We invite you to get to know the men and women of the CIA. They are all Americans who have taken on the important mission of protecting their nation. But they are also your neighbors, youth league coaches and the person in front of you in the shopping line.

They went to the same schools you did, and come from a background as diverse as the nation they serve.

• SUSAN — Program Manager
• CINDY — IT Engineer
• SANDRA — Collection Management Officer
• DOUG — Network Engineer
• AARON — Collection Management Officer
• BILL — Information Officer
• ABEL — HR Officer
• ANH — Staff Operations Officer
• LISA — Electronics Engineer
• AHMAD — Operations Officer

SUSAN — Program Manager

A few years after moving to Washington, I applied to and was hired into a training program that led to open-source foreign language procurement and dissemination. That job evolved into Project Management. Now I provide guidance to four visible and uniquely different programs working with teams of contractors and staffers. I help with tactical and strategic plans for each team, identifying opportunities and resources in their missions, while removing or resolving obstacles. I have a personal desire to help aspiring Program Managers since I received a lot of help and support along the way. I consider this a special organization. There is a passion for the mission and indescribable talent here.

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CINDY — IT Engineer

Having worked for CIA for almost 15 years, I started my career as a cryptographer in the Office of Communications. After spending a year in the Women's Executive Leadership Program, I became a project manager, and then Branch Chief. Now I manage a division of more than 100 staff and contractors, and serve on panels that evaluate and provide direct feedback to our engineers. The Agency employees are truly the best and brightest. Potential applicants should have high energy, ambition, a positive attitude and a strong desire to serve their country.

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SANDRA — Collection Management Officer

I had a once in a lifetime chance to serve my country in the most unique, exciting, and challenging ways possible. I have pride in the fact that what we do is extremely important for the security and vitality of our Nation, what we do cannot be done by just anyone, and we are the very best in the world at what we do. I serve everyday to uphold the oath I took almost 19 years ago and still believe in. Joining the Agency was, without a doubt, the best professional decision I ever made.

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DOUG — Network Engineer

After graduation, I came to work for the network service branch, and have been in engineering and configuration management and re-orgs for three-and-a-half years now. A typical week involves troubleshooting tier-3 networks, while handling the coordination and design of new solutions and proactive changes to the existing network. I also delegate work and provide mentoring and peer review to younger engineers and co-ops. Occasionally, I travel to field sites for pilot installations and core infrastructure changes. Working for the government provides extensive resource support, and the CIA gives me the opportunity to go anywhere in the world.

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AARON — Collection Management Officer

I first thought of working for the CIA after reading Bob Woodward's book "Veil: Secret Wars of the CIA: 1981 - 1987." As I learned more about CIA, its unique mission and singular importance to US national security convinced me that it was an organization for which I wanted to work. I admired that CIA gave policymakers objective and non-politicized recommendations, based on available intelligence. I also admired CIA's tenacity, bravery, and creativity in the pursuit of its mission. This has been abundantly clear in the years since 9/11.  I've chosen to stay with CIA for over 13 years because of the undiminished importance of its global mission, the brilliance and dedication of my coworkers, and the continuous training/education opportunities. All of these factors have made CIA the most exciting and challenging career I can imagine.

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BILL — Information Officer

Due to the technical nature of my job, substantial training was required when I came on board. I couldn't believe I was learning the things I was learning and getting paid to do it! I've been here for 10 years and am currently a senior operations officer for Information Systems Infrastructure. I break down complex problems and present alternative solutions, allowing senior CIA managers to make decisions. I will say that you make sacrifices to be part of this Agency — personal privacy, and openness with friends and neighbors, for example. But each day my work proves two things that I believed when I started — that this Agency performs a critical role in the defense of our country and that career success ultimately lies in your own hands.

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ABEL — HR Officer

My career path has been a continuous learning experience. I have been able to move into positions which have made me grow professionally and personally. After several years of traveling overseas, I returned to the States and became an Instructor. Career-enhancing programs have enabled me to move into staff positions where I developed new skills. I now work in an office that assists officers in the selection of their future assignments through career counseling and consultations with their supervisor and home office. Having a sense of direction is critical — not only for your personal life, but also in making a contribution in a professional atmosphere.

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ANH — Staff Operations Officer

I joined the Agency in February 1999. Why the Agency? After being overseas and living in Soviet/socialist countries, I truly had an appreciation of what the Agency was doing to keep the United States a free and safe place to live.  I told myself that I could contribute to help the Agency continue its world mission. I continue to believe in what we do to secure the safety of our nation. I will continue to work for the Agency until I retire.

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LISA — Electronics Engineer

Twenty years ago, I started my career at the CIA as a co-op engineering student. I worked several tours, and then came on as a full-time staff employee. As an Electronic Engineer, I see new challenges every day. The lab I work in is a quick-reaction environment, our projects last only a few days or maybe weeks. On one challenging project, the timeline was just 32 hours and then I grabbed my tool kit, got on an airplane and traveled halfway around the world to install it. We have talented people who are well rounded and motivated top performers. You have to be flexible. You have to confront the (nearly) impossible on a daily basis.

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AHMAD — Operations Officer

When I joined almost 20 years ago, I was one of a small number of Arab Americans in the Agency. I was one of an even smaller number of Operations Officers. At that time I joined because I was looking for adventure and excitement. What I found were opportunities I could have never imagined -- opportunities to have a voice, opportunities to contribute, opportunities to succeed, opportunities to have relevance. In other words, I found opportunities to make a real difference.  My cultural and language skills contributed to my ability to take advantage of these opportunities. The work was demanding and challenging. Nonetheless, if I had the chance, I would do it all over again.

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