Richard C. Proto (February 9, 1940 - July 27, 2008)[1][2] was a noted American cryptographer and former Director of Research and Advanced Technology at the United States National Security Agency.
Proto was born and Fair Haven section of New Haven, Connecticut and graduated from Wilbur Cross High School in 1958, where he was a member of 1958 team that won the New England High School basketball championship in the Boston Garden.
He also created the Laboratory for Telecommunications Sciences to focus resources on mastering network technology.
[4] Proto authored 28 technical papers at NSA and was responsible for the invention of several information security devices, two of which were patented in his name.
[3] In 2013, Proto was elected to NSA Hall of Honor in 2013 for distinguished service to American cryptology.