By Andrew Smith
The National Security Agency visited NE Campus seeking math majors April 8.
Jill Calhoun explained the importance of the developing technology and stressed the role of STEM fields within the agency. Calhoun shared a list of programs offered by the NSA available to undergraduate and graduate students.
“Interns come in and work during the summer and work eight to 12 weeks,” she said. “We provide housing. These are students that are still in college.”
The agency also offers a 20/20 program.
“You can work for 20 hours and then go to school for 20 hours,” she said. “But you still get your tuition paid for as well as your salary.”
Courses such as the Cooperative Education Program intend to sharpen the skills of college students focusing on electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science fields and expand their knowledge to real-world problems like threats to national security information, terrorist plans, international drug trafficking or cyber attacks.
“It’s always challenging. It’s always something new,” she said. “It’s never dull or stale and never stays the same because technology is always changing, and we are always trying to keep up with what is happening.”
Calhoun also answered student questions concerning the application process. She noted some of the NSA standards, which include polygraph tests, background checks, financial disclosures and security clearance approval. She said that an open-book lifestyle is essential for working at the NSA.
“The No. 1 reason why people work for the NSA is you never turn Happy Hour into Sad Hour by talking about work,” she said.
