Joseph Numa Wenger (June 7, 1901 – September 2, 1970)[1] was a Rear-Admiral of the United States Navy[1] who served as the first Deputy Director of the Armed Forces Security Agency (AFSA), and later as the first Vice Director of the National Security Agency, from December 1952 to November 1953, after the separate divisions of the AFSA merged into the NSA.

"[4] 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).

Wenger was integral in starting the AFSA (Armed Forces Security Agency), the predecessor to the NSA.

[6] He retired in 1958,[1] but remained involved in the cryptographic community, including the NSA and private corporations, until his sudden death in 1970.

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