Virginia Jenkins Riley

The variety of Virginia Riley’s accomplishments in four decades at NSA confirms her status as a consummate cryptologist: linguist, cryptanalyst, teacher, computer practitioner, researcher, and senior manager. To each role she brought intellect, imagination, and sensitivity.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa with degrees from Miami University of Ohio and Duke Ms. Riley began her career at NSA in 1953 as a linguist. She became a self-taught cryptanalyst and computer programmer — well before NSA had curricula or infrastructure for computer-assisted analysis.

In the early 1960s, Ms. Riley was one of the designers and programmers of a general program written for the UNIVAC 490, the first computer designed specifically for real-time applications at NSA. Included in this program package was a statistical program which Ms. Riley implemented for general use; it became one of the most widely used diagnostic tools available to cryptanalysts at that time.

In the late 1960s, Ms. Riley moved to the Cryptanalysis Department at the National Cryptologic School. There, she developed a new course in Cryptanalytic Diagnostics, which was highly creative in its methodology and was a stunning success. When Ms. Riley later assumed leadership of the CA Department, she reviewed and rewrote the entire CA curriculum, updating it, and taking advantage of new learning technologies. She introduced self-paced as well as computer-assisted training into the NCS.

Ms. Riley became chief of Personnel (M3), where she introduced a new twist to the college recruitment program: working analysts were teamed with personnel specialists so potential recruits on campuses could meet and talk with enthusiastic SIGINTers.

In the course of her multifaceted career, Ms. Riley also served as president of three of the Agency’s learned organizations: the Crypto Mathematics Institute, the Computer and Information Science Institute, and the Human Resources Management Association, which she helped found.

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Virginia Clark Jenkins Rile, age 79, lived in DC area from 1953 until 2003. Virginia died from ovarian cancer on November 19, 2008 in Rockledge, Florida. Virginia Clark Jenkins Riley was born on June 14, 1929 in Chillicothe, Ohio, the daughter of Thomas Emmett Clark and Grace Stocklin. She graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in Romance Language. She received her MA from Duke University in 1953. During her college years, she was an active public speaker and writer. She was a long time resident of Laurel, MD.

Virginia worked for the National Security Agency from 1953 until 1994. She twice received her Agency’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award and was the first female president of three of the Agency’s learned organizations…Crypto Mathematics Institute, Computer and Information Science Institute, and the Human Resource Managements Association which she helped found. She has been selected as a distinguished member of the Crypto Mathematics Institute and the KRYPTOS Society. (ADDED – Virginia was inducted into the NSA/CSS Cryptologic Hall of Honor in 2015.)

For all of her life Virginia was active musically. She sang in the St. Mary’s choir in Laurel, the choir in our Lady of Grace in Leisure World and the choir at St. Mary’s in Rockledge, FL. She played the flute and was active in several musical groups. Virginia loved to create word search puzzles and was a free lance puzzle constructor for Dell, Penny Press and most recently, Games magazines. She was an active lap swimmer and enjoyed walking and reading. She edited a 16-page newsletter for her mutual in Leisure World, Maryland. She also loved cats.

Virginia is predeceased by her parents and her sister, Mary Hanawalt. She is also predeceased by her first husband, William Thomas Jenkins of Cincinnati, Ohio (married in August of 1953). She is survived by her husband, Robert Lee Riley, whom she marred in September of 2002. Together, they built a home in Rockledge, Florida. In addition, she is survived by two nephews, Brad Hanawalt and his son, Colter of Vero Beach, and Kurt Hanawalt and his wife, Vicky of Cincinnati. When Virginia married Robert Riley, she was welcomed into a larger family which includes Keith Riley of Houghton, MI, Kevin Riley of Rockledge, FL, and Kathy Riley of Rockledge, FL along with their spouses eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned for December 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Leisure World. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 1136 Seminole Blvd., Rockledge, Florida 32955A memorial service is being planned for December 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Leisure World. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building Fund, 1136 Seminole Blvd., Rockledge, Florida 32955