Exceeding All Expectations: A Journey of Adversity, Triumph and Eternal Optimism – Worth
We all have a role to play if we are to discover an effective means out of our collective global social crisis.
This is the story that I never wanted to tell and the article that I never thought I would write.
Although these are my experiences, too many of my colleagues have similar stories. Unfortunately, so do many of our friends, family members and kindred spirits around the world. This is an American story, and it is a global story.
As a former senior national security official retrospectively looking at life, I can say that it is a story of hopes, promises, courage, circumstance, disappointment and perseverance. Most importantly, it is ultimately a story of triumph.
It is difficult to write about the numerous obstacles that one might face in lifeespecially when these obstacles are based solely on superficial trivialities, such as ones melanin content or skin pigmentation, and not on deficiencies in a persons intellect, motivation, character, potential or loyalty to their nation.
I have never sought sympathy nor empty apologies, so I have avoided talking about:
My climb up the corporate mountainwas arduous, challenging and eventually rewarding. I welcomed the challenge of high expectations, but unlike many of my non-minority counterparts who were on similar climbs, I had few Sherpas, almost no time for acclimation at any level, no supplemental oxygen (i.e., sustained mentoring or assistance) and had to move along a steeper incline than most.
I worked at the National Security Agency (NSA), where only a gifted and blessed few ever make it to the top of operations. From that perch, you are entrusted to lead the United States global Signals Intelligence enterprise and arguably one of the worlds most capable spy organizations. The NSAs Operations Directorate has a storied history that includes contributing to breaking the World War II enigma code and still provides key input to the President of the United States daily intelligence briefing book. In the NSAs storied operations history, no minority had ever successfully reached its pinnacle.
I was promoted into the U.S. Senior Executive Service in my late 30s. Since the NSA is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization, I was a one-star general equivalent. This came at a time when minorities rarely achieved that rank and almost never until their early 50s. I began my career as an Air Force Russian linguist. My first assignment was in Japan, where it immediately became apparent that the words Black and Russian were more synonymous with a bar drink than an individual. I was never mistreated, just viewed as more of a curiosity. My 36-plus-year career climb was unlike most. This is my first capture of these experiences in writing.
The anecdotes that I have experienced during my life would literally fill a multi-volume book. Upon hearing brief snippets, most listeners shake their heads in disbelief. Although only a few incidents were done with malicious intent, they each spoke volumes about our culture and accepted behaviors.
A few examples of the adversity I faced included:
In spite of the many challenges, I eventually shattered a significant ceiling becoming NSAs Director of Global Operations. Entrusted with multi-billion-dollar budgets, I led tens of thousands of the worlds best engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, analysts and linguists. This was a far cry from the days when NSA minorities were relegated to the basement. However, when I departed the NSA, there was still much to be done.
The current pandemic has severely impacted much of our daily lives. This has also affected the economic, social and mental well-being of millions across the world.
However, there has also been a silent pandemic that has been ravaging our nation, and the world, for centuries. It has prevented citizens from attending schools and colleges, sporting and entertainment venues, visiting certain public places, joining various professions and being accepted into boardrooms. It has even interfered with places of worship. The side effects of this pandemic will likely linger for centuries to come. There are no daily casualty counts or comprehensive economic metrics, and although it is easy to identify, few want to acknowledge its existence. We shun the topic, ascribing it to days gone by, while ignoring the fact that if we only open our eyes, it stares back at us in our communities and workplaces. It is the pandemic of discrimination, bias and presumed privilege that knows no boundaries. This pandemic permeates every facet of our lives and is spawned in our homes, neighborhoods, communities and businesses. There appears to be no immunity for this silent plague and unfortunately few seem willing to help find a cure. But there is hope
The past six months have been a period of enlightenment for many. We have become semi-experts in the art of social distancing, living with some degree of depravity and adjusting to a new way of life. However, we have also seen an unprecedented social movement blossoming around the world. The movement has taken root in our homes, cities and businesses, and is being joined by those of goodwill and like minds daily. While this movement can be viewed with guarded optimism, many of us know that it is rooted in a fragile foundation that could crumble at any moment.
I applaud Worth for having the courage and social consciousness to allow me to tell part of my story. Mine is but a small link in a global chain of stories that should and must be told. I hope that in the coming months we can present the journeys of others who have triumphed in the face of overwhelming adversity. These authors stories should inspire us, while stirring our social and ethical consciousnesses to assist others in their journeys. We all have a role to play if we are to discover an effective means out of our collective global social crisis.
Writing this story has been cathartic. My reluctance has been overtaken by a sense of moral obligation to embolden others to come forward. We need your intellect, resourcefulness, ideas, prayers and active participation if we are to build a coalition of the willing and able. The journey will not be easymost worthy endeavors are usually laboriousbut we will achieve our goals. I look forward to serving with you. Keep the faith.
