U.S. National Security Agency

The NSA seal was designed in 1965 by direction of NSA Director LTG Marshall S. Carter, United States Army. The seal shows an eagle within a circle, holding a key. The eagle - a symbol of courage, supreme power, and authority - represents the national scope of NSA's mission. The shield on the eagle's breast is drawn from the Great Seal of the United States, and represents the states drawn together under a single chief that unites them and represents Congress. The key in the eagle's talons represents security. It evolved from the emblem of St. Peter the Apostle, and his power "to loose and to bind." The circular shape of the seal is a symbol of eternity.

The 1996, at the direction of NSA Director Lt Gen Kenneth A. Minihan, an emblem was created for the Central Security Service, which includes the elements of the armed forces that perform codemaking and codebreaking work along with NSA. The current version of the seal includes the Naval Network Warfare Command, Marine Corps, the Army Intelligence and Security Command, the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Each is equally balanced around a five-pointed star that bears the symbol of NSA, which provides the funding, direction, and guidance for all of America's SIGINT activities.