ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – For U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command Computer Engineer Travis Bagley, the White House Senior National Leadership Communications Program catapulted his federal service into a rewarding Army civilian career.
Bagley helps to maintain the Army Communications-Electronics Command’s responsibility as the lead military department on the SNLC program, also known as the “Hotline to Moscow,” ensuring senior leaders have an open, reliable line of communications to Russia.
As a computer engineer, Bagley assists in system development and implementation and plays a critical role in system deployment, circuit troubleshooting and network equipment configurations.
“I started working on the program as a Pathways intern and have continued to do so as a recent graduate,” Bagley said. “SNLC was among the first projects shown to me, and I immediately became enraptured by its significance (both historical and contemporary), the depth of its complexities and the breadth of its scope—encompassing so many different technologies.”
How it began
Bagley attended Arizona State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Growing up during the electronics boom of the late 90s and early 2000s, Bagley had a profound interest in how electronics worked. He grew up witnessing the pervasiveness of electronics and watched devices become an integral part of daily life.
Having traveled the world with his active duty parents as a military child, Bagley is no stranger to a life of service to his country. He was later encouraged by his father to apply for an internship opportunity at ISEC headquarters in Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
“Being ever curious as to why things work the way they do, electrical engineering seemed like a logical choice of study for me,” Bagley said. “My parents both served, and much of my extended family are veterans or active duty. I was inspired by my father, who continues to work in civil service after retiring from the Air Force.”
Bagley officially began his Department of the Army civilian career in December 2016. The SNLC program quickly became his primary focus, and Bagley went on to travel to Moscow to work on the program directly.
His many visits allowed him to meet with his foreign counterparts, other engineers and project leads, to discuss the SNLC program and plan a way forward. Much of Bagley’s time spent preparing for the Moscow trips included editing documents and preparing equipment configurations.
“Working on the program in Russia was an incredible experience,” Bagley said. “It’s not too often [U.S.] government employees get to go to Russia, of all places. To experience Moscow and meet with our foreign counterparts was enlightening.”
What is SNLC?
The SNLC program provides the President of the United States and other U.S. national senior leaders with direct, secure communications with foreign governments. The program assists with armed conflict resolution and aids in reducing the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction and the international war on terrorism.
Established in 1963 during the Cold War, the “Hotline to Moscow” began as the Direct Communications Link between Moscow and Washington, D.C. DCL launched as a cable link from the Pentagon to the Kremlin, providing leaders with a trusted, point-to-point means of communication.
The Army Communication Electrical Engineering Installation Agency, now known as ISEC, was tasked with upgrading the DCL in 1971. By 1978, the DCL grew into two, 60-foot antennas housed at Fort Detrick, Maryland.
After many updates and developments, in collaboration with other Department of Defense and CECOM organizations, ISEC evolved the DCL into what is now the SNLC program.
Bagley’s advice to recent grads
Bagley’s sustained work on the SNLC program continues to shape his career. His work in Russia and on the home front has provided him with professional opportunities few recent graduates have experienced. From projects at the Eisenhower Office Building for White House staff, to troubleshooting solutions at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Bagley is proud of what he’s accomplished so early in his career.
Working in-country with adversarial, foreign governments like Russia is not common for many DA civilians and is especially not the norm for younger employees. Bagley considers it a privilege.
“Getting to experience other countries as a [U.S.] government employee is one of the greatest aspects of choosing this career path,” Bagley said. “Being able to work on such incredible projects with incredible people, and not having to worry about job security, is what motivates me to continue my DA civilian career.”
He encourages recent graduates to consider a career in civil service. Programs like Pathways offer several types of employment opportunities and affords developmental experiences in many federal government organizations, like the Department of the Army. As he reassures other young people to consider a similar career, Bagley has no regrets.
“If you don’t like the first project you’re assigned to, feel free to look around, as the Army is home to a multitude of different projects covering a wide variety of interests,” Bagley said. “Had something changed for me, I may be in a completely different scenario. I wouldn’t want to miss out on the people and friends that I’ve met for the chance of a different outcome.”
Visit USAJobs.gov for more information on recent graduate programs.
SNLC program history: https://www.army.mil/article/226389/maintaining_the_hotline
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