The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency released a podcast July 17, exploring the cartographic legacy of president, general and surveyor George Washington.

This episode features an interview with Joseph Stoltz, Ph.D., digital historian at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon.

“In addition to his other accomplishments, the GEOINT profession can claim him as one of our own – since he was a surveyor, a mapmaker and a spymaster … he is our Employee #1,” said NGA Robert Cardillo at the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation’s 2016 GEOINT Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

According to Stoltz, as the third-born son, Washington knew he would need to find a practical career for himself and an encounter with the book “Art of Surveying and Measuring Land” helped solidify his future career path -- first as a surveyor, then as a military officer.

“Cartography is what helped [Washington] make his way in life from the start and I think it's something he always had a lifelong fascination with,” said Stoltz.  

The Geointeresting podcast is on SoundCloud and iTunes and can be accessed through the www.nga.mil site.