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What do US cyberspies think of their jobs? On Indeed .com, one wrote
that the job was in “a demanding environment but you really felt like you
were making a difference . The days were somewhat long but there was
never a dull minute and you always had plenty to do . It was exciting
and meaningful .”
Another cyberspy wrote, “Never the same thing twice . Every day is
a different challenge and opportunity to learn . Everyone has a chance to
grow and learn in this environment .”
But working in cyberintelligence, especially for the US government,
is not for everyone . Some quit because of the stress and long hours .
Some leave because they’re frustrated with government bureaucracy .
Others leave to take higher-paying jobs in private business . For example,
General Keith Alexander was director of the NSA and head of Cyber
Command from 2010 to 2014 . He retired from the military to found his
own firm, IronNet Cybersecurity . His company employs several other
ex-government cyberspies .
This talent drain to the private sector is a problem for the government’s
cyberintelligence agencies . The NSA says that 8 to 9 percent of its
cyberintelligence employees leave each year . Some groups within the NSA
lose even more staff . Ellison Anne Williams, a former senior researcher at
the NSA, said, “The agency is losing an amazing amount of its strongest
technical talent, and to lose your best and brightest staff is a huge hit .” She
says that the private cyberintelligence firm she founded, Enveil, recruited at
least ten employees from the NSA .
Despite the brain drain to the private sector, the NSA still attracts and
retains skilled technical talent . NSA head Paul Nakasone says that the
agency receives seventeen thousand employment applications each month .
The NSA has earned multiple honors for being an excellent employer . Many
job applicants are inspired by patriotism . When recruiting employees,
Nakasone says, “Our mission sells itself . We are defending our nation .”

SPIES LIkE US: InSIdE thE WoRLd of CYBERIntELLIgEnCE 9