I began working with the DoD in 2014, and have had a variety of government roles and positions since then.

Below is a piece I wrote during my time with the Recruitment Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as their Recruitment Communications Program Manager.

The article was first posted to my LinkedIn on September 28, 2020, and the original piece can be found on here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/911-mariners-story-brittany-l-reid/

9/11- The Mariners'​ Story

Background: https://www.dvidshub.net/image/4720845/we-will-never-forget by Lance Cpl. Betzabeth Galvan | Boat image: https://www.clipartkey.com/downpng/bJTwo_fishing-boat-clipart-large-boat-boats-transparent-background/ | Image merge by Brittany R.

Written by Brittany L. Reid, Program Manager for Recruitment Communications
NGA Talent Acquisition Center

     America is on the cusp of the 20-year anniversary of September 11, 2001. Nineteen years have passed since that horrific day, which is forever etched into the soul of United States history. 

     But with memories of that tragic event, also comes stories of heroism, strength, love, triumph, and overcoming adversity. From tales of survivors who managed to escape, to tales of empathy, kindness, and valor from strangers—brothers and sisters in mind, body, and spirit. Some narratives even transcend national boarders, such as that of the little town of Gander in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, which opened up its runways and businesses to some 7,000 stranded international travelers once the airways shutdown in the midst of that harrowing day. Gander’s tale is one so inspirational, that it has even been turned into a Broadway musical entitled, “Come From Away.”

     However, there are also moments that often get overlooked from that day.

     Take, for instance, Operation BOATLIFT, the story of how hundreds of U.S. Merchant Mariners—ferries, private boats, and even party boats—took to the waters to help evacuate the thousands of New Yorkers seeking refuge from the attacks on the heart of Manhattan. Below is a video from the U.S. Department of Transportation, posted during the tenth anniversary of 9/11. The description reads:

     “To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, members of the U.S. Merchant Marine share how they helped evacuate people from lower Manhattan and brought supplies and first responders back to the World Trade Center site. More than 300,000 people were evacuated by water on 9/11 - the largest unplanned water evacuation in the history of the United States.”

     The documentary below, “BOATLIFT- An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience,” provides even more insight into this operation from the perspectives of those who executed it.

     As highlighted in the videos, the vitality of the Maritime tradecraft was crucial to the mission that saved half a million lives on that fateful date. Maritime is also one of several key aspects of the mission at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

     While many are aware of the role that NGA and its model shop played in helping to bring down Osama Bin Laden in retribution for the attacks on 9/11, they may not have a large scope of NGA’s roles in other domains like the sea.

     According to https://msi.nga.mil, the mission of NGA’s Maritime Safety office is to, “Provide global maritime geospatial intelligence in support of national security objectives, including safety of navigation, international obligations, and joint military operations.” This ranges from using bathymetry to model the depth, troughs, crests, tides, temperature, and salinity of the ocean, to producing nautical maps and charts that are edited by the U.S. Notice to Mariners for the distribution of timely maritime safety information. The article entitled, Dive into NGA’s Notice to Mariners states, “NGA’s Maritime Safety Office compiles safety alerts and changes to navigational charts and books for all mariners into one weekly publication, approximately 100 pages.”

     NGA is dedicated to ensuring that its cadre in the Maritime field are equipped with skills needed to ensure that the most precise and accurate information is analyzed and distributed for mariners to utilize. The agency has even hosted frequent visits from USNA Midshipmen students so that they are familiar with NGA’s role and how the agency will serve as an asset for them in their chosen career field. Those who are interested in searching for NGA jobs relative to Maritime and Maritime Safety, and who are interested in perusing other NGA job opportunities, can visit https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/nga.

     As a DoD combat support agency, NGA prides itself on providing the critical aid necessary for those throughout the DoD to execute their jobs efficiently in the event of a crisis, such as what happened during 9/11. 

     NGA strives to make sure its employees are always ready at the helm to help our brothers and sisters when they need it the most, and will continue to protect our nation and our world.

     We will forever keep the memory alive of those who lost their lives on 9/11, and we will also honor those who helped to protect and save others on that fateful day.

     We Will Never Forget