Joseph Wenger

Joseph Numa Wenger (June 7, 1901 – September 2, 1970) was a rear admiral of the United States Navy He was a native of Patterson, Louisiana.

Work Wenger was "one of the architects of centralized cryptology." In February 1942 Navy power struggles led to the ousting of Laurance Safford from OP-20-G; with two new sections to be headed by Wenger (Communications: Decryption and Translation) and John R. Redman (Communications: Combat Intelligence). Safford was removed from current intelligence to a support and research role. Safford was sidelined for the remainder of the war, as ultimately was Joseph Rochefort.

Wenger was integral in starting the AFSA (Armed Forces Security Agency), the predecessor to the NSA. During World War II he suggested that the Navy spend $2 million "to build 360 of its own four wheel bombes" to break the effective British monopoly on the Bombe.

He retired in 1958, but remained involved in the cryptographic community, including the NSA and private corporations, until his sudden death in 1970.