THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF 

WASHING'IDN 25, D. C. 

Director, Communications-Electronics 

MEMORANilJM FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF 

SUBJECT: Communications Security (GOMSEC) Matters 

Reference: DCEM 572, dated 22 January 1953 

c 0 p y 

DCEM 587 

Feb 3 1953 

CASE: US-282 

Enclosure: Secretary of Defense Memo .for Secretaries of the Army, Navy 

and Air Force, dated 27 January 19 53, subject, same as above. 

1. In the reference I recommended that the Joint Chiefs of Staff 

take appropriate action to insure that authority over communicatl.ons 

security matters affecting the Military Departments should continue to 

be exercised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As a preliminary step I 

recornmended that each Department participate in the preparation of the 

directives which establish policies and procedures concerning responsibilities for communications secu?i. ty matters. 

2. Subsequent to forwarding the reference memorandum I was advised 

by General Magruder, Deputy for Psychological Policy, Office of the 

Secretary of Defense, that the question of extra military representation 

was considered inadvisable by Mr. Lay, Executive Secretary of the National 

Security Council. The basis for Mr. Lay's advice was the opposi ti.on 

of other government agencies to a preponderance of military representatives 

participati_ng in writing the directi. ves. As an alternative Mr. Lay suggested 

that assistants to my representative be designated by the Military Departments to insure that the views of the Departments are reflected in the 

Department of Defense '[Josi ti.on. In disucssion with General Magruder I concurred in this alternative, as I felt that this would be a satisfactory 

compromise. A copy of the memorandu!Tl implementing this agreement is 

attached as the Enclosure. 

~C~ SESYRI'£Y IN¥0RM:A:'ff ON 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 01-31-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
•: 

COPY 

Subject: Communications Security ( COI".SEC) Matters 

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3. The agreement referred to above was made in view of the exigencies 

of the situation and does not reflect a change of my view that control of 

communications security matters by the Joint Chiefs of Staff is essential 

for the efficient operation of the communications of the three Departments. 

/s/ John R. Redman 

JOHN R. REDMAN 

Rear Admiral, USN 

Director, CommunicationsElectronics 

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S1WORI1'Y INFVRl"JA'liON 

ENCLOSURE 

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

WASHING'ION 

MEMORANllJM FOR 'IHE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY 

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY 

SECRETARY OF '!HE AIR FORCE 

SUBJECT: Communications Securi. ty ( COMSEC) Matters. 

e copy 

27 January 1953 

In a memorandum. of 28 October 1952 the Executi. ve Secretary, National 

Security Council requested the names of staff representatives of the 

Secretary of Defense to assist in the preparation of directives for the 

Special Conmd.ttee of the National Security Council establishing policies 

and procedures with respect to Communications Security (COMSEC). The 

Director, National Security Agency and the Director, ·communicationsElectronics were requested each tc designate a representative from the 

Depar'bnent of Defense. 

It is requested that you designate a representative from your 

Department to sit with the representative designated by the Director, 

Communications-Electronics to advise and assist him in all matters of 

interest to your Depar1ment. 

It is further requested that you inform the Director, Comrnuni.cati.onsElectronics the name of your designee. 

FOR 'IHE ACTING SECRETARY 01'' DEFENSE: 

/s/ G. V. Underwood, Jr. 

G. V. UNDERWOOD, JR. 

Colonel, USA 

Di.rector, Executive Office 

cc: Di.rector, Communications-Electronics 

Enclosure 

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