Ann Z. Caracristi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Z. Caracristi
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| 9th Deputy Director of the National Security Agency | |
| In office April 1, 1980 – July 30, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Robert E. Drake |
| Succeeded by | Robert E. Rich |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ann Zeilinger Caracristi
February 1, 1921 Bronxville, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 10, 2016 (aged 94) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | Russell Sage College Federal Executive Institute |
| Profession | Cryptanalyst, intelligence consultant and official |
Ann Zeilinger Caracristi (born February 1, 1921 – died January 10, 2016) was an amazing American codebreaker. She worked for the National Security Agency (NSA) for 40 years! She even became the first woman to reach a very high rank (GS-18) at the NSA in 1975. She was also the Deputy Director of the NSA. Ann was a member of important groups like the Secretary of Defense Joint Security Commission. She also served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
Contents
Ann's Early Life and Career
Ann was born in Bronxville, New York. She went to Russell Sage College, a women’s college in Troy, New York. She finished college in 1942, studying English and History.
After college, she was asked to join the Army Signal Intelligence Service. Her job was to break secret codes! She started by sorting papers for IBM machines. But she quickly became very good at her job. She even took special classes in Washington, D.C. There, she learned to find patterns in codes using puzzles.
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During World War II, Ann worked on breaking codes used by the Japanese military. She was very talented at figuring out enemy code books. She and her team were among the first Americans to know that Japan planned to surrender. They figured out the code on August 14, 1945.
After the war, Ann continued her work at an agency. This agency later became part of the National Security Agency. She was promoted to a higher pay grade in 1959. Then, in 1975, she became the Chief of Research and Operations. This was the highest pay grade (GS-18).
Becoming Deputy Director
In 1980, Ann Caracristi became the sixth Deputy Director of the NSA. She was the first woman to have this important job! In the same year, she received the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award. This is the highest award given to civilians.
As Deputy Director, she helped guide new generations of codebreakers. She also helped bring computers and new technology into their work. Her colleagues said she was a great leader. Ann wanted to be remembered for her work, not just for being a woman in a high position. She was one of the first women at the NSA to reach a "super-grade" rank. She was also the first woman to lead a major operations group.
Later Years and Legacy
Ann retired in 1982. But she kept working on important projects for the Intelligence Community. For example, she was appointed to President Clinton’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in 1993.
In 2003, Ann received an honorary degree from the National Intelligence University. Today, an award named after her is given to a top student there every year.
Ann lived most of her adult life in a small cottage in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. She enjoyed watching birds and collecting pewter.
In 2002, a Naval Intelligence Professionals' award was named after her. Ann Caracristi passed away on January 10, 2016, in Washington, D.C., at the age of 94.
Awards and Other Recognition
- In 1980, she received the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award.
- She is one of the people featured in the 2017 book Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy.
See also
