CONSIDERED
A CAREER AS AN FBI CONTRACT LINGUIST?
Here's What It's Like: Up Close and Personal
10/22/04
Wayne Waggoner
has had a fascinating life. He underwrote international insurance in
the U.S. and abroad in the 1980s. In Brussels, Belgium, he managed
the European Office of the State of Arkansas. He's consulted with the
electric power industry in emerging Internet communication technologies.
He's taught college classes and ESL part-time. And he's served as Economic
Development Manager for the City of Little Rock. In fact, he has enjoyed
calling Little Rock home for 18 years now.
But in 2001, he
signed up as an FBI contract linguist--and found he simply loves the
work.
We asked him why--and
we asked him some other questions besides.
Mr. Waggoner:
Why do I love the work? So many reasons.
Working in a fast-paced
environment with multi-talented and multi-cultural teams of high achievers
in the FBI is ideal for a "loves learning" generalist like
me.
A linguist's work
is intellectually stimulating in a calm, progressive fashion, as the "picture" of
what is being investigated emerges through translation. With every word,
I solve a piece of a phrase, to solve a larger idea, and on to the fully
formed thoughts of individuals expressing themselves in furtherance of
their objectives. This makes for a feeling of real productivity, spiked
with the occasional thrill of solving something larger or more complex.
From time to time I have been privileged to help solve some big questions,
but I continually solve smaller, incremental questions--and that is very
satisfying.
I also relish the
occasional travel to different FBI field offices to assist with cases...but
really value the job flexibility allowing me to stay home most of the
time in a wonderful place like Little Rock.
Q: What is
a typical working day like?
Mr. Waggoner: I review various materials from multiple sources. They
run the gamut of FBI investigations -- from small crimes that happen to include
some communication in my foreign language, to outlandish international conspiracies
or allegations of such. They might pertain to international white-collar crime,
counterterrorism, or other intelligence community matters. Less often, I translate
unsolicited tips or leads – maybe serious, but maybe from crackpots or
bizarre minds... these can make for entertaining reading! When the materials
turn out to be important, I produce reports for further review or action by
FBI squads. Though I also produce straight document translations or verbatim
transcripts of conversations, most often I write brief summaries of the information
that is most pertinent and useful to ongoing investigations.
Q: Last question,
Mr. Waggoner: your most exciting experience in the FBI?
Mr. Waggoner: I will never forget it. Only a few months after the
9/11 attacks, I had been asked to come to New York. Reviewing some materials
there, I recognized an implied national security threat. Quickly it was communicated
to our government's highest levels...and soon after, I was able to recognize
in news reports a very intelligent response to the unpublicized threat.
Links: Apply
to become an FBI Contract Linguist
