Fort Meade NSG at National Security Agency

• Founding of Fort Meade: Established in 1917, Fort George G. Meade is named after the Union General George Meade, who played a pivotal role in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. • Home of the National Security Agency (NSA): Fort Meade is best known as the headquarters of the NSA, one of the world’s most advanced signals intelligence organizations, since 1957. • National SIGINT Operations Center: The National Security Agency’s National SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) Operations Center is located on base, coordinating global signal intercepts in real time. • Largest Employer in Maryland: Fort Meade is the largest employer in Maryland and the second-largest installation workforce of the U.S. Army, with over 60,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. • Host to Multiple Agencies: Besides the NSA, Fort Meade hosts several other intelligence and cybersecurity organizations, including the U.S. Cyber Command, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and Defense Media Activity. • Role in World War II: During WWII, Fort Meade trained more than 200,000 troops and served as a prisoner-of-war camp for German and Italian soldiers. • NSG’s Cutting-Edge Technology: The NSA and its National Security Group (NSG) at Fort Meade have been pioneers in cryptography, computer science, and secure communications, including early work on supercomputers and code-breaking. • Cold War Espionage: Fort Meade’s NSA operations were central in intercepting Soviet communications, influencing pivotal moments such as the Cuban Missile Crisis. • Historic “Puzzle Palace” Nickname: The NSA’s main building at Fort Meade has been referred to as the “Puzzle Palace” due to the secretive and complex nature of its cryptologic work. • Famous Defectors and Whistleblowers: Several high-profile cases, such as Edward Snowden and William Binney, involve former NSA employees who worked at Fort Meade, highlighting its central role in intelligence controversies.