Spies Like Us
A new museum highlights the significance and intrigue of the intelligence community.

Delving into the realm of espionage and unveiling the secrets of spies the world over, the International Spy Museum, scheduled to open July 19 in Washington, D.C., aims to teach the museum-going public how and why this all-but-invisible profession has shaped history and continues to affect world events.

The museum will feature the largest collection of international espionage artifacts, many of which have never been seen outside the intelligence community. Artifacts include Enigma, the World War II German cipher machine; the shoe transmitter, a Soviet listening device hidden inside the heel of a target's shoe; and a "through-the-wall" camera, a Czech camera used by East Germany to photograph subjects through walls.

"In a democracy it is especially important for the public to have a more realistic understanding of the intelligence business so we can appreciate its role in our society and [its] impact upon major world events," says Milton Maltz, chairman of the advisory board of the International Spy Museum.

For more information about the International Spy Musuem, call (202) 393-7798 (eye-spy-u) or visit its Web site via TROA's links page, www.troa.org/magazine/links.asp.

Role Reversal

May 17, 2001, 4:30 p.m., Washington, D.C., Convention Center: Lt. Col. Andrew Vail, usa, rushed into the waning hours of the first-ever troa Career Fair to begin his job search. Although Vail knew the career fair could help him, he had no idea this was the day he was going to find his next career.

After looking around, Vail wandered by Concurrent Technologies Corp. (CTC), a defense contractor located in Johnstown, Pa. He was attracted by the company's quest to find employees with a wide range of skills. After 25 years in the Army, Vail was concerned that employers wanted more in-depth knowledge than his background offered.

CTC's recruiters, however, saw value in Vail's varied background, and after an on-the-spot interview at the fair and a second interview at CTC's headquarters, Vail relocated from Florida to Pennsylvania to start his new career.

May 1, 2002, 1 p.m., Washington, D.C., Convention Center: Less than a year after his successful job search, Vail returned to troa's second Career Fair. This year, however, his role changed from an anxious job seeker to an eager recruiter. Vail met and interviewed prospective employees, many of whom were leaving their careers in the armed services — just as he was last year. But being on the other side of the recruiting desk was a totally different experience, says Vail.

"It's interesting to see how [job seekers] approach you ... or even if they've visited our Web site," comments Vail. His best suggestion for job seekers is no surprise: research, research, research. "Just know what the company is about, do a little research ... it's very easy," says Vail.

For more information, visit the tops section of TROA's Web Base, www.troa.org/tops.

Head of the Class

Making a difference in people's lives doesn't end with retirement from the military. Col. Chauncey Veatch, usa-Ret., recently was named the 2002 National Teacher of the Year by President George W. Bush.

After a 25-year career in the Army, Veatch became a social studies teacher. His school, Cochella Valley High School in Thermal, Calif., has a high population of students from migrant families whose primary language is Spanish. Over the years, Veatch has earned a reputation for giving these students the extra help they needed to succeed.

"[For] Mr. Veatch ... teaching is not just a career, it is a high calling: It's a form of service to children and to a nation he loves. He has served both the children and our country extraordinarily well, and it is my honor to present Chauncey Veatch the National Teacher of the Year Award," said Bush in a White House ceremony.