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William Coffee

1917 – 1989

American cryptographer and politician

Cryptographer
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About William Coffee

Lived 1917 – 1989 (aged 71–72). William Coffee was a cryptographer.

William Coffee (1917–1989) was an American cryptographer. He received the Commendation for Meritorious Civilian Service in April 1946 for his role in recruiting and leading a group of African-American cryptographers in the United States Army's Signals Intelligence Service. He began his career in public service with the Civilian Conservation Corps from 1937 to 1940. Soon after, he began working for the Signal Intelligence Service, later known as the Signal Security Agency. Despite being hired as a janitor, he was promoted to a messenger. Upon being promoted, he was assigned the task of hiring a group of black cryptologists at Arlington Hall Station. His success in composing and directing this group elevated him to a status previously unreached by black cryptologists. After the Second World War, Coffee joined the Armed Forces Security Agency, which later became the National Security Agency. Coffee retired from the NSA in 1972. He was inducted into the National Security Agency's Cryptologic Hall of Honor in 2011.

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Important facts

Born
1917
Birth century
Died
1989
Occupation
Cryptographer

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Coffee's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Coffee?

American cryptographer and politician (1917–1989)

When was William Coffee born?

William Coffee was born in 1917.

When did William Coffee die?

William Coffee died in 1989.

What was William Coffee's occupation?

William Coffee was a cryptographer.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Coffee

· Wikidata: Q19975709

· DBpedia: William Coffee

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Coffee. https://biography.guide/william-coffee/

MLA: "William Coffee." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-coffee/.

Chicago: "William Coffee." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-coffee/.

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