Mathematician at Work Author(s): S. BRENT MORRIS Source: Math Horizons, Vol. 2, No. 3 (February 1995), p.

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MORRIS S. BRENT

Mathematician

at Work

Ihave

one of the greatest math jobs lots of good problems, possible: that's really interested management in their solutions, and plenty of oppor tunities for professional growth. It's ironic that I didn't want towork at the (NSA) Security Agency I started and when
career here look|?

Magic
interested

and mathematics
me?I even wrote

have always
my disser

National
began

tation on permutation groups gener ated by card shuffling. During my tours at NSA offices, I learned the perfect shuffle permutation was used to design

For four years I taught cryptanalysis at NSA's National and mathematics School. Then, because of Cryptologic in mathematics interest my policy issues, Sciences I ran NSA's Mathematical which awards grants for Program,
research in and

of solving cryptologic prob lems. I can't talk about the specifics ofmuch of what I've worked on, but I can tell you something about my career. After receiving my Ph.D. from Duke, I started inNSA's

ing for a "real" math job. NSA is the largest employer in the US of mathematicians and ispart of the "intelligence community,"with themission

my

mathematics

cryptanalysis. One ofmy most challenging jobs

was Executive

mpmm

Scientific This Board. Advisory on all of my called of NSA's

Secretary

^Hj

^^ ^ fl^^Rgi, jj^^^Hti ^^^^Hfl

jSL^T

and policy skillstohelp guide a collection of exceptional scientists with some of wrestling

technical,

diplomatic,

fjj^QPP**'

NSA's
problems.

toughest

L_ Crypto Mathematics Program (CMP). The CMP is just one ofmany ways mathematicians are integrated into theNSA work force. Over three years I had tours in five different offices, each giving me a different perspective on NSA's mission. courses During this period I took NSA in cryptanalysis, statistics, number math theory, and other advanced me same sent to time NSA At the topics. school where
Computer

Today I'm working in theoretical computer studying ways

secure. I systems

part-time at Johns Hopkins, I eventually earned an MS in

Science.

interconnection networks. With my interest in magic and my research in of card shuffling, I the mathematics studied these circuits with gusto. The and results were several publications two patents. Most recently theAssocia tion of Computing Machinery named me an ACM Lecturer, and I have been speaking at campuses around the coun tryon "Magic Tricks, Card Shuffling, and Dynamic Computer Memories." During my career with NSA I have had many different jobs. I've worked as

science,
to make computer

continue to speak at colleges and uni versities and now pursue my interest in mathematics policy on theMAA Board I think the keys to suc of Governors. cess in any mathematics job are a love for problem solving, an inquisitive new a and mind, willingness to learn skills. When I run out of new, challenging work at NSA, I'll get back to looking for a "real" math job! If you would
using "Mathematicians

math S. BRENTMORRIS received his BS in

ematics from Southern his MS Methodist in computer Univer from Duke science Univer sity, his AM University, Ph.D. in mathematics

a cryptanalyst, where myjob was to find patterns in seemingly random sets and to deduce structure where none is ap

like to learn more about

order mathematics, a of the Month,"

careers

from Johns Hopkins University, and his

in mathematics from Duke as a math is currently employed at the National Security Agency.

parent. Ifyou don't understand how to break codes, you can't design secure
ones, essential and secure communications country's defense. are to our

package of 18profiles available for$3.00, atWork, $3.00. andMathematical Scientists are from the available Both
Mathematical Association of America.

sity. He ematician

1995 29 MathHorizons February

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