analyst

contract specialist

system engineer

scientist

data scientist

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Working at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency was (I'm retired) just about the best job a person could have this side of winning the lottery.  Given that a lot of the work I did there was overhead photographic interpretation, using many different computer hardware and software platforms to generate hard-copy maps and digital map data for the United States Armed Forces from the features seen on the imagery, often of potentially hostile territory, and the secret to top-secret security clearance required for most of the careers at this agency, it was a very glamorous job that often made one feel like a character from a James Bond movie.  I learned not only photographic interpretation at that job, but how to lay out the body and legend of a paper map.  It was on that job that I learned how to use a personal computer; Windows was the operating system for one of the computer graphics manipulation and editing platforms I used, and I learned Word and Outlook to use the office  personal computers to write reports and communicate with personnel via e-mail.  Got my geography degree during four very enjoyable years at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville after enrolling in it to see if I could pick up more info about map-making, and a taste of higher-level math from some geodesy courses taken on-site after work hours through the agency and from a semester of Long-Term Full Time Training at Ohio State University.  Along with the spy-movie glamor of the nature of the work, the next most enjoyable part of the job was the co-workers; they were smart as whips, had great senses of humor, and there was an almost family-like camaraderie among the workers.  The casual atmosphere and dress code were also great; for civilian employees, blue jeans, T-shirts and sneakers were the norm.  Hardest parts of the job, for me, were learning all aspects of how to use a computer in the first place; I was a bit of a technological fossil, and to this day am not that great at surfing the 'Net; in fact, I retired when the duties of the job changed from production of data to primarily Internet research when data production got contracted out to private-sector companies.  Switching back and forth between first and second shift every two weeks was mighty tough, especially since I had killer insomnia and a long commute.  Management and job training were pretty hit-and-miss.  The managers, like the "worker bees", were smart, hard-working, nice people, but the management/production gears never seemed to mesh, so to speak, probably at least in part because of the constant reorganizations and realignments that shuffled personnel around all the time.

Here is my evaluation of working in the NGA, where I feel that I have given my all to the agency. I did enjoy the projects I’ve worked on using my knowledge and expertise to solve problems and lend support to others in the agency. The pay is good, but advancement or movement to other positions I found difficult, due to bureaucracy, and management and directors who are resistant to change. 
     
     I observed that leadership quality has declined since I arrived as many new supervisors replacing old ones do not have a technical background nor understand the projects they oversee. Management has recently tended to promoted corporate climbers for division heads; in my division someone from the military became division chief rather than someone with functional experience and education. Feedback tends to move top down, not bottom up, resulting in management not listening to workers. This leads to problems with management usually interfering with projects, leading to low morale among the workers. Progress on projects often is best when supervisors are ignored. 

Also computer software is not properly upgraded to industry standards due to security issues.  Newer requested software, e.g., Python, ML algorithms, etc., may eventually be installed, but at glacial speed. 

COVID has required most government agencies and companies to use teleworking, which has generally been embraced as an efficient means of productivity; however, the NGA has bucked the trend, and has steadily crackdown on teleworking, even in cases regarding individual health issues. I’ve heard that currently a third of the workforce has quit partially due to the current policy against teleworking. I’ve also found that collaboration with outside agencies and travel is not encouraged, perhaps due to security and budget, but various projects require outside collaboration to advance. 

Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities is not honestly adhered to; it is weak or even ignored when the administration decides not to grant RA to an individual with a special condition, especially if the individual seeks more teleworking to accommodate their condition. 

Overall, partially due to security, process is valued over productivity, an irritation to many. Although the agency provides high pay if you consider entering, consider moving on elsewhere later on to advance your carrier. 

Raise your hand if you knew this agency existed. That is okay if you did not, for almost anyone not directly connected to this agency via a family member would not have an inkling as to what this agency did to aid the safety and security of American citizens. Name a product or a service this agency provides. As American citizens, we see a lot of income subtracted from our paychecks. Agencies (and the people who work in them) such as this one are the beneficiaries of your contributions. 

This agency specializes in training mostly lively, young, talented individuals, who come into the workforce with solid diplomas and strong work ethics, and proceeds to drain both from them through a risk-averse work culture. Someone who will possess dynamic innovative skills will have to work hard to keep them and maintain them while working here, as mainstream software applications are outdated, and are made even more cumbersome by an onerous security department. In essence, be it by design or otherwise, the longer you remain here, the less your skills become transferrable to the outside world. So, if you wanted to take your talents elsewhere, you'd better do so early on, or this culture you will put lead in your shoes. 

Moreover, no matter what tradecraft you reside in, be prepared to hear no customer feedback from whatever outdated product or service you are alleged to provide to that customer. The supervisory chain of command will in most cases be unable to provide that answer. In fact, often times, the supervisor will not be able to know if the customer is happy, dissatisfied, or who the customer even is. 

This agency is overstaffed by literally 60-70%. You could shed these jobs from the agency payroll and, as public citizens, your lives would not be impacted in the least. Many of the positions here have been earned through nepotism, instead of through valid work experience.

