How can I become an employee at NSA?
NSA offers great job opportunities and is an organization committed to providing our employees with the best possible workplace in terms of finding a balance between work and life.
For more information on employment procedures, criteria and opportunities, visit our employment site at http://www.nsa.gov/careers/.
What are the kinds of skills NSA needs?
Currently, the NSA has opportunities in the following career fields: Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Foreign Languages (Middle Eastern, Asian and other exotic or low density languages or dialects). For more employment information, visit our employment site at http://www.nsa.gov/careers/.
Does the NSA make arrangements for employees with disabilities?
In an effort to support employees with disabilities, NSA’s Office of Equal Employment Opportunity operates the Center for Computer Assistive Technology, commonly referred to as CCAT. The Center, which is the first of its kind within the Department of Defense, was established to provide commercially available assistive technology devices and information resources to employees with visual, hearing or mobility impairments. The resources available at CCAT are shared with the Special Education Departments of the public school system.
What are some of the Jargons and Acronyms used at the NSA?
CIPHER – A system for concealing plain text by transposing the letters or numbers or substituting other letters or numbers according to a key. Also called a "cryptosystem."
CODE – A system for replacing words, phrases, letters or numbers by other words or groups of letters or numbers for concealment or brevity.
COMINT – Communications Intelligence – Information obtained for intelligence purposes from the intercept of foreign communications (by other than the intended recipient).
COMPUSEC – Computer Security – The protection of computers from exploitation by foreign intelligence services and "hackers."
COMSEC – Communications Security – The protection of communications from exploitation by foreign intelligence services. This includes ensuring the security of U.S. cryptosystems, the preventing electronic emissions from various communications equipment, and the physically protecting communications security equipment.
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE – Information gathered and activities conducted to protect against espionage and other intelligence activities.
CRYPTOLOGY – The science and art of making and breaking codes and ciphers.
CRYPTOGRAPHY – The science and art of making codes and ciphers.
CRYPTANALYSIS – The conversion of encrypted messages into plain text without having the initial knowledge of the key used in encryption.
CSS – Central Security Service - The CSS comprises all U.S. military elements – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines and works to ensure a full partnership between NSA and the military.
DECODE – To convert from an encoded message to equivalent plain text.
DIRNSA – The Director, NSA/Chief, CSS
DoD – The Department of Defense.
ENCODE – To replace plain text words with code groups.
ENCRYPT – To conceal plain text by use of a code or cipher.
ELINT – Electronic Intelligence – Information obtained for intelligence purposes from the intercept of foreign electromagnetic noncommunications transmissions (by other than the intended recipient). The most common sources of this type of information are foreign radar signals.
ELT – The DIRNSA's Executive Leadership Team.
FOIA – The Freedom of Information Act.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE – Information relating to the capabilities, intentions, and activities of foreign powers, organizations or persons.
HPSCI – The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which provides oversight on NSA/CSS' intelligence activities.
INTERCEPT – The acquisition of electromagnetic signals such as radio or radar by using electronic equipment for the purpose of gathering intelligence information on foreign entities. The material collected is itself sometimes referred to as "intercept."
IOB – The President's Intelligence Oversight Board, which is charged with oversight of all U.S. foreign intelligence activities.
JCS – The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
MEPP – NSA/CSS' Mathematics Education Partnership Program.
OMB – The President's Office of Management and Budget.
OPSEC – Operations Security – The process of denying potential adversaries any information about capabilities and/or intentions by identifying, controlling and protecting generally unclassified evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive activities.
NSA/CSS – The National Security Agency/Central Security Service.
NSC – The National Security Council.
NSCID – The National Security Council Intelligence Directive.
SIGINT – Signals Intelligence – Information which contains (either individually or in combination) communications intelligence (COMINT), electronics intelligence (ELINT), and foreign instrumentation signals intelligence (FISINT), however transmitted.
SECDEF – The United States Secretary of Defense.
SSCI – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, which provides oversight on NSA/CSS' intelligence activities.
USA – United States Army.
USAF – United States Air Force.
USMC – United States Marines Corps.
USN – United States Navy.