"Top Secret" Exhibit at USS Midway Museum Wins MUSE Gold Award

The Naval Intelligence Professionals (NIP) San Diego Chapter is proud to announce that the immersive exhibit, "Top Secret: Inside the High-Stakes World of Naval Intelligence," at the USS Midway Museum has been selected for the prestigious MUSE Gold Award in the Experiential and Immersive Exhibition category.

Sponsored in part by a $20,000 donation from NIP and developed in close collaboration with retired naval intelligence officers, intelligence specialists, cryptologic personnel and aviators, the exhibit officially opened to the public in June 2025. It marks a historic milestone as the first major museum installation dedicated specifically to the "unsung efforts" of the naval intelligence community.

"Naval intelligence work has historically been done 'behind the green door,'" said Stanley Kowalsky, a retired naval intelligence specialist and NIP member who assisted in the planning. "This exhibit allows the public to finally gain an appreciation for the critical work our sailors did in defense of our country."

Bringing the “Top Secret” Space to Life

Located in the ship’s authentically restored Carrier Intelligence Center (CVIC), the 1,500-square-foot exhibit transports visitors back to 17 January 1991, the opening days of Operation Desert Storm. The space served as the nerve center for mission planning, imagery analysis, and strategic decision-making during the Gulf War.

Key features of the award-winning exhibit include:

• Authentic Restoration: The use of retired intelligence equipment, including teletypes, radio receivers, and a reactivated UPQ-5 specialty device.
• Interactive "Aptitude Stations": Digital challenges adapted from real military training tools that allow guests to test their skills in intelligence analysis, target folder development, and mission planning.
• "First Strike" Simulation: A multi-player game where visitors work as a team to plan and execute a combat mission based on actual Desert Storm footage.
• Personal Stories: Integration of firsthand accounts from intelligence officers and sailors, providing a human face to the highly classified world of intelligence support to operations.

A Legacy of Partnership

The project was driven by the dedication of NIP leadership and members, including VADM (Ret) Bob Sharp, RADM (Ret) Terry Kraft (CEO of the USS Midway Museum), and subject matter expertise like LCDR (Ret) Diana Guglielmo and ISCM (Ret) Stan Kowalsky.

During a special preview event for NIP members, VADM Sharp emphasized the importance of the exhibit: "The magic occurs when intelligence personnel unite with aircrews to achieve the mission. Our goal is for visitors to leave wanting not just to be the pilot in the cockpit, but also the intelligence professional providing the edge they need to succeed."

The MUSE Creative Awards, which recognize excellence in the creative and design industries, selected the exhibit for its innovative use of technology and storytelling to "reactivate" a once-hidden space.

For more information on the exhibit or to plan a visit, please visit the USS Midway Museum website.

New Exhibit at USS Midway Displays National Intelligence

This video provides a first-hand look at the interactive displays and the mission planning simulation within the award-winning CVIC exhibit.