I track down terrorists to prevent future attacks

Lisa M. Rich, 38, New York City, special agent with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force

"My job with the counterterrorism division of the FBI is to investigate radical Islamic extremists who operate out of Africa. What I do changes from day to day: I spend a lot of time researching my cases and looking for leads; I might be studying the history and current conditions of a certain city, or investigating connections among a network of people. My research may lead to interviewing people or going out on surveillance. My desk is generally overflowing with paperwork, too, so I do spend some time at the office. It can be stressful. There are days when I obsess about whatever I'm investigating. I think, "I've got to make sure I cover every possible angle. I can't leave any stone unturned." There's a lot of pressure, and it gets to me sometimes.

I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that I'd be doing this job. I used to work at a technology company, but about 10 years ago, I started thinking about how I could serve people with my work. I thought law school might be the answer, so I went back to college to finish earning my degree. Right before I graduated, I went to a career fair, and as I passed the law enforcement table, the guy there said, "We need more women in law enforcement." I laughed at him, saying, "You're never going to see me in that job!" Little did I know he'd have the last laugh. Something drew me to the idea. I started researching and soon realized how much I could benefit society with this kind of work. So I enrolled in the FBI Academy, in Virginia. When I graduated, in September 2003, I was assigned to the New York City field office.

I'm a single mother, and my daughter, Amber, was just 13 when we moved. It was really hard on her. Not only had I pulled her away from her friends and family to move her to a big, unfamiliar city, but I was also leaving early in the morning and coming home late. My parents finally said, "Why don't you let her live with us in Virginia?" Letting her go was the hardest decision I've ever made. But I try to go back twice a month, and we talk every night via webcam. She likes to hear how my day went, although she knows there are some things I can't discuss. We mostly talk about what's going on with her. There have been a few times when Amber has needed me and I've had to unload my cases to a colleague for a few days to go be with her. I'm happy to sacrifice almost everything for my work, but sometimes you just have to be there for your little girl.

My proudest moment in my job was in September 2006, when my team won the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U.S. National Security. My team had worked on the Zacarias Moussaoui case for three years. [He was the only person prosecuted for having a role in the Sept. 11 attacks.] I coordinated the security for the witnesses who came to testify for the prosecution--there were serious concerns for their safety. Moussaoui's conviction felt like a real accomplishment: Now an admitted terrorist is behind bars for the rest of his life. And my work contributed to that. I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that at the end of the day I've actually done something to serve my country."

I keep our airports secure

Gail Linkins, 52, Mobile, Ala., federal security director for the TSA

"When the terrorist attacks on America happened on Sept. 11, my children, Alex and Katie, were 4 and 1 years old. I started imagining what their lives would become if we didn't fight terrorism. I felt very strongly that we had to stop the terrorists. I didn't know exactly what I would do, but I knew one thing: The terrorists couldn't win.

At the time, I was the agent in charge of the Mobile office for the U.S. Secret Service, which deals with protecting the president and vice president and their families, visiting heads of state and other high-profile political figures. An agent's job is to provide a secure environment for the person being protected. So when the Transportation Security Administration [TSA] was formed after Sept. 11, I realized that I was an expert at exactly what the TSA was going to be responsible for: creating a secure environment in airports and other places where people are coming and going.

Now I have more than a hundred people on my staff, and we make sure all airports in Alabama are safe. I also maintain constant contact with the rail, maritime and other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security.

One of the defining moments of my job came on Aug. 9, 2006. The TSA implemented a total liquid ban on aircraft in response to a disrupted terror plot, and all the federal security directors in the United States were called together. We started training our employees that evening on the new security measures, and by 4 a.m., every airport security employee in the country was trained. We must have worked 24 hours straight. It was a proud day for me. Our agency was put to the test with a major event, and we responded incredibly.

My son is 10 now, and Katie is 7. I work long hours, and when there's an emergency, like a hurricane, I will spend the entire night at the emergency operations center. My husband, Dave, is supportive and takes on more than his share of caring for the kids, even though he has a job to go to every day, too. I know I can always come to the airport and feel secure that my family is OK. Of course, it's not easy--sometimes I'm just exhausted and overwhelmed by everything on my plate. But it's my responsibility to the American people. They're counting on me and on my staff, and I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I love being a mom, I love my job, and each of those roles informs the other. As a mom, I want our children to grow up in the same nation we grew up in and not to be fearful.

I think about 9/11 just about every day. It means so much to me that people aren't afraid to fly, that we haven't faltered, and we continue to live our lives despite what the terrorists did. And I feel good about the TSA's role in that. Every single day that nothing happens--those are my proudest moments on the job."

I coordinate resources to respond to emergencies

Susan K. Reinertson, 42, Bothell, Wash., FEMA administrator for the Northwestern states

"You need to know who to call if something catastrophic happens--who can bring the sandbags, who can do the inspections and how the pieces will fit together. I build relationships with those people and then, during a catastrophe, I bring them together.

When I started working as a 911 dispatcher, in Grand Forks, N.D., I realized this type of work really suited me. I loved being the one person in the whole city who knew what was going on in a crisis. Eventually I graduated to the same job at the state level, and I enjoyed an even greater perspective. When I later worked on a policy level for a think tank in Washington, D.C., I was often called for advice on how to deal with emergencies or to help with preparedness activities. But I missed being at the center of the unfolding action. So when I got a call asking if I would apply to be the administrator for the Northwest for the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], I was honored beyond belief.

Since Sept. 11, emergency planning has changed a lot. We used to prepare just for natural disasters; now we prepare for acts of terrorism, too. National defense and security issues have complicated everything. So much thought and planning has to happen to prepare for so many different possibilities, it's mind-boggling. We run through drills and exercises to practice for emergency situations. I've been involved in exercises where just a handful of us brainstorm different scenarios and then we plan responses. I also coordinate full-scale exercises that involve hundreds of people in a park, on a field, on a road, in a building or on an airstrip. We might imagine that a weapon of mass destruction has gone off and we need to evacuate victims from the chemical plume. We'd bring in people to play the victims, and the first responders practice bringing people to chemical decontamination tents. It's hard to comprehend how valuable these pretend scenarios are, but without them, employees wouldn't know how to do their jobs in a real emergency.

I'm on call 24/7, 365 days a year--I have to respond at the drop of a hat. And as much as it could control your life, you can't really let it. I used to think, "I don't dare go to a movie. What if something happens?" But I've learned that life can change in a moment, so you have to make room for living, for fun. When I go to the mall or a movie I just make sure to carry my cell phone and pager, as well as phone numbers of the governors in my area and the homeland security advisers.

I'm single, which isn't a bad thing for this job since I travel two or three weeks a month. Holding a routine in my personal life is a challenge. I can't volunteer regularly like I used to, and I have to be pretty creative to work out. To make time for myself, I've become as disciplined about setting personal goals as I am in my work life. For instance, I'm running a half marathon in a few months, so I'm trying to run every day. Spiritually, I try to put my trust in a higher power, and I go out of my way to help people. In a demanding job like this, I have to take care of my whole self. If I don't, I'm not going to be able to be of service to the country. And it is such an honor to be in this role. I want to give it my best."

Prepare for disasters

Everyone has something to contribute to the security of the country. The best way to protect your family and to reduce the impact of an emergency is to be prepared. The government program Citizen Corps outlines ways you can prepare for natural disasters and help prevent terrorist attacks. You can also learn about volunteer opportunities, in case there is an incident. Visit www.citizencorps.gov to find out more.