Benson Kirk Buffham (November 26, 1919 – April 24, 2019) was an American intelligence official who served as the

Deputy Director of the National Security Agency The deputy director of the National Security Agency (DDIRNSA) is the highest-ranking civilian within the National Security Agency. As the senior civilian at NSA, the deputy director acts as the agency's chief operating officer A chief operati ...

from 1978 to 1980, during which time he was the highest- ranking civilian in the agency.

Biography

He was born November 26, 1919, in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. Buffham joined the

Armed Forces Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence, director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global ...

in 1949 and went on to the newly formed

National Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and proces ...

in 1952. In 1955, Buffham was one of the first NSA employees to attend the

National War College In the United States, the National War College (NWC) is a school within the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. History The National ...

. With the NSA he had served at the Europe office as Chief of Field Activities as well as various positions in the Production Organization including Deputy Assistant Director for Production. In 1950, he took part in organizing the Inspector General's office. After his deputy directorship, he served in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

as the Senior Liaison Officer until he retired in 1980. Buffham died in April 2019 at the age of 99.Tribute for Benson Buffham
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buffham, Benson K. 1919 births 2019 deaths Deputy directors of the National Security Agency People from Illinois Wesleyan University alumni