Robert L. "Bob" Washington, Jr. (17 November 1939 - 3 March 2026)
The NCF pauses to remember Mr. Bob Washington, a Benefactor donor of the NCF. Mr. Washington passed away in March 2026. A tribute to Bob is included below - provided by Bob's son, Mr. Darnell Washington.
Mr. Robert "Bob" Washington, Jr. began his career at the National Security Agency (NSA) in 1962 after receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Morgan State College. He was also a graduate of the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA, where he received accolades for a paper he authored on developing strong organizational leadership.
Mr. Washington played a significant role during the Cold War Era against the world's most formidable adversaries that threatened our country and our national security. His initial assignment as a Cryptanalyst was working with foreign signal exploitation and later Communications Security (COMSEC) issues. In his role, he traveled internationally to meet dignitaries, military counterparts, and international corporate leaders on mission-essential matters related to intelligence & national security.
During his career, Bob received both top NSA awards ("The Exceptional Service Award" and the Meritorious Service Award). He attended the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) and the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service, in addition to other management and leadership development programs.
Throughout his career, Bob focused on advancement, inclusion, and diversity by providing mentorship and developing career pathways for minorities within the Agency.
He was also crowned as an NSA Chess Champion.
In the following statement from Bob - he expresses his appreciation for his career experiences - specifically, the people he worked with.
During my career, I never had a bad job at the National Security Agency or the Pentagon, despite the level of difficulty. In retirement, people often ask if I miss NSA. I tell them that while I miss the challenging and dynamic environment, the most important thing I miss is the people and the long-term relationships that I established while working there." ~ Bob
Sponsored for the In Memoriam Registry by the NCF.
