Benson K. Buffham

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Benson Kirk Buffham (November 26, 1919 – April 24, 2019) was an American intelligence official who served as the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) from April 1974 to April 1978, the highest-ranking civilian in the agency at the time. He was born in Oak Park, Illinois.

Buffham joined the Armed Forces Security Agency in 1949 and later moved to the newly formed NSA when it started in 1952. In 1950, he helped organize the Inspector General’s office. In 1955, he was among the first NSA employees to attend the National War College. He also served in Europe as Chief of Field Activities and held other roles in the Production Organization, including Deputy Assistant Director for Production.

After his time as Deputy Director, he worked in London as the Senior Liaison Officer until he retired in 1980. Buffham died in 2019 in Pompano Beach, Florida, at age 99.