Bernon F. Mitchell

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Bernon F. Mitchell (March 11, 1929 – November 12, 2001) was a National Security Agency cryptologist who, together with colleague William H. Martin defected to the Soviet Union in September 1960.

Mitchell was born and raised in Eureka, California, enlisting in the US Navy after one year of college. Following his Navy enlistment, and completion of his bachelor degree, Mitchell began employment with the National Security Agency.

After leaving for Mexico together in August 1960, Martin and Mitchell later appeared at a news conference in Moscow on September 6, 1960. During the conference, the defectors revealed to the public for the first time, the workings and mission of the NSA. Taking place at the height of the Cold War, the resulting scandal was one of the most embarrassing and damaging in the history of the NSA.

Mitchell, having renounced his US citizenship, remained the rest of his life in Russia, dying in St. Petersburg on November 12, 2001.

[edit] References

• Bamford, James (1982). The Puzzle Palace. Penguin Books, 177-196. 

• Obituary, Eureka Times-Standard, Nov. 2001

[edit] External links

• Text of the Moscow news conference