Epstein Secrets

be devised. New vulnerabilities could also be targeted in enemy ter- ritories. Although repairing the damage might take many “decades,” according to Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a for- | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.indd 207 @ 9/30/

the damage might take many “decades,” according to Michael McConnell, the vice-chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a for- | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.indd 207 @ 9/30/16 8:13AM | | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019695 208 | HOW AMERICA LOST ITS SECRETS mer NSA director

ing the NSA. In 2010, the NSA division that handled such security and espio- nage threats reportedly initiated a counterespionage probe at the NSA’s Fort Meade headquarters. According to a former NSA official, “They [were] looking for one or more Russian spies that NSA [was] convinced resided at Fort Meade a

adversaries took full advantage of the setback. Sev- eral hundred U.S. and British intelligence officers worked around the clock in Washington, D.C., Fort Meade, Maryland, and Cheltenham, England, for months on end to determine which parts of the most powerful communications intelligence system in the world c

ld be devised. New vulnerabilities also could be targeted in enemy territories. Although repairing the damage might take many “decades.” according to Michael McConnell, the Vice Chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a former NSA director himself, pointed out that the NSA D

the damage might take many “decades.” according to Michael McConnell, the Vice Chairman of Booz Allen, the new director had to get on with that task. McConnell, a former NSA director himself, pointed out that the NSA Director’s “first responsibility is to be the chief cheerleader." Rebuilding the NSA capabil

the NSA. In 2010, the NSA’s “Q” division handled such security and espionage threats. It reportedly initiated a counter-espionage probe at the NSA’s Fort Meade headquarters on receiving the tip. But since the NSA’s cryptological service had in 2010 no fewer than 35,000 military and civilian contractor employ

le its adversaries took full advantage of the setback. Several hundred US and British intelligence officers worked around the clock in Washington DC, Fort Meade, Maryland and Cheltenham, England for months on end to determine if which parts could be still salvaged from what had been until the Snowden breach t

the tip of the iceberg. —RETIRED ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2013 | | E

98 PART TWO THE INTELLIGENCE CRISIS What you've seen so far [in the Snowden theft of documents] is just the tip of the iceberg. —RETIRED ADMIRAL MICHAEL MCCONNELL, vice-chairman, Booz Allen Hamilton, 2013 | | Epst_9780451494566_2p_all_r1.z.indd 111 @ 9/29/16 5:51PM | | HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_019599 | | Epst_978045

ing the breach to a team headed by Richard “Rick” Ledgett, who was then director of the NSA’s Threat Opera- tions Center at the NSA’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. Ledgett was the logical choice to head the damage assessment inves- tigation because the center’s regional branch in Hawaii was under his

IGHT_020168 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020169 18 CHAPTER ONE The Great Divide “What you’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.” -- retired Admiral Michael McConnell, vice chairman of Booz Allen Hamilton On June 9, 2013, the Guardian, the British newspaper known for the quality and gravity of its reporting posted

hairman Michael McConnell said with the benefit of hindsight. As a result of the theft, he appraised “an entire generation of intelligence was lost.” McConnell, a former NSA director before taking the job at Booz Allen, was in a position to know. Snowden’s sudden career change had both advantages and disadv

the sensitive job of investigating the breach to Richard “Rick” Ledgett, the Director of the NSA’s Threat Operations Center at NSA’s headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland. It was a key position since the top- secret unit was responsible for discovering and countering the threats posed by Chinese, Russian and