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Exceeding All Expectations: A Journey of Adversity, Triumph and Eternal Optimism - Worth
- NSA cyber chief: Espionage is now Russias focus for cyberattacks on Ukraine - The Record from Recorded Future News - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- NSA Investigating If Chinese Hackers Breached US Telecoms - Yahoo Finance - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- NSA Issues Updated Guidance on Russian SVR Cyber Operations - National Security Agency - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- News - Honoring the Stars and Stripes: NSA Philadelphia Hosts Dignified Flag Disposal Ceremony - DVIDS - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- NSA's Program for Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Considered a Model for USG - National Security Agency - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- NSA investigating hack of three major telecommunications companies - Baltimore Sun - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- Honoring the Stars and Stripes: NSA Philadelphia Hosts Dignified Flag Disposal Ceremony [Image 8 of 8] - DVIDS - October 11th, 2024 [October 11th, 2024]
- NSA Hiring Over a Thousand in the Next Year - ClearanceJobs - October 4th, 2024 [October 4th, 2024]
- What Its Really Like to Work at NSA - National Security Agency - October 4th, 2024 [October 4th, 2024]
- US Elections: Former NSA John Bolton Claims Both Harris And Trump Do Not Qualify To Be President | NewsX Exclusive - NewsX - October 4th, 2024 [October 4th, 2024]
- Honoring the fallen: Bells toll for Americas heroes at NSA Mechanicsburg - American Military News - October 4th, 2024 [October 4th, 2024]
- How often should you turn off your phone? Heres what the NSA says - PCWorld - October 4th, 2024 [October 4th, 2024]
- NSA and Allies Issue Advisory about PRC-Linked Actors and Botnet Operations - HSToday - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- NSA warns that Active Directory is an "exceptionally large and difficult to defend" attack surface - The Stack - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- News - Honoring the Fallen: Bells Toll for Americas Heroes at NSA Mechanicsburg - DVIDS - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE:NSA) Given Average Recommendation of "Reduce" by Brokerages - MarketBeat - September 28th, 2024 [September 28th, 2024]
- Lack of Standard Stadiums: NSA boss sacked, facilities closed - What has been said and done so far - GhanaWeb - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- NSA and Allies Issue Advisory about PRC-Linked Actors and Botnet Operations - National Security Agency - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- UTEP Establishes Collaboration with DoD, NSA to Help Enhance U.S. Semiconductor Workforce - The University of Texas at El Paso - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- The NSA advises you to turn off your phone once a week - here's why - ZDNet - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- NSA Publishes Cyber Advisory on China-Linked Threat Actors - Executive Gov - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Former NSA Director Nakasone opens new institute at Vanderbilt to train right type of leader - Washington Times - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- ACR lauds legislation that would fine insurers for delayed NSA payments - AuntMinnie - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- NSA threatens lawsuit over election rigging allegation, demands apology - Pulse Nigeria - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- NSA explains its work with private sector on election security and fighting foreign cyber threats - Washington Times - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- NSA to debut podcast to boost public awareness of classified missions - Nextgov/FCW - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- In Beijing, Bidens NSA Calls Out Chinas Destablising Actions, Openly Supports Philippines - Hindustan Times - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Why the NSA advises you to turn off your phone once a week - ZDNet - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Getting into rhythm: NSA places high expectations on themselves for 2024 - Suffolk News-Herald - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- NSA readying podcast to share untold stories of codebreakers missions - Washington Times - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Trump govt stopped aid to Pakistan over ISI's 'undeniable complicity' with terrorists: Ex-US NSA - Hindustan Times - August 31st, 2024 [August 31st, 2024]
- Top NSA researcher tapped to lead Pentagons UAP investigation hub - DefenseScoop - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- NSA Releases Guide to Combat Living Off the Land Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- With a little help from the National Archives, NSA finally releases Grace Hopper lecture. Watch it here. - MuckRock - August 27th, 2024 [August 27th, 2024]
- Trump administration NSA H.R. McMaster says there was "inconsistency" in foreign policy - CBS News - August 25th, 2024 [August 25th, 2024]
- 'Putin exploited Trump's ego and insecurities': Former NSA in new book - The Times of India - August 25th, 2024 [August 25th, 2024]
- NSA calls for urgent Government action on illegal sheep imports - Meat Management - August 14th, 2024 [August 14th, 2024]
- Sheikh Hasina Resignation LIVE Updates: Ex Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina Meets NSA Ajit Doval At Hindon Airbase - NDTV - August 5th, 2024 [August 5th, 2024]
