Laurence Hugh Frost

Laurence Hugh Frost was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, born on July 22, 1902, and died on May 23, 1977. He served as Director of Naval Intelligence and Director of the National Security Agency (NSA). Frost graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1926 and had a distinguished career spanning several decades. During World War II, he commanded USS *Greer* (DD-145), which was attacked by a German U-boat on September 4, 1941, marking the first German attack on a U.S. warship before America's official entry into the war. Frost later served in the Korean War as commander of USS *Manchester* (CL-83) and held various leadership roles, including chief of staff to Commander First Fleet in 1952 and command of Destroyer Flotilla Four from 1955 to 1956. As Director of Naval Intelligence from 1956 to 1960, Frost attempted to influence U.S. policy regarding the rebellion in Indonesia. In November 1960, he became director of the NSA with the rank of vice admiral, a position he held until 1962. During his tenure, he promoted surveillance satellites like the navy's ELINT program and appointed Robert F. Rinehart as chairman of the NSA Scientific Advisory Board to reduce biases in decision-making. Frost retired from active duty in 1964 after a final tour at the Potomac River Naval Command. His papers are archived at the Operational Archives Branch of the Naval Historical Center in Washington, D.C. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library holds an oral interview transcript from 1970, portions of which ...