A typical day at work brings mixed emotions. You have to arrive early to get decent parking most of the time, but the amenities available on campus are better than anywhere else I've worked. During the work day, everything is an emergency just like anywhere else, and you're surrounded by many leaders who take themselves entirely too seriously. The security culture is overwhelming there, and the combination of that, the hyper-serious management, and the high work load in many components, engenders a certain level of disengagement among the workforce. There is an inextricable military culture in this agency due to the fact that former military represents the lion's share of the workforce. I would guess that this is where the hyper-seriousness of much of the management stems from. The hardest part of the job is dealing with the people who work there, negotiating the dominant personalities, and managing upward to get things done. The most enjoyable part of the job is the breaks, amenities, and annual leave, with a salary that allows you to do many things you might not otherwise be able to afford if you were doing the same type of work elsewhere.

Although very competent workers and good pay, there’s been a recent change to managers and directors without technical competence but nevertheless impose archaic methods not consistent with modern methods of project management. The result is often that technically incompetent supervisors that interfere with projects and prevent “unauthorized productivity” when employees originate novel methods to achieve results. There are too many in management wanting to climb the ladder without understanding the projects; a top heavy management. 

With the agency not keeping up with technology, one needs to ignore the supervisors and use their knowledge and skills to get work done. The agency should go back to more teleworking; it’s easier to to work on problems without supervisor interference, and besides, there aren’t enough desks, and the the parking lot is always too full. Also, the band system of pay should be abandoned; it only blocks workers from pay raises; the GS system worked fine!

•	Enforce Federal laws and ensure DOD and NGA rules and regulations are followed. 
•	Provide for the protection of NGA personnel and assets by conducting entry control, internal patrols, limited investigative and dignitary protection, emergency response, and physical security. 
•	Prepare accident, incident, and police reports, conduct interviews and briefings, and provide customer support services. 
•	provide training services to include the development of comprehensive police-specific training
•	I.P.M.B.A ( International Police Mountain Bike Association) certified Oct 2011
•	T.R.T (Tactical Response Team) member
•	Crisis Intervention and negotiation certified by Fairfax County police
•	Provides counter terrorism measures for the agency and provides expertise on specific situations.
•	As a certified Command Control Center operator i have two years’ experience with the BOSH camera systems, the door alarm systems and working dispatch. Also compiling Blotter entries.
•	I have conducted supervisory roles such as Role Calls, Assignment Distribution and acting on behalf of the Sergeants and lieutenants

I worked almost 30 years under five different presidential administrations. For the most part, I enjoyed my many jobs there.  However, when I left in 2018, there were some rather big issues.  I worked in Diversity & Inclusion and from late autumn of 2016, I knew my ultimate boss (POTUS) didn't trust the people in my agency and thought very little of my specific job.  NGA already had some issues with inclusiveness and harassment, but after he won the election, it seemed as if things just started getting out of hand.  The people that I worked with were wonderful and all wanted to make a difference in the agency's culture.  My supervisor was absolutely awesome!  I would be happy to work for him anywhere.  But, I felt as if I needed to leave for political and personal reasons.  I imagine it will be better when the 46th president takes office.

Great place to work with ample opportunities to excel with continuing educational opportunities and working with world class leaders in the intelligence community. Employees are engaged and take ownership of the work they do. Employees often work as a team yet each employee has ample opportunity to work independently on critical assignments important to understanding the world-wide geopolitical environment. There is a collaborative work culture with opportunities to participate in numerous volunteer activities, many of which are fun in addition to rewarding. This is a great place to grow individually and to know that your efforts are making a difference beyond the homeland.

I joined NGA a handful of few years ago, and it's still the best career decision I've ever made. For starter's it's led by a great Vice Admiral and leader in Director Sharp. It's also a federal government job, so it has all the great tangible and intangible benefits that come with it (plus a few more that aren't offered to all agencies!). I love the mission and how we support the national security effort; it makes a difference knowing that I'm doing my part in something bigger than myself. The biggest reason why I joined NGA is to get better work-life balance than the private sector offers, and that has proven to be a good decision for me, my physical and mental health, and my family. Lastly, I love the career development options and upward mobility. If you perform well, you'll advance. It took me a little longer than I had hoped, but I've already received one big promotion in my time with NGA.

Good Place to start and end a career. It's a really bad place to be in the middle of your career. Very challenging promotion system that does not make sense. Have to spend months working on what is called an Individual Talent Profile (ITP). Basically, a writing contest that goes up to a board. The board then selects x number of individuals that are then eligible to promote. You then have to go apply for promotion jobs within the agency and hope you find one. All while they are hiring contractors that may have worked under you into those same promotion opportunities. Government Employees do not have a chance to even apply to those same jobs unless first selected/blessed by the board first.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Analyst 7 salaries reported	$105,047 per year
Contract specialist 3 salaries reported	$132,736 per year
System engineer 2 salaries reported	$123,813 per year
Scientist 1 salary reported	$91,544 per year
Data scientist 3 salaries reported	$117,665 per year

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