The way it is written the guy sounded hesitant. Maybe someone with a security clearance can tell me if he should have been having that conversation in a public place. (even with the president)
HA...wouldn’t it have been great if they guy had answered....”Uh, Sir, it’s Classified!”
There are several ‘facts’ about NGA.
First, amongst military folks...it’s mostly a joke. They are overbloated with mostly GS-13s and above. Its about the only organization within DOD where you find more executive and management folks...than actual worker bees.
Second...a significant amount of the work they do...is just plain maps and charts. This was their big deal throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Ninety-eight percent of the maps and charts business is unclassified and downright boring.
Third....this is an organization which has reorganized itself at least four times (maybe even five)...over the past dozen years. There must be a full-time crew whose sole purpose in life...is writing the new organization charts and plan...for the next incoming chief. Most folks within DOD always have a laugh over that.
Finally...this curious meeting of Obama at the Burger Joint...would be a great Saturday Night Live episode...where each week, he bumps into a real person who works for the national government, and they explain what their group does...which Obama hasn’t the foggiest notion of what they do. So the Obama character would just sit there munching on a big double-burger while Larry of such and such agency goes into a two-minute speech of his organization...then Obama would shake his hand...and tell him that a vote for Obama...is a vote for America.
Well, first off, the guy didn't say anything wrong. You can get more details off the NGA website than what he said.
Security regulations notwithstanding, if I was in line for a burger, and the President of the United States walked up behind me and asked me a question about my job, I'd probably answer him. It would be worse for your career not to. Regs are regs, but he is the President.
There are some unique events that any security officer would look at and shrug off. This is one of them.