In the author's debut memoir, she left the small, all-black community of Camptown in southeastern VA, at 17 years old to attend the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). After waffling at UMBC for four years without declaring a major, she joined the U.S. Army to pay off mounting debt and to complete her bachelor's degree. The Army allowed Tena to travel the world and learn about its people. She worked hard at every leadership position offered and advanced in rank to First Sergeant. As part of the premiere Intelligence Corp, Tena worked in support of the National Security Agency (NSA) for over 10 years as a soldier, to return after retirement, to become a civilian leader.
For many years, the NSA was identified with its iconic dark-glass cube-shaped headquarters building at Fort Meade in Maryland, as No Such Agency. It took on a mysterious persona and so did its workforce. Not everyone knows the NSA is an intelligence agency located at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Most people I know, confuse NSA with NASA (the National Aeronautical Space Agency).
After Edward Snowden became a household name in 2013, the public probably learned more than they cared to about NSA and its four replicated regional centers spread across the United States. Tena worked at three such centers, the headquarters building at Fort Meade, and at the agency's school, the National Cryptologic School (NCS).
By 1400hrs on 31 October 2017, she had her security outbrief, which reminded her yet again of the lifetime pre-publication obligation. After seeing the site Commander and civilian Deputy Commander for a quick grip & grin, and a Commander's coin, Tena headed for the gate. She ceremoniously tossed her temporary (T) badge in the drop box at the gate. Out the gate on Potranco, she flipped the entire site a bird.