-
NGA career question
Hello all. I am currently a student studying GIS. I am possibly interested in a job with the National Geospatial-intelligence Agency. Does anyone have any insight on careers with them? Things like pay, location, work environment? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
-
8 Replies
-
Some NGA people (a geodesist and several cartographers) were at grad school with me. Admittedly this was over 20 years ago, but it’s the government! How much could it have changed?
They were from either St. Louis or the DC area. I know NGA just moved people to a new campus on Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
A few St. Louis people worked in a cold room (I think to keep the computers from overheating) and had to wear winter coats!
They seemed to have good benefits, at least for education. If you were approved to attend graduate school, you didn’t have to actually finish the degree, but do the time. That included per diem, enough to maintain an existing house at “home” plus an apartment.
You’ll have to be able to get top secret + compartmentalized information clearance. That’s 10 years of history at least. They’ll question your friends, relatives, and neighbors. The opportunities for students page says that you have to get this clearance even for an internship. They also mention (for an internship) that you should not have taken any illegal drugs within the past year, and use before that is carefully evaluated.
In general, I’ve heard that government jobs pay less than industry, but have excellent benefits. Pay ranges will be based on your grade/level and time in grade.
They do a lot of cool stuff. You’ll be in a vault with strict security requirements that’ll include publishing documents, emails, foreign travel.
I’m just one of those evil GIS people. Bwah-hah-hah! Seriously, I do coordinate systems and transformations at Esri. -
When I went to school (30 years ago) there were a number of NGA (DMA at the time) grad students there, they were FULLY paid and complained that they were only getting 1/2 per diem to attend school. I didn’t feel any pity for them, I was NOT getting paid, and paying my own tuition and living expenses.
I wanted to go to work there after graduation, specifically at the Inter-American Geodetic Survey (IAGS), which was headquartered in San Antonio and had advisers in many south american countries. But, right about that time that program was scaled way down, and then eliminated. I applied as a geodesist, but they rated me as a cartographer. About six months later I was rated as a geodesist, but by then I was working in the private sector making more money (but not as good benefits).
-
John Hamilton, post: 354293, member: 640 wrote: When I went to school (30 years ago) there were a number of NGA (DMA at the time) grad students there, they were FULLY paid and complained that they were only getting 1/2 per diem to attend school. I didn’t feel any pity for them, I was NOT getting paid, and paying my own tuition and living expenses.
The complaint 20-odd years ago was that their per diem was reclassified into taxable income. I was using loans and a teaching assistantship so I didn’t have much sympathy.
I’m just one of those evil GIS people. Bwah-hah-hah! Seriously, I do coordinate systems and transformations at Esri. -
mkennedy, post: 354276, member: 7183 wrote: Some NGA people (a geodesist and several cartographers) were at grad school with me. Admittedly this was over 20 years ago, but it’s the government! How much could it have changed?
They were from either St. Louis or the DC area. I know NGA just moved people to a new campus on Fort Belvoir in Virginia.
A few St. Louis people worked in a cold room (I think to keep the computers from overheating) and had to wear winter coats!
They seemed to have good benefits, at least for education. If you were approved to attend graduate school, you didn’t have to actually finish the degree, but do the time. That included per diem, enough to maintain an existing house at “home” plus an apartment.
You’ll have to be able to get top secret + compartmentalized information clearance. That’s 10 years of history at least. They’ll question your friends, relatives, and neighbors. The opportunities for students page says that you have to get this clearance even for an internship. They also mention (for an internship) that you should not have taken any illegal drugs within the past year, and use before that is carefully evaluated.
In general, I’ve heard that government jobs pay less than industry, but have excellent benefits. Pay ranges will be based on your grade/level and time in grade.
They do a lot of cool stuff. You’ll be in a vault with strict security requirements that’ll include publishing documents, emails, foreign travel.
Thanks mkennedy. I appreciate the info. I definitely don’t want to live in St. Louis or DC area however. I guess that will not work. I’ll have to look elsewhere.
-
There are also analysts assigned at probably every base. You might take a look at doing an internship…if you can get a clearance, even if you don’t like NGA, there are lots of contractors (Northrup Grumman, SAIC, others).
I’m just one of those evil GIS people. Bwah-hah-hah! Seriously, I do coordinate systems and transformations at Esri. -
I have an old friend that retired as a Lt. Col., U.S. Army that was assigned to the NSA for a number of years. Satellite imagery, cartography and remote sensing was his specialty and he worked with both private contractors and civil service personnel. Although always tight-lipped with details about some of his experience, he always talked fondly about his career. I don’t know how similar the NGA is with some of his dealings, but it always sounded like a lot of fun. If you’re into some of the top-notch hardware and can work with the hassle of security clearances, give it a whirl.
After all, if you don’t like it, you can always quit……maybe…..
-
Soonermapper, I’ve sent you a private message/ conversation notice- you’ll have to login to your account on surveyorconnect.com to read- I can offer some suggestions on career options. My contact info is also in my profile.
-
mkennedy, post: 354728, member: 7183 wrote: There are also analysts assigned at probably every base. You might take a look at doing an internship…if you can get a clearance, even if you don’t like NGA, there are lots of contractors (Northrup Grumman, SAIC, others).
Thanks so much. Ideally I’d like to stay in Oklahoma or maybe Colorado or New Mexico. Are there any NGA jobs there?
Log in to reply.