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(U) From Academia to the Agency (repost)
FROM: Diane Harris Cline
Language Analysis Intern
Run Date: 12/27/2004
What draws people to work at NSA? Here's a story from February 2004... (U)
(U) My life changed on 14 July 2003. That was the date of my EOD to NSA as a Language
Analyst intern. At 42, I must be one of the oldest interns here, but I wear my Newbie status
with pride. You see, I used to be a professor. For thirteen years I taught Greek and Roman
Archaeology, Civilization, and History courses and I even had tenure. And as I continued to
master those esoteric fields, repeating my lectures and courses semester after semester, I came
to realize that I was falling out of love with it, having reached all my goals: I had led student
groups to Europe, done research in the British Museum and in Athens, had a Fulbright,
published a book, lectured at places like Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford -- all those things which
make up a successful academic career. Perhaps it's my mid-life crisis, but I decided to try a new
career, one that centers on service and focuses on today's vital issues.
(U) My unhappiness as a professor stemmed from academia's traditional boundaries and
ordinary ways of operating. In academics, there are no opportunities for faculty to cross-train or
transfer to different departments. No NCS exists to sustain our professional development. I don't
miss the needless faculty meetings and endless student counseling that drained my energy. I
don't miss grading papers, midterms, and finals. I don't miss the highs and lows of lecturing
once or twice a day; the rushes of adrenaline and the consequent crashes are replaced by a
serenity of intellectual work on real world problems. And oddly, I don't miss thinking about the
ancient Greeks and Romans every day -- my attention is drawn to current events in real time.
(U) I am excited to serve at NSA at this critical juncture in U.S. history. Now I am immersed in a
knowledge-based environment, where continuous learning is facilitated and expected. Crosstraining and flexible tracks are open to me; TDY's and IC-wide opportunities fill my dreams.
(U) Think of one of those sad plants in plastic 4 inch containers for sale in August, with its soil
dried out, its roots reaching through the holes on the bottom, leaves withered and browned. Call
me a deadwood professor if you must, but I know that it was just sheer boredom. On 14 July,
NSA transplanted me into its deep soil, where I can now stretch, breathe, be nourished,
sustained, and even grow.
(U//FOUO) Diane Harris Cline, BA Stanford '83, Ph.D. Princeton '91 AKA
@nsa
(U//FOUO) Note from SIGINT Communications: Are you a new hire? We'd love to hear YOUR
story, as well. Contact us via the "Submit An Item" function on the SIDtoday homepage.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108