CAPT (Ret) Bob Allen Tours Award-Winning Midway Exhibit He Helped Bring to Life

When the USS Midway Museum in San Diego opened its highly anticipated Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC) exhibit, “Top Secret: Cleared for Access,” in June 2025, it promised visitors an unprecedented, immersive look into the high-stakes world of naval intelligence. The exhibit's overwhelming success—recently culminating in a prestigious 2026 MUSE Gold Award—is due in no small part to the authenticity of its displays.

Much of that authenticity was provided by CAPT (Ret) Bob Allen, whose generous donations of personal artifacts anchored the exhibit in operational reality. On 15 June 2026, Allen returned to the deck plates of the USS Midway to see firsthand the legacy he helped preserve. “It was exciting to see the Midway CVIC vision come to fruition. I am glad some of my Desert Storm artifacts were incorporated to teach, and perhaps inspired others about this important part of Naval Intelligence history,” said Allen following the tour.

CAPT (Ret) Bob Allen shows one of the two TARPS books on display.

CAPT (Ret) Bob Allen plays the “Build a Target Mission" game.

CAPT (Ret) Bob Allen plays the “Build a Target Mission" game.

Authenticity Through Artifacts

For intelligence professionals who walked the passageways of aircraft carriers during the late Cold War and the Gulf War era, the Midway’s CVIC exhibit is a masterclass in historical preservation. Allen’s specific contributions were instrumental in bringing the Desert Shield/Desert Storm (DS/DS) era to life for the general public.

Rather than relying on recreations, the Midway team was able to integrate Allen’s original, declassified artifacts from his time in service. Visitors to the exhibit are now treated to authentic Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) imagery, historical intelligence publications, and detailed threat mapping from the DS/DS theater. These tangible pieces of naval history bridge the gap between abstract concepts of "intelligence gathering" and the grueling, precise work of the analysts and aviators who executed the mission.

Behind the Green Door: An Exclusive Walkthrough

During his visit this past Monday, the Midway museum team honored Allen with a special behind-the-scenes tour that extended well beyond the public barricades.

The walkthrough included the adjacent, deeply integrated spaces that made CVIC function as the brain of the carrier. Allen was given exclusive access to the Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) cell—an area normally restricted to special Midway membership tours—as well as the Tactical Flag Command Center (TFCC). Standing in the meticulously restored original CVIC rooms, it was easy to envision the hum of the light tables and the intensity of strike briefs from decades past.

Expanding the Footprint: SUPPLOT and Beyond

The preservation of Naval Intelligence history on the Midway is far from static. As part of the 15 June visit, Midway docent and fellow Naval Intelligence professional CDR (Ret) Diana Guglielmo escorted Allen through spaces currently under rehabilitation and in the early exhibit design phase.

Most notable among these is the Midway’s Supplementary Plot (SUPPLOT). For the Naval Intelligence community, the restoration of SUPPLOT represents a thrilling next step in the museum's curation. Walking the bare-bones deck of the future exhibit with Guglielmo allowed Allen to see the blueprint of how the Midway plans to tell the story of organic fleet indications and warning (I&W) and cryptologic integration to future generations.

To cap off the visit, Allen also toured the museum's brand-new POW/MIA exhibit, which opened in the spring of 2026. The new installation, much like CVIC, highlights the profoundly human element of naval aviation and conflict.

For the Naval Intelligence community, the Midway’s Top Secret exhibit is more than just a tourist attraction; it is a monument to our shared professional heritage. CAPT Bob Allen’s visit is a reminder that this history is kept alive not just by museum curators, but by the veterans who are willing to share their artifacts, their stories, and their time.

For anyone coming through the San Diego area, be sure to carve out some time to visit the USS Midway Museum and witness this fantastic exhibit yourself!