Tom Drake

Well, no one knew who I was until I became what I call an asterisked American at the point that the government made me a very public figure, especially in the United States, when I blew the whistle on a number of different things going on at NSA. So if you want to start there in terms of just – I'm in NSA as a senior executive.

Well, no one knew who I was until I became what I call an asterisked American at the point that the government made me a very public figure, especially in the United States, when I blew the whistle on a number of different things going on at NSA. So if you want to start there in terms of just – I'm in NSA as a senior executive.

Well, no one knew who I was until I became what I call an asterisked American at the point that the government made me a very public figure, especially in the United States, when I blew the whistle on a number of different things going on at NSA. So if you want to start there in terms of just – I'm in NSA as a senior executive.

Day one, when I reported to my duty station, reporting to number three person, was 9-11. That day was my first day on the job.

Day one, when I reported to my duty station, reporting to number three person, was 9-11. That day was my first day on the job.

Day one, when I reported to my duty station, reporting to number three person, was 9-11. That day was my first day on the job.

Long story. So in my early 20s, I made a choice. It's a volunteer military, so I volunteered. It's no draft. Technically, you have to register. So I joined the Air Force in late 1979. It was right before Christmas. after going through a bunch of screenings and tests.

Long story. So in my early 20s, I made a choice. It's a volunteer military, so I volunteered. It's no draft. Technically, you have to register. So I joined the Air Force in late 1979. It was right before Christmas. after going through a bunch of screenings and tests.

Long story. So in my early 20s, I made a choice. It's a volunteer military, so I volunteered. It's no draft. Technically, you have to register. So I joined the Air Force in late 1979. It was right before Christmas. after going through a bunch of screenings and tests.

And one of the tests you take is a very special test to see if you qualify for a very special program, which is in the crypto linguistics arena. And they actually make up a language.

And one of the tests you take is a very special test to see if you qualify for a very special program, which is in the crypto linguistics arena. And they actually make up a language.

And one of the tests you take is a very special test to see if you qualify for a very special program, which is in the crypto linguistics arena. And they actually make up a language.

Cryptolinguistics.

Cryptolinguistics.

Cryptolinguistics.

Yep. And they actually test your propensity or proficiency in being able to pick up a language and the structure. It's made up. It's a made up language. OK. Bears no resemblance other than just basic linguistic structure. OK. And then they ask you a whole bunch of questions. And I scored high enough to qualify. So that was the first thing. Now, you can still choose to not enter into that program.

Yep. And they actually test your propensity or proficiency in being able to pick up a language and the structure. It's made up. It's a made up language. OK. Bears no resemblance other than just basic linguistic structure. OK. And then they ask you a whole bunch of questions. And I scored high enough to qualify. So that was the first thing. Now, you can still choose to not enter into that program.

Yep. And they actually test your propensity or proficiency in being able to pick up a language and the structure. It's made up. It's a made up language. OK. Bears no resemblance other than just basic linguistic structure. OK. And then they ask you a whole bunch of questions. And I scored high enough to qualify. So that was the first thing. Now, you can still choose to not enter into that program.

I also chose to go airborne. I wanted to go airborne, and I wanted to be assigned overseas. So I went through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, and then I went on to Monterey. It's the foreign language center, Bresidio Monterey Defense Language Institute. And that's where I learned basic German to a level where you could have at least basic understanding. Focus was all comprehension.

I also chose to go airborne. I wanted to go airborne, and I wanted to be assigned overseas. So I went through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, and then I went on to Monterey. It's the foreign language center, Bresidio Monterey Defense Language Institute. And that's where I learned basic German to a level where you could have at least basic understanding. Focus was all comprehension.