Alexis Stanton is an agent with White & Associates.
That organization is a private military contractor with extremely close ties to the American government such that the majority of work that comes its way is backed, unofficially, by a member in high standing with one of the country's largest intelligence gathers. Since the connection is and must remain covert, for the majority of time the Stanton is working for the group, only she and her boss knew the backer was the NSA.
The head of the corporation, a man named Rick Malone but going with the cover name of Mr. White, knew of course because he was the founder and boss and the man chosen by his secret backer to be the face of the company. A former SEAL, White/Malone had joined the US Navy as an enlisted man and moved into the Special Forces almost immediately. Having served with distinction for several years, when the NSA approached him via the backer with the idea of creating a private firm to handle extra-sensitive operations, he gladly accepted the position. White is by no means just a front, however. He has the power to turn down any assignment but remembering who is your best customer is always a smart business move.
Stanton knows the truth for a far more personal reason although she did not know it at the beginning. Time and circumstances would cause her to learn that the backer who had instigated the creation of the company she would eventually and separately find employment with was her father, Admiral Stanton, formerly of the Navy and for the past decade or two a high ranking member of the NSA.
Standon, known in the organization which favors codenames for all the major officers as Ms. Grey, was a data technician at a computer company and quite bored with it. In her mid-20s, she loved computers and hated her job. She decided something different was in order and a chance sighting in her favorite local newspaper of an ad made her decide to quit and show up for an appointment.
Stanton might not have the military background of her partners at the company, men like Mr. Black and Mr. Red, but in just about everything she is trained for with the company, she proved over and over to be up to the task. The fact that her indulgent parents had not only allowed but encouraged a wide range of interests helped. The added fact that these interests lay in the martial arts, rock-climbing, weaponry, and an assortment of disciplines not normally chosen by a young girl.
As Stanton pointed out, while a child she wanted very much to be a boy. It was only when she grew up that she learned being a woman was even better.
And being a woman that loved adventure and had the skills necessary to get into and then out of trouble was better yet.