Ralph Julian Canine (November 9, 1895 – March 8, 1969) was a lieutenant general in the United States Army and the first director of the National Security Agency.

When he left home, he was intent on being a doctor, and had completed pre-med studies at Northwestern University when he entered the United States Army during World War I and was commissioned a second lieutenant.

Canine served in various combat posts in France during World War I, and elected to stay in the army after the armistice was signed in 1918.

In that capacity, he was twice decorated by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics receiving the Order of the Patriotic War First Class and Bravery Medal when XII Corps linked up with Red Army units.

In 1951 Canine became director of the Armed Forces Security Agency, which was America's first tentative step toward cryptologic unification.