Skip About MenusAbout Menu
Leadership
Mission
Strategy
Mission, Vision, Values
Core Values Q&A with NSA's Deputy Director
Core Values Brochure
Cryptologic Heritage
NSA 60th Anniversary
National Cryptologic Museum
Map and Directions
Museum Tour Information
Exhibit Information
National Vigilance Park
Center for Cryptologic History
Cryptologic History News
Cryptologic Almanac
Historical Publications
History of the Insignia
Pre-1952 Historical Timeline
Pearl Harbor Review
Voices from the Past
National Cryptologic Memorial
Cryptologic Hall of Honor
Women in American Cryptology
African Americans in Cryptologic History
Equal Employment Opportunity(EEO) and Diversity
Office of Disability Affairs
EEO and Diversity Education
Special Emphasis Programs
No FEAR Act
Central Security Service (CSS)
Office of the Inspector General (OIG)
OIG Hotline Information
Contact the OIG Hotline
NSAAB (NSA Emerging Technologies Panel)
Photo Gallery
FAQs
|
David Bryant
Although born in Georgia, David Bryant attended Florida A&M until he joined the navy in 1942. Following the war he came to Washington and worked as a statistical clerk for the Census Bureau. He and fourteen other African-Americans transferred to ASA from the Census Bureau in 1947. They were assigned to the Russian plaintext traffic processing unit. From this small cadre of black communications clerks grew a large, essentially all-black division in the Operations Directorate of NSA. In 1948 Russian encrypted systems went silent leaving the plaintext messages as virtually the only form of intelligence coming from the Soviet Union. This all-black office, which became known as "the snake pit," filled a critical void in the Cold War. By 1950, Mr. Bryant had secured a transfer out of the traffic processing branch, and was attending Russian language classes preparatory to working as a translator/analyst in the Russian plaintext branch. Mr. Bryant was one of the first African-Americans to become a Russian linguist. After holding several analytic and staff positions, Mr. Bryant joined the newly established Equal Employment Opportunity office in 1968. While there he helped expand agency recruitment at traditionally black universities creating opportunities for other African-Americans. Mr. Bryant retired in 1968. |
|
|
Historical Document | Date Posted: Jan 15, 2009 |











