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CONSIDERED A CAREER AS AN FBI CONTRACT LINGUIST?
Here's What It's Like: Up Close and Personal

10/22/04

Photograph of  Wayne WaggonerWayne Waggoner has had a fascinating life. He underwrote international insurance in the U.S. and abroad in the 1980s. In Brussels, Belgium, he managed the European Office of the State of Arkansas. He's consulted with the electric power industry in emerging Internet communication technologies. He's taught college classes and ESL part-time. And he's served as Economic Development Manager for the City of Little Rock. In fact, he has enjoyed calling Little Rock home for 18 years now.

But in 2001, he signed up as an FBI contract linguist--and found he simply loves the work.

We asked him why--and we asked him some other questions besides.

Mr. Waggoner: Why do I love the work? So many reasons.

Working in a fast-paced environment with multi-talented and multi-cultural teams of high achievers in the FBI is ideal for a "loves learning" generalist like me.

A linguist's work is intellectually stimulating in a calm, progressive fashion, as the "picture" of what is being investigated emerges through translation. With every word, I solve a piece of a phrase, to solve a larger idea, and on to the fully formed thoughts of individuals expressing themselves in furtherance of their objectives. This makes for a feeling of real productivity, spiked with the occasional thrill of solving something larger or more complex. From time to time I have been privileged to help solve some big questions, but I continually solve smaller, incremental questions--and that is very satisfying.

I also relish the occasional travel to different FBI field offices to assist with cases...but really value the job flexibility allowing me to stay home most of the time in a wonderful place like Little Rock.

Q: What is a typical working day like?
Mr. Waggoner:
I review various materials from multiple sources. They run the gamut of FBI investigations -- from small crimes that happen to include some communication in my foreign language, to outlandish international conspiracies or allegations of such. They might pertain to international white-collar crime, counterterrorism, or other intelligence community matters. Less often, I translate unsolicited tips or leads – maybe serious, but maybe from crackpots or bizarre minds... these can make for entertaining reading! When the materials turn out to be important, I produce reports for further review or action by FBI squads. Though I also produce straight document translations or verbatim transcripts of conversations, most often I write brief summaries of the information that is most pertinent and useful to ongoing investigations.

Q: Last question, Mr. Waggoner: your most exciting experience in the FBI?
Mr. Waggoner:
I will never forget it. Only a few months after the 9/11 attacks, I had been asked to come to New York. Reviewing some materials there, I recognized an implied national security threat. Quickly it was communicated to our government's highest levels...and soon after, I was able to recognize in news reports a very intelligent response to the unpublicized threat.

Links: Apply to become an FBI Contract Linguist

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