National Security Agency (NSA)

The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States government, responsible for the collection, production, and exploitation of signals intelligence (SIGINT), the security of networks and information technology systems, and the protection of US government communications.

Established by President Harry S. Truman in 1952, the NSA is one of the oldest US intelligence agencies. It is part of the Department of Defense under the direction of the Director of National Intelligence and is headquartered at Fort Meade, Maryland.

The NSA collects the content of communications, both foreign and domestic, and analyzes those communications for information of importance to national security. This includes gathering text, phone conversations, and, as revealed in the aftermath of the Edward Snowden leaks in 2013, Internet data. It conducts research and development of advanced cryptography systems and provides technical assistance to other government agencies for secure information systems.

The NSA has been the subject of controversy due to its broad, secretive authority, and its aggressive data-collection practices, which has sparked much debate over how far its power should reach.

The NSA works in cooperation with the CIA and the FBI, and actively recruits talented students and professionals from computer science and engineering fields to join its ranks.