Jenny Smith

"As an electrical engineering student, I was selected for the co-operative education program at the National Security Agency (NSA). This was a tremendous opportunity for me. I was assigned to several different organizations that helped lay the foundation for my future career including a tour that supported QRC missions and another that helped me develop my programming skills. My last supervisor ended up leaving NSA and going to a small business where he recruited me when I graduated from college. That small business was bought and sold a few times and became Raytheon Technologies, where I still remain today."

"I am most excited about supporting our important customer missions and supporting our employees who do so many great things. My top career highlights have combined both those elements. Working with a team to develop ideas to support a critical customer mission and writing a winning proposal is a career highlight. Not only do you get the excitement of supporting a new customer and mission, but you create new opportunities for your employees—a win/win!"

"The IC will need to focus on changes that come with the new administration, the development of an active coordinated defense across the IC and a commercial industry to combat cyber security threats, and addressing staffing impacts resulting from COVID as employees seek to work from home and move to commercial companies."

"[Advice for a student considering a career in the IC] Be proactive about gaining exposure to customer missions and technologies—many of these are uniquely available in the IC. Look for opportunities, ask questions, and try new things. My career progressed by reaching out to provide a helping hand to the busiest people in my business area. I learned new skills, developed relationships with great mentors, and was afforded new opportunities. Be positive. Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."

Favorite TV show: The Queen's Gambit was outstanding. I enjoyed the character development and focus on how she perfected her skill. A bonus was the increased popularity in a quarantine-friendly activity!