National Security Agency

#StoriesofNSA - #Retired - My path to NSA was circuitous. I joined the Air Force and as it happened, they were looking for people to enter the intelligence field at that time. After doing well on their tests, they give me a year of training in Texas and Fort Meade, and then I went to Scotland and served for two years. After discharge, I finished college with NSA in my sights and I was one of twenty new people hired into the intern program. We all bonded together as new employees and stayed in contact throughout our careers (35 years in my case). It really helped to have some peers that you could call on for help and advice. I was a jogger and would sometimes leave the building to jog at lunch, then come back and shower in the basement to be courteous. Once, I forgot to put my badge on before walking back to my office and a security officer corralled me. Then he called my coworker to verify my identity and escorted me back to my gym locker. Plus I had to do remediation training. They are indeed serious about security! Interns were being trained as the future leaders of the agency so, during our three year internship, we were exposed to six different working environments with six different management styles, different missions, etc. One day, there was a request from the White House to provide a brief to them. It was late in the day and overtime was approved. This was a big deal for a GS7. So, three of us stayed through the night, got the report done and when I got my paycheck, I bought a brand new color TV. The people I worked with were dedicated and patriotic, willing to do whatever was necessary to get the job done. I even met my wife going through management training. Another major benefit of NSA employment is the tremendous travel opportunities. People in Maryland know about HQ and probably think everything gets done there. I personally got to go TDY to 10 or 11 locations, including both Alaska and Hawaii. I got to take 3-year tours to Europe as well. There were so many non-work benefits to that. In Europe, you can so easily travel anywhere. And when your work environment is small, you know everybody and their families. For example, when we were there, everyone who wasn’t going home for Thanksgiving would all go to a Swiss chalet together. We really enjoyed it there and shared a huge community meal. It was the kind of unforgettable experience you wouldn’t get normally get at HQ. I've been retired for 20 years to a small New Hampshire town where I knew nobody. When I introduced myself to new people, I still would find myself saying I worked for ‘the DoD’ and ‘Fort Meade.’ Some things never change.

Gather your friends, sharpen your minds, and let’s see who can crack the code! The time is here to compete in NSA’s Codebreaker Challenge. Now through January 17, you can dive into the world of cryptography and challenge yourself with a series of intriguing puzzles that will put your logic and creativity to the ultimate test. Participants must be enrolled at a U.S. college or institution. Register now: https://lnkd.in/dMNBbMv

With a technical mission as broad as ours, every week is Computer Science Education Week at NSA. We’re more than happy to teach our employees new applications and techniques through in-house training, classes and more.

As an intelligence agency that solves critical national security challenges, NSA is always going to maintain that certain air of mystery. However, here’s something we really want you to know – we offer amazing career and internship opportunities. Join us for this NSA in Focus session where we answer your questions about how and why you should join our team. We’ll address the hiring process, benefits, culture and more. RSVP now!

In honor of Learn a Foreign Language Month we’re encouraging you to dust off that old language textbook. Join us as we celebrate with fellow language lovers, especially our analysts at NSA who provide critical intel to our nation’s leaders. If you’re interested in turning your passion for language into a career, learn more on our LinkedIn Life page: https://bit.ly/48iWHe6.

#StoriesofNSA - I had done some work at the U.S. Census Bureau and some consulting work for the VA. But mostly, I just wanted to continue working at the federal level, that’s how I landed at NSA. You know, I never go into anything with any particular expectations. I mostly just wanted to find out the rules so I don't do anything wrong. It was different to be here rather than doing something for another security agency – the security checkpoints were very interesting, parking was interesting, getting on a little shuttle, that was different for me. I was surprised by the complexity of things, it’s way more complex than I realized. I don't know, I mean, complex as in the infrastructure, and the actual work every day. Finding out how many ways NSA is active in the world, as well as finding your way to a conference room; all very complex. I am competent in a number of things but I am “directionally challenged.” I get lost quite often as a newer employee - and I so appreciate the generosity of coworkers helping me find my way to the places I'm going, Recently, I was going to get my picture taken and asking people directions along the way. A gentleman told me a way to go but I got confused and I had to then ask someone else. Then the original guy came back, caught up to me, told me that he had given me the wrong directions and walked me there. We were both laughing about it. I’ve come to believe that it’s OK to get lost along the way wherever you are going, here at NSA or in life. You discover new things, find new paths, meet new people and if you are me, still end up where you are supposed to be, with a little help from others. At the end of the day I go home just like everyone else to family and friends. You don’t have to be superhuman to serve, you just need to desire to help however you can.

On today's bonus episode of No Such Podcast, we bring you part two of then-Captain Grace Hopper's lecture to the NSA workforce! It’s available now wherever you get your podcasts. https://lnkd.in/egnmsFxh

On this International Volunteer Day, we say thank you to our employees who give back. Many of our STEM experts give graciously of their time, not only as mentors to their co-workers, but also to young people in the community. Watch this video clip to learn why Dr. Zulema C. thinks STEM outreach is so important: https://bit.ly/4g84Kyb.

If you are interested in cybersecurity, you too could end up at the White House. Did you know that the United States Military Academy at West Point won NSA’s Cyber Exercise this year and received an invitation to the White House from the Office of the National Cyber Director, The White House to be recognized for their achievement? (https://lnkd.in/eBbe6Txg)

Take proactive steps to defend your network against espionage campaigns. Follow our joint guidance with CISA, FBI, and others to bolster network visibility, harden devices, and strengthen your defenses against a PRC-affiliated actor who has targeted global telecommunications providers. https://lnkd.in/e-gFvqRZ