Ann Z. Caracristi

Ann Z. Caracristi
9th Deputy Director of the National Security Agency
In office
April 1, 1980 – July 30, 1982
Preceded by Robert E. Drake
Succeeded by Robert E. Rich
Personal details
Born Ann Zeilinger Caracristi
(1921-02-01)February 1, 1921
Bronxville, New York, U.S.
Died January 10, 2016(2016-01-10) (aged 94)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education Russell Sage College
Federal Executive Institute
Profession Cryptanalyst, intelligence consultant and official

Ann Zeilinger Caracristi (February 1, 1921 – January 10, 2016) was an American cryptanalyst, former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency,[1] where she served at various positions over a 40-year career. She served as a member of the Secretary of Defense Joint Security Commission and President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. She became the first woman at NSA to be promoted to GS-18 rank, in 1975, when she became the Chief of Research and Operations.

Biography

She was born in Bronxville, New York.[2] She attended Russell Sage College, a women’s college in Troy, New York, and graduated in 1942, with an English and History major. After graduation, she was recruited by the Army Signal Intelligence Service to work as a code breaker, at the recommendation of the Dean of Russell Sage. Caracristi was sent to Washington, D.C., she attended the cryptanalysis courses of William Friedman where puzzles were used to train cryptographers in the art of pattern recognition. In 1980, Caracristi became the first woman to serve as NSA Deputy Director. She received the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 1980, the highest award given to civilians. [3]

She retired in 1982. She lived most of her adult life in a one-bedroom cottage in Georgetown, and her hobbies included birds and collecting pewter.[4]

In 2002, her name was given to a Naval Intelligence Professionals' award.[5] Caracristi died January 10, 2016, in Washington at the age of 94. She had dementia in her later years.[6]

Awards

Veterans History Project. Video interviews with with Ann Caracristi. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Former Deputy Directors NSA website.
  2. ↑ Who's who of American women. Marquis Who's Who. 1973. ISBN 9780837904085. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  3. ↑ Weston, Madalyn (February 22, 2018). "Celebrating Women in STEM: Ann Caracristi".
  4. ↑ Orton, Kathy (2016-02-26). "Little red cottage is a cozy secret tucked away in Georgetown". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  5. ↑ Ann Caracristi Award Archived June 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. on the Naval Intelligence website
  6. ↑ Weil, Martin (2016-01-11). "Ann Caracristi, who excelled at code-breaking and management, dies at 94". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  7. ↑ "Veterans video project". Veterans video project.
Government offices
Preceded by
Robert E. Drake		 Deputy Director of the National Security Agency
April 1980 – July 1982		 Succeeded by
Robert E. Rich



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