Alumni Focus: Deanna M. (Perrin) Egelston '94

The Alumni Focus series features alumni of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department and what they have been doing since graduation. This note is from Deanna (Perrin) Egelston '94, who was a major in Mathematics. She is currently a mathematician working for the National Security Agency in Maryland.

Deanna writes... People always ask how I came to work at the National Security Agency (NSA). It was almost entirely by accident! I received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from HWS, then went on to obtain a Master of Science in Numerical Methods from Syracuse University. My first job out of school was as a contractor for the Navy's Theater Ballistic Missile Defense Program, but the position did not afford me the opportunity to put my degree in mathematics to direct use. From courses in number theory, I knew the NSA hired mathematicians to solve its cryptographic challenges, and upon searching for a means to contact them, I came across a Call for Mathematicians on the Internet. Several phone calls, two days of interviews, a background investigation and a polygraph later, I began my career as a mathematician at the NSA. In many respects, a career in mathematics at the NSA is similar to a career in mathematics in academe. Mathematicians engage in collaborative efforts, write papers on research, present findings at seminars and conferences, and even have professional societies and awards. One of the greatest aspects of working here is the overwhelming sense of community among NSA mathematicians. Most new math hires are assigned to one of the Mathematics development Programs, each typically three years in duration. Participants tour in different offices, take at least five training courses designed to teach necessary skills, write papers on progress and present technical talks to share work. In each new office, at least one mentor is assigned to provide both technical and career guidance. I am a graduate of the second class of the Applied Mathematics Program, which was created seven years ago and was designed to place mathematicians into offices where they would not traditionally work. This program has been successful in bringing the power of mathematics to bear on the technical challenges facing those offices, again proving how integral mathematics is to accomplishing the missions of the NSA: the production of foreign signals intelligence and the protection of vital United States communications systems. Graduates of the Mathematics Development Programs are solicited for project ideas and asked to become mentors for other interns. Since graduating, I have served as a mentor for five math interns. This was a rewarding experience, as I had the opportunity to help guide others during the early days of their career while working alongside them on mission critical projects. It was a great balance between technical work and a supervisory role, and provided a glimpse into the world of technical leadership, a direction in which I hope to some day move. Though varied in scope, my projects have concentrated primarily on turning the data we collect into information our analysts use to provide knowledge and, ultimately, intelligence to our customers. To accomplish this goal, I have studied encryption schemes, employed techniques of mathematical modeling, created statistical graphs and analyzed any number of different technologies. One of the biggest challenges of any career at the NSA is the ever-changing face of technology. It is not good enough to break just one encryption scheme or analyze just one form of communication, as stronger and newer ones hit the market nearly every day. But this is also one of the more exciting parts of the job, as it consistently presents opportunities to learn and grow in our fields. In July of 2002 I accepted the position of Executive of the Mathematic Hiring Program at the NSA. This is a one- to three-year post and is always held by a member of the NSA mathematics community so that applicants to the program can address questions to a working NSA mathematician. This is a wonderful experience, as it affords the opportunity to interact daily with applicants, as well as members of the NSA mathematics community. It is always a pleasure to greet a new colleague who, at one point in the not-too-distant past, I helped guide through the hiring process. My education at HWS certainly prepared me well for a career in mathematics at the NSA. In addition to teaching me much of the background necessary to succeed here, HWS math professors always stressed the importance of what I initially studied math to avoid: technical writing and oral presentations. Knowing how to adequately express my successes and setbacks only aids in helping others to continue work on important problems. For anyone interested in a career in mathematics at the NSA, I suggest studying a variety of both theoretical and applied mathematics, keeping abreast of technology, learning to program in at least one of the more widely used languages and checking out the NSA Employment link at www.nsa.gov. I am also more than happy to answer questions and can be reached via e-mail at dmegels@nsa.gov. ---From Deanna (Perrin) Egelston, October 6, 2003