHF /VHF/SW fLa9! was aehed.uled tor Thursda.J' 

atternoono ' . 9o The Group arranged the items in order tor each day and ~heduled 

the time tor each. It was agreed that Wedneeda)" m()ming1 15 February., 

would be aet aside tor the members to read and review *1.tten material. 

am the t'ormal meetings 1110uld 'begin at 1300. 

Mr. Friedman aaid that some time should be reeerved so that the 

Board members could make a formal call on General Gani ne o The agenda was 

arranged eo that the members could visit with General Canine betore going 

to lunch on Thuredayo 

10.. Hr. triedman auggested tmt it might be a good idea. to recommend 

to General Canine that an inv.ltation be sent to General Erskine's ottice 

tor an obsener to attend the meetings. All members agreed an.t Dr. ~ullba.ck said that a cow ot the agenda could be tonarded eo that General. 

Erskine' a ottice could decide which items would be ct J:Srticular interest 

to them .. 

ll. Mr. McPherson eaid that if the Board has an,y tree time perhaps 

there was sane new equipmnt that the members 'WDuld be interested in seeing. 

12. Hr .. McPherson indicated his desi~ that :rart. of the meetings be 

held at Ai:-llngton Hall Station since the Board as a g:toup usually met a.t 

JlSS. The group discussed :p>ssible arrangements for the meetings to be 

be1d at the Hall .tor one day and it was agreed that with the present agenia 

as ~lit woul.d not be practicable this time.. In view or this,, Mro 

McPherson requested tmt the next maeting ot the Board b& scheduled tor 

Arlington Hall Stationo 

:ct w.s agreed that the meetings this time would be held 1n 

Room 17-lJL,, Ba'f&l Security Station .. 

13. Dr. Kullback said tba.t be woul.d circulate a tentative agema 

to the me111bers ot the Exaeutive Group and a!ter he receiyes CODlllenta ha 

will prepu-e the final agema tor rorwardi.Dg to Board members. All &grE?ed that therit was no necessity tor another JD9eting of the Group prior to the 

February 11ieeting of th~ Board. 

'L'he meeting adjoUl'lled at 1200 .. 

6 

S. 

~ WLLBACK 

Executiw Secretary 

EXSAB 

SECRET