National Security Agency

#StoriesofNSA - It was a strange set of coincidences, how I ended up working at NSA. I started out studying HR at college in Puerto Rico. My then-boyfriend was a co-op student and he suggested I apply to NSA. I wasn't a Math/CS/Engineering student so I was skeptical but he urged me to apply anyway. So, on a Friday afternoon, I called the Recruitment Office and they actually picked up! I ended up going to the recruiter on my campus the following weekend and I found out that the man on the phone had been the Chief of Recruitment. And I got in early, just as they were staring to try to hire bilingual recruiters. One thing that was really different: the contrast between thinking you'll be contributing to national security versus actually seeing the impact of your contributions. I never thought a civilian could actually save people's lives - I thought that was just what the military did and the civilians were just the paper-pushers but no. It's us too. I didn't realize that I would have that opportunity. Most of my family is military, I was always very aware of what they did but not how much the civilians contributed to that. The other thing is, I never imagined I would have words of mine in a document signed by the President. I never thought that was even a possibility. One of the best aspects of working here is the number of different things you can do. I started off in HR/Recruitment, then moved to Corporate Policy and even served overseas. Being okay to learn as you go in a space where things are not yet defined, that is where we thrive. I really appreciate the benefits and workplace flexibilities we have. I talk about diversity topics in different settings and I had a senior mentor who helped me out a lot. It's heartening to see people help out the next generation and help them reach new heights. You don't always think about it - we can be really focused on just the technical aspects of our mission - but mentoring and networking are still so important in any job. And NSA does this well. My mentor happened to be on a plane travelling for work, and his seatmate was writing a book about extraordinary Latina women. My mentor recommended that they interview me. In a lot of ways, he was not just a mentor but a sponsor. Someone who sees potential that you yourself don't see and pushes you towards it. That’s what good mentors do. -FS

The National Security Agency (NSA) joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and others to release a cybersecurity advisory to expose the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)’s efforts to target defense, aerospace, nuclear, and engineering entities with the goal of advancing their regime’s military and nuclear program through the obtaining of sensitive and classified technical information and intellectual property. Read the joint advisory now to learn how to mitigate the threat from these actors and secure sensitive information in these sectors: https://lnkd.in/gYfP3MK2

Just a reminder on this Hire a Veteran Day, if you’re a veteran or just getting out of the military, NSA has a place for you. Chris’s military career at the agency inspired him to re-join NSA as a civilian. Check out his story: https://bit.ly/45yTNRY.

Today, NCSC and partners issued a joint bulletin detailing how foreign threat actors exploit early-stage investments in U.S. emerging tech startups to gain access to sensitive data and influence over corporate decisions. Explore the bulletin at https://lnkd.in/dXTHm3TD Developed by NCSC, ODNI’s Office of Economic Security and Emerging Technology (OESET), the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the bulletin provides information on this threat, as well as potential indicators, mitigation steps, and where to report incidents. “U.S. emerging tech startups are at the forefront of American innovation, but they face risks when seeking potential foreign investment to expand their firms. Unfortunately, our adversaries continue to exploit early-stage investments in U.S. startups to take their sensitive data. These actions threaten U.S. economic and national security and can directly lead to the failure of these companies. Today’s bulletin highlights this evolving threat and provides guidance for startups to secure their innovation as they grow,” said NCSC Director Michael Casey. #innovation #counterintelligence #investment #Venturecapital #Intelligence

Check out the latest information about the Artificial Intelligence Security Center (AISC):

Over 1,000 people attended our most recent NSA in Focus about unique work roles at the agency. Panelists discussed how NSA is like a mini city. With our own police, a university, medical center and more, it takes all kinds of different skills to keep the campus running smoothly. Watch the full recording now: https://lnkd.in/g8F_NqcZ.

#StoriesOfNSA - My path here really started in 8th grade. I was in French class during the 9/11 attacks. My classmates didn’t get it; for me, someone of my ethnicity – someone who could be mistaken as Arab – it was very impactful. It affected my family. My future would be impacted forever. I ended up going to the University of Maryland, but I was uncertain of what to major in. I took an internship at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism – START – a DHS initiative. Researching for that internship, I ended up studying terrorism and its effects. I had to build databases, do research on its effects on different ethnicities and age groups, etc. I stumbled onto Information Systems as a major, specifically the data part, doing engineering stuff and working with people across a broad set of backgrounds, getting educated on the different career paths. I minored in Homeland Security. This is how I ended up at NSA. I have an older brother who hired into NSA right out of college. I got hired into an Business Management and Acquisition (BM&A) internship here, where I could use my Information Systems degree. I ended up being able to use a lot of that degree here. It’s much more than just working here – we have a purpose. It's more than just a job. For me, I want to just prevent another 9/11. I don’t want another 8th grader to go through what I did (ostracism, etc.). My parents were born in India and had an arranged marriage. They came to this country with ten dollars in their pockets, starting from the ground up. My brother and I are first-generation Indian Americans who grew up in a very strict culture, had to learn our roots, etc., while growing up with other kids around us. Women weren’t supposed to have a career. It was normal for women to fast every Monday in order to have a good husband. Today, both my brother and I are here at NSA. This is like the definition of the American Dream, knowing that I’m contributing to the USA and protecting our home front. I won an IC-level award in 2021 for Program Management. It was a pretty significant award. Winning that, so early on in my career, was such a great feeling and accomplishment – a true formative experience. For a young brown kid like me to win that at such a high level – it reinforces my purpose here and makes it all feel worth it. -- NM

#StoriesofNSA - My dad worked here (retired Air Force) so I lived on Fort Meade for a fair bit of my formative years. In college, they had a Family Day, and I came in with my dad. It was underwhelming but I signed up for the NSA educational co-operative program anyway. (Students who are selected to participate in NSA’s Co-Op Program alternate semesters of full-time work with full-time school, including summer semesters until they graduate. This work experience allows the student to be prepared for full-time employment post-graduation.) I got to work on some fascinating projects throughout my tours in the Co-Op program, so that was great. I had never realized the diversity of work we do here. There's so much here where I can be creative. I can live authentically, be myself, and work on some amazing projects. I was not surprised by how interesting it was to work at NSA. But what blew me away was how most folks are willing to take your input, appreciate your perspective so you feel like you are contributing to the mission. We also have a growing amount of diversity here - people from other states, countries, and cultures. I expected a much more rigid work environment but was pleasantly surprised. I believe that addressing people with humility, kindness, empathy, and confidence will get you a long way. You can do a whole lot more than you might think you can. – DJ

Flexibility at NSA means creating a schedule that supports the mission and your life. This is what that balance looks like for Laura and Lavade. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e9XBhHaA.

There’s lots to learn any time you start a new job. To help you navigate our large organization, decipher our (many!) acronyms and become acclimated to our policies, procedures and just the community here at NSA in general, we have our own orientation program, plus a buddy program and mentors. Join us on August 7 to learn more about how we assist new hires.