Today in Wheeling History: March 6—Adelaide Hawkins, cryptologist and intelligence pioneer, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia (1914).
Adelaide Margaret Hawkins (née Mulheran) was born on March 6, 1914, in Wheeling, West Virginia. Growing up during financially challenging times, she lived with an aunt to ease her family's burden. One year after completing high school, she married Ed Hawkins, who worked for the Army Signal Corps Reserves, which she later joined herself. This connection sparked Adelaide's interest in cryptography.
In December 1941, Hawkins was in charge of the message center in Washington, D.C., specializing in secret codes and ciphers. During World War II, she trained spies to operate behind enemy lines while working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). After the war, she joined the CIA and became its chief of covert communications.
While stationed with the CIA in the United Kingdom in 1956, Hawkins uncovered violations of Israel's negotiated allowance of fighter planes. Her team also discovered that America's allies—France, Britain, and Israel—were secretly plotting to seize the Suez Canal. Despite her expertise, she was not considered for promotion to branch chief because the position was "being held open for a man with the mathematical background."
As part of the CIA's "petticoat panel," she advocated for policy changes that opened more advanced positions to women in intelligence.
Adelaide Hawkins passed away on July 10, 2008, in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking work in intelligence.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3kmcp65w), Stew Ross Discovers (https://tinyurl.com/3epjwz8n), Legacy (https://tinyurl.com/447y74yh), History Hit (https://tinyurl.com/ye24bhu5), Wikitree (https://tinyurl.com/yx45axdb), Library of Congress (https://tinyurl.com/yc4h93k9), CIA (https://tinyurl.com/mw9zw5jj) (https://tinyurl.com/3xnhs8h8) (https://tinyurl.com/mw34ybdt) (https://tinyurl.com/yczszpsb), Washington Storytellers Theatre (https://tinyurl.com/25bmbu8a), History (https://tinyurl.com/473prtef), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/h7n74svp)
Photo caption and credit: Adelaide Hawkins accepts a CIA Certificate of Distinction honoring her achievements in intelligence production. Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer (circa 1969). Image provided courtesy of the Estate of Adelaide Hawkins.
Adelaide Margaret Hawkins (née Mulheran) was born on March 6, 1914, in Wheeling, West Virginia. Growing up during financially challenging times, she lived with an aunt to ease her family's burden. One year after completing high school, she married Ed Hawkins, who worked for the Army Signal Corps Reserves, which she later joined herself. This connection sparked Adelaide's interest in cryptography.
In December 1941, Hawkins was in charge of the message center in Washington, D.C., specializing in secret codes and ciphers. During World War II, she trained spies to operate behind enemy lines while working for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). After the war, she joined the CIA and became its chief of covert communications.
While stationed with the CIA in the United Kingdom in 1956, Hawkins uncovered violations of Israel's negotiated allowance of fighter planes. Her team also discovered that America's allies—France, Britain, and Israel—were secretly plotting to seize the Suez Canal. Despite her expertise, she was not considered for promotion to branch chief because the position was "being held open for a man with the mathematical background."
As part of the CIA's "petticoat panel," she advocated for policy changes that opened more advanced positions to women in intelligence.
Adelaide Hawkins passed away on July 10, 2008, in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking work in intelligence.
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3kmcp65w), Stew Ross Discovers (https://tinyurl.com/3epjwz8n), Legacy (https://tinyurl.com/447y74yh), History Hit (https://tinyurl.com/ye24bhu5), Wikitree (https://tinyurl.com/yx45axdb), Library of Congress (https://tinyurl.com/yc4h93k9), CIA (https://tinyurl.com/mw9zw5jj) (https://tinyurl.com/3xnhs8h8) (https://tinyurl.com/mw34ybdt) (https://tinyurl.com/yczszpsb), Washington Storytellers Theatre (https://tinyurl.com/25bmbu8a), History (https://tinyurl.com/473prtef), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/h7n74svp)
Photo caption and credit: Adelaide Hawkins accepts a CIA Certificate of Distinction honoring her achievements in intelligence production. Photograph taken by an unidentified photographer (circa 1969). Image provided courtesy of the Estate of Adelaide Hawkins.
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