Dec. 5, 2024

Capt. Grace Hopper on Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software, and People (Part Two, 1982)

We're reaching into the vault to bring you a lecture delivered to the NSA workforce in 1982 by then-Navy Captain Grace Hopper entitled, "Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software, and People." Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and mathematician, and a pioneer of computer programing. Among her accomplishments, Hopper was the first to devise the theory of machine-independent programming languages. She ultimately reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and in 2016 she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the nation's highest civilian honor. Her insights on leadership and her visionary predictions still hold weight today, more than forty years later.

Check out part two of the episode wherever you get your podcasts:

Nov. 15, 2024

How the Need for Direct Cryptologic Military Support Helped Establish NSA’s Cryptologic Centers

As a combat support agency for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) has centers across the country to provide support to the DoD and U.S. military personnel around the world.

Nov. 7, 2024

NSA Inducts Five Innovators into Cryptologic Hall of Honor

The National Security Agency's (NSA) Center for Cryptologic History is pleased to announce the induction of five major cryptologic figures into the Cryptologic Hall of Honor.

Aug. 26, 2024

NSA releases copy of internal lecture delivered by computing giant Rear Adm. Grace Hopper

FORT MEADE, Md. — In one of the more unique public proactive transparency record releases for the National Security Agency (NSA) to date, NSA has released a digital copy of a lecture that then-Capt. Grace Hopper gave agency employees on August 19, 1982.

June 20, 2024

“Remember Why You’re Here”: Mother of 9/11 Victim Visits Morrison Center Memorial

“It shows you how fragile life is,” mother of Flight 93’s youngest victim said with tear-filled eyes at the sight of her 20-year old daughter’s photo and purse on display at the 9/11 memorial in the lobby of the Morrison Center on NSA/CSS Washington’s East Campus.

June 6, 2024

History Today, June 6: The role of signals intelligence or 'ULTRA' on D-Day

The term D-Day was a shorthand expression first used in World War I to denote the date an operation was to be launched. In the earlier war, officers also used H-HOUR and M-MINUTE, but these were seldom used in World War II. Because of the scope of the 1944 operation and the momentous stakes, in common parlance, “D-Day” has come to refer primarily to the landings in Normandy.

May 6, 2024

NSA Partners with National Cryptologic Foundation on new Engagement and Education Center

FORT MEADE, Md. – The National Security Agency (NSA) announced plans to partner with the National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) to establish a new engagement and education facility on the site of the existing National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis Junction.

March 12, 2024

Scouts Honored at National Cryptologic Museum's Annual Scout Day

“Best day of my life!” One Scout exclaimed as he left the National Cryptologic Museum’s (NCM) annual event on Saturday March 2nd, 2024. Rain couldn’t damper things for the scouts and their families. The event drew a near record number of attendees with more than 650 people coming through the doors of the NCM in just six hours.

Jan. 4, 2024

Five Cryptologic Giants to be Inducted into NSA's Cryptologic Hall of Honor

The National Security Agency's (NSA) Center for Cryptologic History is pleased to announce the 2023 induction of five major cryptologic figures into the Cryptologic Hall of Honor.

Dec. 7, 2023

Doing It Until We Got It Right: A Short History of the Pearl Harbor Investigations

On December 7, 1941, Japanese naval aircraft swept in on an unsuspecting US Pacific Fleet and Army in the Hawaiian Islands and destroyed many American ships and aircraft. In a little over two hours, 18 warships—including eight battleships—and over 160 aircraft were knocked out of action. With Japan’s eastern flank secured, its forces would rampage through the rest of the Pacific virtually unopposed.