Tom Drake

It's headed up by, well, then a three-star, now a four-star general with a civilian head underneath him as a deputy. Oh, wow, man. Yeah.

Overseas. So when I got there, I was 20. I had just turned 24 after all the training. Right. Okay. I was there for four years, came back, did the electronic warfare for another four years, got out, went to the CIA. Oh, you went to the CIA? I did. What made you want to go to the CIA?

Overseas. So when I got there, I was 20. I had just turned 24 after all the training. Right. Okay. I was there for four years, came back, did the electronic warfare for another four years, got out, went to the CIA. Oh, you went to the CIA? I did. What made you want to go to the CIA?

Overseas. So when I got there, I was 20. I had just turned 24 after all the training. Right. Okay. I was there for four years, came back, did the electronic warfare for another four years, got out, went to the CIA. Oh, you went to the CIA? I did. What made you want to go to the CIA?

Because it's my background and interests, and it's like, hey – I finished up my first master's when I was in Tucson in international relations and national security policy. And I applied and went through a very extremely rigorous review process, including – even more enhanced background investigations.

Because it's my background and interests, and it's like, hey – I finished up my first master's when I was in Tucson in international relations and national security policy. And I applied and went through a very extremely rigorous review process, including – even more enhanced background investigations.

Because it's my background and interests, and it's like, hey – I finished up my first master's when I was in Tucson in international relations and national security policy. And I applied and went through a very extremely rigorous review process, including – even more enhanced background investigations.

And you had to have a poly, it was the first time I was exposed to the, you know, where you're hooked up to the polygraph machine. And all kinds of tests, test after test after test, I was finally offered a position. I left, I had an opportunity to go to operations and go overseas, basically undercover. There's different covers at NSA. There's like, you know, official, non-official.

And you had to have a poly, it was the first time I was exposed to the, you know, where you're hooked up to the polygraph machine. And all kinds of tests, test after test after test, I was finally offered a position. I left, I had an opportunity to go to operations and go overseas, basically undercover. There's different covers at NSA. There's like, you know, official, non-official.

And you had to have a poly, it was the first time I was exposed to the, you know, where you're hooked up to the polygraph machine. And all kinds of tests, test after test after test, I was finally offered a position. I left, I had an opportunity to go to operations and go overseas, basically undercover. There's different covers at NSA. There's like, you know, official, non-official.

There's what they call knocks. You probably heard knocks.

There's what they call knocks. You probably heard knocks.

There's what they call knocks. You probably heard knocks.

I heard about that recently. They want, at one point, they want me to be official.

I heard about that recently. They want, at one point, they want me to be official.

I heard about that recently. They want, at one point, they want me to be official.

Yeah, well, deniable, but you're on your own. If something happens, they're not going to, it's like, it's the most risky, it's the riskiest of all. Right. Like you're expendable. They're not going to come save you. That's correct. Exactly. Oh, yeah. So I chose not to go that route. I had a young family. I'd come back and stay out now. It's like, no, I just, I'm not that young anymore.

Yeah, well, deniable, but you're on your own. If something happens, they're not going to, it's like, it's the most risky, it's the riskiest of all. Right. Like you're expendable. They're not going to come save you. That's correct. Exactly. Oh, yeah. So I chose not to go that route. I had a young family. I'd come back and stay out now. It's like, no, I just, I'm not that young anymore.

Yeah, well, deniable, but you're on your own. If something happens, they're not going to, it's like, it's the most risky, it's the riskiest of all. Right. Like you're expendable. They're not going to come save you. That's correct. Exactly. Oh, yeah. So I chose not to go that route. I had a young family. I'd come back and stay out now. It's like, no, I just, I'm not that young anymore.

So, but I did go into their director of intelligence. And so I was working what you call national technical means, satellite, intercept, collection technology. So, and I was at a downlink site, the primary downlink site in which you processed all that.