White House Communications Agency

	WHCA seal
Agency overview
Formed	March 25, 1942
Preceding agencies	White House Signal Corps (WHSC); White House Signal Detachment (WHSD); White House Army Signal Agency (WHASA); Defense Communications Agency;
Jurisdiction	United States, Defense Information Systems Agency
Headquarters	Naval Support Facility Anacostia, Washington, D.C.
Employees	501–1,000
Agency executive	COL Brian Jorgenson, U.S. Army;
Parent agency	Defense Information Systems Agency

The White House Communications Agency (WHCA), originally known as the White House Signal Corps (WHSC) and then the White House Signal Detachment (WHSD), was officially formed by the United States Department of War on March 25, 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The organization was created to provide secure normal, secret, and emergency communications requirements supporting the president. The organization provided mobile radio, Teletype, telegraph, telephone and cryptographic aides in the White House and at "Shangri-La" (now known as Camp David). The organizational mission was to provide a premier communication system enabling the president to lead the nation effectively.

Reorganization

In 1954, during the Eisenhower administration, the WHSD was reorganized under the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Army Signal Corps as a Class II unit and renamed the White House Army Signal Agency (WHASA). In 1962, WHASA was discontinued by order of the United States secretary of defense under President John F. Kennedy. Its duties were transferred to the auspices of the Defense Communications Agency under the operational control of the White House Military Office, and reestablished as the White House Communications Agency.^[1]

Role

WHCA has played an unremarked, but significant role in many historical events, including: World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Panama and Guatemala, Operation Just Cause, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. WHCA was also a key player in documenting the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the attempted assassinations of presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan. Richard Nixon awarded the agency the Presidential Unit Citation in recognition of their performance during his 1972 visit to China.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Organization

The White House Communications Agency is composed of Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps personnel. The agency evolved over the past 60 years from a small team of 32 personnel working out of the basement of the White House to a thousand-person self-supporting joint service command. The headquarters for WHCA is at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling and consists of six staff elements and seven organizational units. WHCA also has supporting detachments in Washington, D.C., and various locations throughout the United States. WHCA is organized into functional areas, each with its own mission in support of the total WHCA mission of presidential support.^[9]

Members

White House Communications Agency-Army Element Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Seals of the branches of the United States Armed Forces

The White House Communications Agency is a joint military unit. It has members from each branch of service: United States Air Force (USAF), United States Army (USA), United States Coast Guard (USCG), United States Marine Corps (USMC), and the United States Navy (USN). They are stringently vetted before being admitted. After meritorious service of 365 days, typically, its uniformed service members are awarded the Presidential Service Badge.^[10]

WHCA also maintains many civilian employees throughout the agency and satellite locations.

References

^ Defense Information Systems Agency, about the WHCA
^ "Final Report of the Assassination Records Review Board, September, 1998". fas.org. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ Praise from a Future Generation: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy, page 555, By John Kelin
^ Dallas '63: The First Deep State Revolt Against the White House, By Peter D Scott
^ Hunting the President: Threats, Plots and Assassination Attempts, By Mel Ayton
^ "Reagan Library, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY: NEWS SUMMARY VIDEOTAPE COLLECTION, 1985-86". reaganlibrary.gov. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ "White House Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection". www.nixonlibrary.gov. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ Illinois, Lynnita Jean Brown of Tuscola. "Korean War Educator: Branch Accounts - Army". www.koreanwar-educator.org. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ "linkedin.com, White House Communications Agency". linkedin.com. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
^ "White House Communications Agency". www.disa.mil. Retrieved 2017-02-27.

External links

[1] Defense Information Systems Agency, about the WHCA

[2] "Final Report of the Assassination Records Review Board, September, 1998". fas.org. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[3] Praise from a Future Generation: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy, page 555, By John Kelin

[4] Dallas '63: The First Deep State Revolt Against the White House, By Peter D Scott

[5] Hunting the President: Threats, Plots and Assassination Attempts, By Mel Ayton

[6] "Reagan Library, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY: NEWS SUMMARY VIDEOTAPE COLLECTION, 1985-86". reaganlibrary.gov. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[7] "White House Communications Agency Sound Recordings Collection". www.nixonlibrary.gov. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[8] Illinois, Lynnita Jean Brown of Tuscola. "Korean War Educator: Branch Accounts - Army". www.koreanwar-educator.org. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[9] "linkedin.com, White House Communications Agency". linkedin.com. Retrieved 12 June 2018.

[10] "White House Communications Agency". www.disa.mil. Retrieved 2017-02-27.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

v t e Executive Office of the United States President
Executive Office	Advisory Boards (Council for Community Solutions, Corporation for National and Community Service, Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, President's Intelligence Advisory Board, President's Management Advisory Board) Council of Economic Advisers Council on Environmental Quality Digital Service Executive Residence (Committee for the Preservation of the White House, Office of the Curator, Office of the Chief Usher, Office of the Chief Floral Designer, Office of the Executive Chef, Graphics and Calligraphy Office) National Space Council National Security Council (Deputies Committee) Homeland Security Council Office of Administration (Office of Mail and Messenger Operations, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer) Office of Management and Budget (Office of the Chief Performance Officer, Office of E-Government and Information Technology, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) Office of National Drug Control Policy Office of Science and Technology Policy (Office of the Chief Technology Officer, National Science and Technology Council) Office of the Trade Representative Office of the Vice President (Office of the Chief of Staff)
White House Office	Office of Cabinet Affairs Office of the Chief of Staff (Office of Senior Advisors) Office of Communications (Office of Media Affairs, Office of Research, Office of the Press Secretary, Office of Speechwriting) Counsel Counselor to the President Office of Digital Strategy Domestic Policy Council (Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Office of National AIDS Policy, Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, Rural Council) Fellows First Lady (Office of the Social Secretary) Office of the National Security Advisor (Homeland Security Advisor) Gun Violence Prevention Intergovernmental Affairs Legislative Affairs Management and Administration (White House Operations, White House Personnel, Visitors Office) National Economic Council National Trade Council Oval Office Operations (Personal Secretary) Office of Political Affairs Presidential Innovation Fellows Presidential Personnel Public Engagement (Council on Women and Girls, Jewish Liaison, Urban Affairs) Scheduling and Advance Staff Secretary (Executive Clerk, Presidential Correspondence, Office of Records Management) Military Office (Communications Agency, Medical Unit, Presidential Food Service, Transportation Agency)

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States