NGA Gets 1st Female Director
Cited: AP
Until recently, a woman has never led one of the 16 major intelligence agencies in the United States. There have been 3 female secretaries of state.
Letitia A. Long, 51, was praised by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as the right person for the job, as she took up her post as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in a ceremony Monday at the agency’s half-built, high-tech campus in Springfield, Virginia.
Long, in turn, saluted what the NGA work force has already accomplished, from aiding troops on the battlefield, to helping draw together intelligence from across the national security spectrum.
“I have never seen an agency as young as the NGA do so much in so little time,” she said of the organization, which was established in 1996.
Long’s 32-year career has led to a series of senior management positions: deputy director of Naval Intelligence, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and, most recently, second in command at the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Long’s old boss and mentor, James R. Clapper, newly confirmed as director of national intelligence, noted her 32 years of service, with 16 of them often working in agencies under his purview. Clapper warned her that as soon as he is sworn in as DNI, his “meddling” would continue in her next mission.
Long thanked him for “taking a chance on a young executive, way back when,” and said she welcomed the meddling to come. Long now represents the vanguard of women in the intelligence community.
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Women represent 30% of total intelligence work force, according to Wendy Morigi, DNI spokeswoman. In six of the most prominent agencies, 27% of senior intelligence positions are held by women.
A spokesperson for the NGA, Susan H. Meisner, had identified Long as the first woman to lead one of the nation’s 16 intelligence agencies, but later conceded that women have led smaller intelligence agencies such as the State Department’s intelligence arm.
Long has taken over one of the “top computer geek shops” in the national security world. The NGA synthesizes satellite imagery, using everything from the number of electric lines a city has to the density of the soil, to create three-dimensional, interactive maps of every spot on the planet. They’re used by everyone from invading troops gauging whether a country’s roads or deserts can handle tank tracks, to oil spill cleanup crews trying to decide where to deploy resources.
With a degree in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech and masters in mechanical engineering from Catholic University of America, Ms. Long definitely has the science and technology credentials to do the job. Annapolis-born Long and her husband have raised 3 daughters together doing these high-powered jobs successfully.
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My Take: I didn’t know the government had 16 intelligence agencies! Why do we need so many? Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for Mrs. Long in getting the job and being the 1st woman to get it. But, can’t these agencies pool their resources and just get colocation providers for all their data? I am sure that if they don’t have colocations they could get a colocation quote easily.
At least her credentials say she knows something about New Jersey IT management. And she can probably do little it of NJ IT consulting as well. However, I believe she will have her hands full with the intelligence community. I can just see the jokes now, how many directors does it take to light up the intelligence community? The answer is several lightbulbs, but only one director. Light bulbs are easy to replace, but a good director is hard to find.
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