Brian Snow Biography

Brian Snow
Independent Security Advisor
BrianSnow@comcast.net

Mathematician/computer scientist, Brian taught mathematics and helped lay the groundwork for a computer science department at Ohio University in the  late 1960’s. He joined the National Security Agency in 1971 where he became a cryptologic designer and security systems architect.

Brian spent his first 20 years at NSA doing and directing research that developed cryptographic components and secure systems. Many cryptographic systems serving the U.S. government and military use his algorithms; they provide capabilities not previously available and span a range from nuclear command and control to tactical radios for the battlefield. Computer Security, Network Security and strong Assurance were major aspects for these systems. He created and managed NSA’s Secure Systems Design division in the 1980s. He has many patents, awards, and honors attesting to his creativity.

His later years at NSA were the model for what it means to be a senior Technical Director at NSA (similar to a Chief Scientist or Senior Technical Fellow in industry); he served in that capacity in three major mission components –

• The Research Directorate (1994-1995),
• The Information Assurance Directorate (1996-2002), and
• The Directorate for Education and Training -- NSA’s Corporate University (2003-2006)
   

He was the first Technical Director appointed at the “Key Component” level at NSA, and the only “techie” at NSA to serve in such a role across three different Directorates. Throughout those years, his Credo was:

“Managers are responsible for doing things right;
Technical Directors are responsible for finding the right things to do.”

In all of his positions, he insisted that the actions NSA took to provide intelligence for our national and military leaders should not put U.S. persons or their rights at risk. He was a leading voice for always assessing the unintended consequences of both success and failure prior to taking action.

Brian retired in 2006 and is now a Security Consultant and Ethics Advisor.

B.A. mathematics 1965 -- University of Colorado
M.A. mathematics 1967 -- University of Colorado

Additional graduate course work:
University of Ohio     --    1969-1971 (Computer Science)
University of Maryland -- 1972-1973 (Mathematics)