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News | March 30, 2019

Leadership Through Storytelling

By Heidi Fosnaught, NSA/CSS Communications Officer NSA

Deputy National Manager
Mariane Bailey, NSA's Deputy National Manager for National Security Systems
Deputy National Manager
NSA photographer
Mariane Bailey, NSA's Deputy National Manager for National Security Systems
Photo By: NSA
VIRIN: 190329-D-IM742-1001
Growing up, Marianne Bailey’s father introduced her to the world of technology and told her she could be whatever she wanted to be. Over the years, she had many mentors, like her high school physics teacher, giving her that same message. A message she is passing on to future generations. 

Now, as NSA’s Deputy National Manager for National Security Systems, Bailey shares her story at events like the one co-hosted with NSA Recruitment at RSA for women in leadership and cybersecurity. She encourages other women in STEM careers to tell their own stories and to mentor each other to help fill the hiring pipeline. “At best, women represent 11-14% of the current cybersecurity workforce in the U.S.,” said Bailey. “The United States suffers a shortage of cybersecurity workers while the global hacking threats grow more acute.” She also shared her goal for the future: more women in STEM careers, not just in government but across industry and academia as well.

“Women are a big part of the labor pool and have been for decades,” Bailey said. “We need to acknowledge their accomplishments. Innovations and advancements by women have helped us get to where we are today.” Her call to action doesn’t just stop at women—it calls for more diversity overall. “We need to encourage all types of diversity to make the workforce as inclusive as possible – to break glass ceilings.”

Ms. Bailey champions women and diversity in NSA recruitment efforts through supporting NSA programs like GENCYBER. NSA supports the introduction of girls in STEM at early ages with recruitment programs, internships, and co-ops. To learn more, visit NSA.gov/what-we-do/cybersecurity and read about our Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (CAEs), GENCYBER Camps, and Codebreaker Challenges.