Make a QSO with the White House Communications Agency Amateur Radio Club’s Special Event Station, WØH, Feb. 16-18 2025.
Hams with a knack for history know that President’s Day (which is right around the corner) was originally established to honor the birthday of George Washington, the first president of the United States, whose birthday is Feb. 22.
Over time, the scope of the holiday, which happens Feb. 17, has been expanded to honor every president who has served this country, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, who created what is today called the White House Communications Agency (WHCA).
The WHCA was formed in 1942 as an informal agency at first. Its primary mission was to provide routine and urgent communication needs to assist the president—anything from normal to secret messages.
Originally called the White House Signal Detachment, a variety of communication services were offered through the service including telephone, teletype, cryptographic, and mobile radio for both the White House and Camp David, according to the agency’s website.
The agency has had a hand in significant historical events like World War II, the Vietnam War, and Operation Restore Hope in Somalia—a humanitarian relief effort from 1992-93.
During its long tenure the agency has seen a wide range of changes, including being reorganized by the Eisenhower administration, disbanded during John F. Kennedy’s presidency, and reestablished into what it is today.
The agency is composed of Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps personnel. It evolved over the past 60 years from a small team of 32 personnel working out of the basement of the White House to a thousand-person, self-supporting joint service command located at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, according to the agency.
In 2017, the WHCA Amateur Radio Club was created by former members of the agency. While they aren’t officially affiliated with the WHCA, the club is entirely made up of current and former veterans who worked in the agency, all of whom are amateur radio enthusiasts.
One of the primary functions of the club is to promote amateur radio to the public. To do this, they offer classes and continued education for current radio amateurs, according to the club’s website.
Additionally, the WHCA Amateur Radio Club hosts several operating events throughout the year, primarily on historic holidays like the Fourth of July, Veteran’s Day, and Memorial Day. This month, they’re hosting a special operating event in honor of President’s Day.
Folks looking to participate can do so Feb. 16, 0000Z to Feb. 18, 0000Z on these frequencies: 3.875, 7.275, 14.250, and 28.550. The special event call sign is WØH.
A WHCA-ARC certificate will be awarded to commemorate this special occasion. For more information, click here.
