VOLUME III, Number 7
25 February 1963 j
Achievement Commendation Awarded
By The Secretary of The Navy
Master Chief Thomas E# Noah, who helped develop the requirements for
advancement in the Navy’s new Data Systems Technician rating, this
week was awarded a commendation for achievement signed by the Secrd
„ tary of t*he Navy - one of the Navy’s highest peacetime honors#
Noah conducted extensive research in electronic digital and analog
systems in the late part of 1961, when he was assigned to the Person
nel Systems Research Department of the U. S• Naval Personnel Resear
ch Activity at San Diego,
^ "The Navy needs men in the new rating to maintain the Navy Tactical
U Data System 3ust developed," Noah said# "The system is a computerized
combat information center that will help locate an enemy at sea and
aim all the ship’s weapons automatically,
"It’s a glamorous and complex field," he said, "It was very excit
ing." * ■ ,
In late 1961, Noah and Project Director Hal Croulatt spent several
weeks traveling around the U. S• to interview Navy men who worked
with the new equipment# "vTe became superficially qualified ourselves^
he said, "just by being around these men."
Then with a good knowledge of what the Navy would expect from men
in the new rating, the pair wrote an entire syllabus of qualification
that future Navy men will have to fulfill, to advance as Data Systems
Technicians#
In the Army and Air Force, jobs done by DS technicians are usually
assigned to civilians. "But'civilians obviously can’t be assigned to
combat warships, "Noah said, "and so we had to train sailors to do
the job." • . ^ _ . ,
The'tall, ruddy, AO-year-old Master Chief is a native of Imperial
Beach, California. He is the husband of the former Miss Ada Harper,
also of Imperial Beach.
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