National Security Agency - The Black Vault

NSA Culture
NSA Culture
Secrecy and a Low Profile
From the moment an employee is hired on at
NSA, he or she assumes a lifetime obligation to
safeguard sensitive and classified information.
Every new employee is educated in the
need and requirement for secrecy, as well
as the importance of keeping a
low profile on the “outside” for
counterintelligence reasons.
Gradually, however, the philosophy
that produced the expression
“NSA means No Such Agency”
has morphed into one of more
openness. An iconic symbol of
this transformation is the signpost
reading “The National Security
Agency” that was placed at its
entrance in the 1990s.
Although the obligation for
secrets to remain secret has
not changed, NSA has both
a physical presence and a
virtual one. The topic of a
recent National Geographic
documentary, NSA also has
Early NSA Newsletter..
its own web page, its Director
speaks at approximately
40 external events yearly, and its actions are
followed, not always accurately, in the daily press.
Winners of the Miss NSA contest, circa 1960s.
An Agency Rich in Heritage
Dress Code
In the early days, NSA had a dress code that
mandated business attire for all employees. Coat
and tie were required for men and conventional
business dress for women, which did not include
pantsuits.
In the 1960s, as fashion in society
became less formal, dress
codes were relaxed for
both civilians and military.
Eventually, many formal
fashion practices, such as
neckties, were abandoned
by almost everyone but
senior leaders.
In the 2000s, employees
dressed based on their
function and the needs of the
office. Leadership adopted
the attitude that what was in
an employee’s head was more
important than what was on
the body.
Smoking
Reflecting the norms of society,
smoking was widespread
throughout the Agency in the early days, with
ashtrays a common sight on many desks. As
the general public became more aware of the
dangers of smoking, NSA followed suit and began
to work to adopt a smoke-free environment.
In February 1989, Director Studeman signed a
memorandum prohibiting smoking in all offices,
limiting its use to designated areas in the
cafeteria. This partial ban lasted till the end of the
year, when Studeman ordered that NSA be totally
smoke-free by 1 January 1990.
Alcohol
One of the most intriguing NSA cultural facts was
the presence of beer machines in the cafeteria
in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Eventually, the beer machines
were removed, although the story lingers as an
interesting piece of trivia.
Work-Life Balance
By the late 1990s, NSA leaders and the Human
Resources organizations established several
programs to help employees achieve a healthy
work-life balance. Today NSA’s leadership is
aware that a “whole person” –someone with
balance between their professional and personal
sides of life– can contribute more substantially to
the mission.
Job Diversification
In the early years, it was not unusual for an
employee to spend an entire career in a single
office or career field. By the 2000s, at least one
tour of duty or joint duty assignment at another
intelligence agency or military command would
be a prerequisite for high-level promotions.
Publications
Employees in the early years, bound by NSA’s
policy of anonymity outside the Agency,
were discouraged from publishing articles in
academic or popular journals. Consequently,
NSA established a number of in-house journals,
such as the NSA Technical Journal, established in
1956, and Cryptologic Spectrum, which started
in 1969. These two publications were combined
in 1982 as Cryptologic Quarterly, which is still
published today.
In 1953 the Agency began publishing a simple
four-page newsletter, which was replaced in 1964
with a slicker version, the NSA Newsletter. This
paper ceased publication in 2000.
Activities
Over the years, NSA has sanctioned a number
of after-hours activities and sports leagues, like
NSA’s talented Parkway Chorale performs at many high-profile events.
2012 Armed Forces Week 5K Race
softball and bowling. There were also clubs for
handicrafts, travel, skiing, and games, and an
art guild that exhibited members’ work. For a
time, there was a clown club and a drama club.
NSA personnel also formed many types of music
groups, including the Parkway Brass and Parkway
Chorale, who frequently perform at the Agency.
In 1970 Admiral Gayler approved the formation of
the Phoenix Society, intended for NSA retirees to
help prolong friendships and interests developed
over the course of a career at NSA.
NSA has also sponsored “learned societies,”
such as the Crypto-Linguistic Association, the
CryptoMath Institute, the Pen and Cursor Society,
and the International Affairs Institute.
The Workforce
NSA Deputy Director John “Chris” Inglis sums up
the NSA workforce in this quote, “Remarkable
people with remarkable skills form the heart of
the National Security Agency.”
Many factors, while they have evolved over the
last 60 years, combine to create a diverse and
stimulating environment that fosters a rich and
rewarding career. The challenges of aggressively
taking on an adversary or resolutely protecting
the home turf bring out the best in people.
The commitment and dedication of Agency
personnel is one key factor that has not changed
over the years. NSA employees are dedicated,
bright, loyal and serve the Nation in silence. n
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