National Security Agency - The Black Vault

On November 4, 2012, the National
Security Agency (NSA) celebrates its
60th anniversary of providing critical
information to U.S. decisionmakers
and Armed Forces personnel in
defense of our Nation. NSA has evolved from a staff of
approximately 7,600 military and civilian employees
housed in 1952 in a vacated school in Arlington, VA,
into a workforce of more than 30,000 demographically
diverse men and women located at NSA headquarters in
Ft. Meade, MD, in four national Cryptologic Centers, and
at sites throughout the world.
While the mission to defend the Nation against all
adversaries has not changed, the adversaries have changed
considerably. During the Cold War, NSA’s primary focus
was on the Soviet challenge, punctuated by tense crises,
such as the one in Cuba in 1962. After the breakup of the
Soviet Union, the adversary was less likely to be wearing
the uniform of a specific country. In fact, today our greatest
threat may be a lone person using a computer.
Throughout its six decades, NSA has pursued its mission
by employing smart, committed, and courageous people,
developing innovative technology, partnering with allied
nations, and collaborating with our DoD and IC colleagues.
Our commitment to upholding the law of the Nation and
protecting the civil liberties of its people has never wavered.
On behalf of the dedicated employees of the National
Security Agency, we are pleased to present this
publication that tells the fascinating story of NSA –
60 years of “Defending Our Nation and Securing The
Future.” We have only just begun.
Keith B. Alexander
General, U.S. Army
Director, NSA/Chief, CSS
The Mission Never Sleeps
2 60 Years of Defending Our Nation National Security Agency
John C. Inglis
Deputy Director
National Secuirity Agency
60 Years of Defending Our Nation 3