• EDUCATE
    EDUCATE

    ...our citizens to be cyber smart, and develop pathways for the future cyber workforce.

  • ENGAGE
    ENGAGE

    ...and convene partners to address emerging cyber and cryptologic issues.

  • COMMEMORATE
    COMMEMORATE

    ...our cryptologic history & those who served within the cryptologic community.

THE NCF VISION

Advance the nation’s interest in cyber and cryptology through leadership, education, and partnerships.

UPCOMING EVENTS

*** Remember to check out our "On This Date in History" calendar. See link below.

Saturday, May 4, 2024
8:30 am2:00 pm
TAC's TheLink, 7000 Columbia Gateway
Suite 150
Columbia, MD 21046
US

Thursday, October 3, 2024
Waverly Woods Golf Course
2100 Warwick Way
Mariottsville, MD 21104
US

Sue Finley's Long Career at JPL Began as a Human Computer

In June 2017, the LA Times published this story by Samantha Masunaga about Sue Finley and her long career at JPL (which at 80 years of age - is still going strong!). Finley is a great role model for learning and exploring new frontiers! Finley is pictured in the photo (by LA Times Allen Schaben) next to a model of the Voyager 1 space probe. Finley worked on Voyager in the 1970s.

From her start as a "human computer," she went on to work on projects such as the Venus Balloon Project, for which she wrote the program that automated movement commands for a DSN antenna. She also helped design the special tones emitted by spacecraft that correspond with actions taken. Finley loves learning something new every day and is now helping to design and test a new, pizza box-sized receiver for the DSN. She is also working on a concept to allow small satellites to transmit data by intercepting the beam of a larger spacecraft’s antenna.

Click to read the full article via the LA Times website.

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Visit the Cryptologic Bytes Archives via the "Return to List" link below.

THIS MONTH on the

On This Day In History

Calendar

  • The first hire at SIS was Annie Louise Newkirk, hired as a cryptographic clerk. Interesting note, when a phone call came in for someone working in the vault room, Ms. Newkirk would buzz the back room using a Morse code equivalent for the first initial of the individual's name. In honor of Women's History Month - click to learn about more female cryptologic pioneers!

About Us

The NCF's Vision is to strengthen trust in the digital ecosystem.

The NCF Mission: Advance the nation’s interest in cyber and cryptology as we:

Educate citizens to be cyber smart individuals, 

Develop pathways for the future cyber and cryptologic workforce, 

Engage and convene partners to address emerging cyber and cryptologic issues and, 

Commemorate our cryptologic history and those who served. 

The Foundation provides exceptional cryptologic programs, encourages young minds to learn about cryptology and to explore cyber-related career opportunities, hosts educational, cryptology-related exhibits at various community events, and honors the people— past and present—whose contributions to our national security protect and make possible our way of life.

The NCF also provides needed support to the National Cryptologic Museum (NCM), the first public museum in the U.S. Intelligence Community. Located adjacent to the National Security Agency (NSA) in Maryland, the NCM houses a unique and priceless collection of artifacts that represent our Nation's history in code making and code breaking, as well as a world class library of cryptologic media. The NCF has acquired rare and invaluable artifacts for the Museum and helps to support new educational and interactive exhibits.

The NCF is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Learn more about our MISSION, VISION, and VALUES.