Tom Drake

I've heard that argument. I understand the argument. I understand that. Then just be open about it. But see, that's the problem. If that's true- It doesn't work if you're open about it. But that's the paradox, isn't it? Yeah. But then it justifies continuing it because, oh, we don't want them to take it over. Now you're in just this vicious cycle.

I've heard that argument. I understand the argument. I understand that. Then just be open about it. But see, that's the problem. If that's true- It doesn't work if you're open about it. But that's the paradox, isn't it? Yeah. But then it justifies continuing it because, oh, we don't want them to take it over. Now you're in just this vicious cycle.

I was at the CIA working in the National Photographic Interpretation Center, NPIC. It changed its name. There is now an agency.

I was at the CIA working in the National Photographic Interpretation Center, NPIC. It changed its name. There is now an agency.

I was at the CIA working in the National Photographic Interpretation Center, NPIC. It changed its name. There is now an agency.

Well, it was the analytics side that took what would come down from national technical means, including NRO primarily. and analyze it and report on it. And it could even end up in the president's daily brief. But later on, I was even part of a joint team at the military in the Alert Center at the Pentagon, working for the J2, where you'd put together you know, a morning report. Oh, wow. Oh yeah.

Well, it was the analytics side that took what would come down from national technical means, including NRO primarily. and analyze it and report on it. And it could even end up in the president's daily brief. But later on, I was even part of a joint team at the military in the Alert Center at the Pentagon, working for the J2, where you'd put together you know, a morning report. Oh, wow. Oh yeah.

Well, it was the analytics side that took what would come down from national technical means, including NRO primarily. and analyze it and report on it. And it could even end up in the president's daily brief. But later on, I was even part of a joint team at the military in the Alert Center at the Pentagon, working for the J2, where you'd put together you know, a morning report. Oh, wow. Oh yeah.

Which would include, it was all source. It would include imagery of all types. It would include signals intelligence, which was a huge component because there's, you know, obviously I worked on the Elint disc for a while, right? So this, this overlaps.

Which would include, it was all source. It would include imagery of all types. It would include signals intelligence, which was a huge component because there's, you know, obviously I worked on the Elint disc for a while, right? So this, this overlaps.

Which would include, it was all source. It would include imagery of all types. It would include signals intelligence, which was a huge component because there's, you know, obviously I worked on the Elint disc for a while, right? So this, this overlaps.

electronic intelligence. So there's a number of different ints. SIGINT incorporates basically communication intelligence, electronic intelligence, signals intelligence. But I worked in multiple ints. So there was a time when I was in the Navy. So this goes now we're talking 91. So I left the CIA. And the reason is I had an opportunity to become a contractor doing similar work.

electronic intelligence. So there's a number of different ints. SIGINT incorporates basically communication intelligence, electronic intelligence, signals intelligence. But I worked in multiple ints. So there was a time when I was in the Navy. So this goes now we're talking 91. So I left the CIA. And the reason is I had an opportunity to become a contractor doing similar work.

electronic intelligence. So there's a number of different ints. SIGINT incorporates basically communication intelligence, electronic intelligence, signals intelligence. But I worked in multiple ints. So there was a time when I was in the Navy. So this goes now we're talking 91. So I left the CIA. And the reason is I had an opportunity to become a contractor doing similar work.

It ended up being something completely different. It was a government contractor getting paid a whole lot more money. I'm in the D.C. area. Okay. And without even going into all the details, it was better at that point with a 40% increase plus in salary and a young family. Right. Who wouldn't? You get to keep your clearance, right? Correct. Do all of that. Yep. But working as a contractor. Mm-hmm.

It ended up being something completely different. It was a government contractor getting paid a whole lot more money. I'm in the D.C. area. Okay. And without even going into all the details, it was better at that point with a 40% increase plus in salary and a young family. Right. Who wouldn't? You get to keep your clearance, right? Correct. Do all of that. Yep. But working as a contractor. Mm-hmm.

It ended up being something completely different. It was a government contractor getting paid a whole lot more money. I'm in the D.C. area. Okay. And without even going into all the details, it was better at that point with a 40% increase plus in salary and a young family. Right. Who wouldn't? You get to keep your clearance, right? Correct. Do all of that. Yep. But working as a contractor. Mm-hmm.

Yeah. So I ended up applying- I wanted to continue to serve my country. I'm a contractor, but is there a way to do that without going back into the military full time? Because it's clear that I had moved on from that. So one way to do that is in the reserves. So I became a, it was a direct commission program. I had the master's degree

Yeah. So I ended up applying- I wanted to continue to serve my country. I'm a contractor, but is there a way to do that without going back into the military full time? Because it's clear that I had moved on from that. So one way to do that is in the reserves. So I became a, it was a direct commission program. I had the master's degree

Yeah. So I ended up applying- I wanted to continue to serve my country. I'm a contractor, but is there a way to do that without going back into the military full time? Because it's clear that I had moved on from that. So one way to do that is in the reserves. So I became a, it was a direct commission program. I had the master's degree