New USS Midway CVIC Exhibit Holds Special Preview for NIP and Museum Members

Wednesday, 25 June 2025 was a special day for Naval Intelligence as members from NIP and the USS Midway Museum gathered in San Diego on the USS Midway for a preview of the Museum’s new interactive exhibit “Top-Secret: Inside the High-Stakes World of Naval Intelligence.” On 27 June, it opened to the public.

The exhibit is the culmination of two years of tremendous effort on the part of the Museum and many individuals, to include several NIP members, to refurbish the once-classified carrier intelligence center (CVIC) spaces on board USS Midway and transform them into an exhibit that will inform the public about the critical work that Naval Intelligence does. It takes visitors back to 1991 during Desert Storm and gives them a chance to experience what it was like in CVIC during high-stakes operations. As the USS Midway Museum website says, “It offers a rare glimpse into the life-and-death world of naval intelligence.”

NIP is proud to have partnered with the USS Midway Museum in this effort and played a key role in the celebrations that took place during the preview on 25 June. A thirty-minute program on the flight deck of the USS Midway was followed by tours of the spaces.

During the program, Midway Museum CEO Rear Admiral (Ret)Terry Kraft provided initial remarks before introducing NIP Chair, Vice Admiral (Ret) Bob Sharp. Sharp thanked Kraft for the partnership and all the contributions from so many who made the exhibit possible. “This has truly been a team effort. One of the goals of the project was to ensure visitors to the exhibit leave with a good understanding of what really makes CVIC special—it's people. The magic that occurs when all the intelligence people from the ship, the airwing, and the admiral's staff unite as one and work collaboratively with the aircrews to achieve mission,” Sharp said. In his remarks, he wanted to give those in the audience a feel for the people that do the work in CVIC. “Our goal is to have young girls and boys leave the museum not only wanting to be Tom Cruise…but also, perhaps, Jiffy Lueb (a Naval Intelligence officer).”

VADM (Ret) Bob Sharp (left) leads a panel of former USS Midway aviation intelligence officers. RADM (Ret) Sam Cox provided some historical context surrounding Operation Desert Storm. (L-R): VADM Sharp, CDR (Ret) Jiffy Lueb, RADM (Ret) Sam Cox, CAPT (Ret) Mark Admiral, CAPT (Ret) H.E. Williams, CDR (Ret) Wayne Hugar, RADM (Ret) Curt Copley.

Sharp told the audience that he had been ship's company on the USS Ranger during Desert Storm, and the USS Midway similarly had a cadre of intelligence professionals directly assigned to the ship that were part of the CVIC team supporting carrier operations. He further explained that each of the squadrons had intelligence personnel assigned to them, and when embarked, they did some of the work in their ready rooms, but a majority of their time, duties and responsibilities took place in CVIC.

Sharp was joined on the stage with a panel of retired Naval Intelligence officers: Rear Admiral (Retired) Sam Cox (NHHC Director), Commander (Ret) Patrick “Jiffy” Lueb, Captain (Ret) Mark Admiral, Captain (Ret) H.E. Williams, Commander (Ret) Wayne Hugar, and Rear Admiral (Ret) Curt Copley. Rear Admiral Cox provided a brief historical context for the naval intelligence operations leading up to and during Desert Storm, which is the timeframe that the exhibit is built around. Sharp then turned it over to the five other panel members on stage with him, all of whom were junior officers during Desert Storm attached to squadrons from carrier airwing FIVE (CVW-5) onboard USS Midway. Each one introduced themselves, telling the audience what squadron they belonged to, what their duties were during the combat operations, some associated reflections, and how many years they ended up spending in service. “To hear their words, it was a powerful story, and we received very positive feedback,” Sharp said.

Sharp made a point of mentioning one individual whose impact was represented by the five squadron AIs who spoke. Captain (Ret) Mark Luoma passed away in 2021, but in 1991, he was the airwing intelligence officer, then-Lieutenant Commander Luoma, on USS Midway during Operation Desert Storm. Although Luoma wasn't present physically at the event, he was felt spiritually, and fortunately his loving wife and widow Suzanne was at the event along with her two adult children Austin and Everett. Their service and sacrifice were recognized with a round of applause.

Finally, Sharp recognized the enlisted technicians that are an integral part of the Naval Intelligence team and vital to CVIC operations. He asked all enlisted sailors from our Naval Intelligence and Information Warfare communities past and present to stand and be recognized. He also gave a special "shout out" and "thank you" to all the intelligence specialists who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their rating this year.

Following the remarks, Kraft ceremoniously cut the red tape blocking the hatch on the flight deck that led to the exhibit, and all attendees were released in waves to explore and learn. All Naval Intelligence Professionals at the event had stickers on their chests of the NIP logo and as people were preparing to go on the tours, Sharp told all those who didn't have NIP logos to meet those wearing them—to ask them questions and hear their stories.

The evening was a tremendous success that served as both an inspiration to the museum members who were there and a reunion for the Naval Intelligence professionals who attended the evening. The hope is that visitors will walk away from the exhibit experience with an appreciation of the people that work in CVIC and importance of their mission.

Retired Commander Diana Guglielmo, who is NIP member and a Midway Museum docent, helped lead the planning efforts. “I was one of their advisors because I served on board five aircraft carriers a senior intelligence officer,” she said. Her expertise was critical in shaping the exhibit.

For those who missed it, it is a must-see the next time you go to San Diego!