The Hill News

One of the great things about being a member of Congress (only a few of those left), is we get to tour our national security facilities and interact with the fabulous patriots that keep America safe. Recently I toured the NSA headquarters at Fort Mead, Maryland. I got a top rate tour, and a renewed respect for those who work behind a cloak of strict secrecy protecting our national interest.

I’m not unaccustomed to living near top-secret military installations, as I grew up near Castle AFB in my home state of California. The security inside and out of the NSA building is greater than I have ever witnessed. It’s no wonder -- the clients they serve are a virtual “who’s who” of our security services.   NSA gathers, interprets data on national security threats of all kinds and, with U.S. Cyber Command, secures our government's communication networks.  They are like the “tech crew” on a stage play: they work behind the scenes, but there would be no p! roduction without them.

It can also be dangerous work. There is a black granite memorial inside the NSA headquarters recognizing those who have perished in the service of our country. Clearly, they are not just a bunch of computer geeks who sit behind desks and move joysticks.

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