- NSA Claims It Cant Watch an Important Tape It Recorded in the 1980s - Gizmodo - July 17th, 2024 [July 17th, 2024]
- Letter to NSA Sullivan Requesting Assessment of Information Russia Has Shared with the PRC on U.S. Weapons Capabilities in Ukraine - Select Committee... - July 17th, 2024 [July 17th, 2024]
- The NSA Is Defeated By A 1950s Tape Recorder. Can You Help Them? - Hackaday - July 17th, 2024 [July 17th, 2024]
- Letter to NSA on Microsoft's Billion Dollar Partnership with UAE Firm G42 - Select Committee on the CCP | - July 17th, 2024 [July 17th, 2024]
- NSA Fast Pitch World Series kicks off with Skills Competition & Heavy Hitters Camp, featuring College World Series Champions from the University... - July 17th, 2024 [July 17th, 2024]
- NSA contractor bilked government for hundreds of hours she never worked - Washington Times - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- Signals intelligence has become a cyber-activity - The Economist - July 6th, 2024 [July 6th, 2024]
- OpenAI adds former NSA chief to its board - CNBC - June 15th, 2024 [June 15th, 2024]
- Former head of NSA joins OpenAI board - The Verge - June 15th, 2024 [June 15th, 2024]
- Former NSA Head Joins OpenAI Board and Safety Committee - RetailWire - June 15th, 2024 [June 15th, 2024]
- Former NSA head joins OpenAI board and safety committee - TechCrunch - June 15th, 2024 [June 15th, 2024]
- OpenAI Appoints Cybersecurity Expert And Retired US Army Genera With NSA Pedigree To Board, Enhancing AI ... - Benzinga - June 15th, 2024 [June 15th, 2024]
- Former NSA head Paul Nakasone to helm national security institute at Vanderbilt - The Record from Recorded Future News - May 15th, 2024 [May 15th, 2024]
- US is still chasing down pieces of Chinese hacking operation, NSA official says - The Record from Recorded Future News - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- 6 CISO Takeaways from the NSA's Zero-Trust Guidance - Dark Reading - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- St. John's M.S. in Cyber and Information Security Earns Key NSA Validation - St John's University News - March 18th, 2024 [March 18th, 2024]
- Senate votes to confirm Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to lead CYBERCOM and NSA/CSS - United States Cyber Command - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- NSA Highlights AI, Partnerships in 2023 Cyber Review - MeriTalk - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- NSA Publishes 2023 Cybersecurity Year in Review - National Security Agency - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- Senate votes to confirm Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to lead CYBERCOM and NSA/CSS - National Security Agency - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- NSA Reiterates Achievements in AI & Defense Against Russia, China in 2023 Cybersecurity Review - Executive Gov - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- NSA appoints new Cyber Command head | SC Media - SC Media - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- Senate Confirms Biden's Pick To Lead NSA and Military's Cyber Force - The Messenger - December 23rd, 2023 [December 23rd, 2023]
- NSA Releases International Cybersecurity Guidance on AI System Development; Rob Joyce Quoted - Executive Gov - December 1st, 2023 [December 1st, 2023]
- Guidance for Securing AI Issued by NSA, NCSC-UK, CISA, and ... - National Security Agency - December 1st, 2023 [December 1st, 2023]
- The Pannun Affair reveals a penetrated Indian government ... - Bharat Karnad - December 1st, 2023 [December 1st, 2023]
- "Unconscionable": Indian Student Held Captive, Forced Into Labour In US - NDTV - December 1st, 2023 [December 1st, 2023]
- Tinubu met a bad economy but he's worsening it | TheCable - TheCable - December 1st, 2023 [December 1st, 2023]
- Crack a 1999 NSA Cryptography Standard and Win a Bounty - The New Stack - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- NSA Cybersecurity Information Sheet Pushes for Zero Trust Security in DOD Devices - Executive Gov - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- Top 10 misconfigurations: An NSA checklist for CISOs - The Stack - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- NSA and Partners Issue Additional Guidance for Secure By Design ... - National Security Agency - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- NSA Shares Recommendations to Advance Device Security Within ... - National Security Agency - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- NSA calls for a 'root and branch' review of Red Tractor - Farmers Guardian - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- Nansemond-Suffolk tennis falls to Norfolk Academy Thursday - The ... - Suffolk News-Herald - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- Israel's NSA warns of US intervention as Gaza conflict escalates - IndiaTimes - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- The U.S. government is still in its Tumblr era. - Slate - October 21st, 2023 [October 21st, 2023]
- NSA Releases a Repository of Signatures and Analytics to Secure Operational Technology - HS Today - HSToday - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- NSA releases a repository of signatures and analytics to secure ... - National Security Agency - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- A Flourishing Wildflower: Sandra Seizes the Day at NSA - National Security Agency - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- NSA and U.S. Agencies Issue Best Practices for Open Source ... - National Security Agency - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]
- Medical societies representing radiology, emergency medicine and ... - Radiology Business - October 13th, 2023 [October 13th, 2023]