Cyber Hiring in the Federal Government Needs to Make Big Changes to Reach Talent

Supply chain security is a term that is often discussed but rarely understood. Many definitions of supply chain are still centered on a logistics and physical infrastructure focused definition. Theresa Campobasso, Senior Vice President of Strategic Accounts, Exiger Government Solutions, joins Security Clearance Insecurity to talk about the 21st century supply chain. She shares more about how successful supply chain security integrates the physical and cyber, the supply chain security career track, and emerging threats and opportunities in supply chain security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part 1 of our podcast with Dr. Gerald Auger who is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences at The Citadel in Charleston and a content creator and founder simplycyber.io. He really he brings Information security related content to help IT or Information Security professionals take their career further, faster. So, being a cybersecurity guru of sorts – he also spent sometime supporting DIB as a contractor.Today we give tactical tips on how to get a job in the cybersecurity field and how businesses can better align with the current market to fill their cybersecurity roles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disinformation continues to threaten the spread of accurate information about issues at home and abroad. For women in national security, in particular, there are risks for being a public facing voice. Nina Jankowicz, disinformation expert and author of the book ‘How to Be a Woman Online’ joins the show to discuss why online harassment continues to be such a pervasive issue and what women can do about it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the ClearanceJobs Content Team tests our knowledge on women in national security. This the second installment of our Game Show and is all about the glass-breaking ladies of national security.Listen in as host Katie Helbling tests Phoebe Wells' knowledge on this important topic. Spoiler alert: she fails miserably! Don't miss this hilarious and informative episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Selling and delivering solutions to the federal government takes a different approach than the typical sales cycle. Commercial sector companies sometimes find success in bringing a product or solution to the federal government, but then struggle to grow their businesses and get that critical next contract. Kristin Sargent founded Sargent Initiatives to help companies execute for defense customers. She joins the show to talk about the critical time we’re in today. More emerging and innovative companies are looking to work with the federal government, even as the government deals with the ongoing problem of continuous resolutions and underfunded support programs. Supporting the federal government, and classified contracts, in particular, requires well-oiled operations, including the work done by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In mentorship programs, 25% of mentored employees experienced salary grade changes, compared to just 5% among non-participants. Furthermore, DEI mentorship programs are credited by 80% of employees for fostering inclusivity, skill development, and sponsorship.Career development expert Janice Omadeke, who was one of the first 100 Black women in the United States to raise over $1M in seed funding for a tech startup, joins the podcast to dive further into the benefits for mentorship programs— for both the employer and employees.Drawing from her forthcoming book, Mentorship Unlocked: The Science and Art of Setting Yourself Up for Success and from her own experience in the defense contracting space, Janice discusses the unwritten rules of working for a contractor and how having a mentor while navigating the old boys club was critical. But finding a mentor was no piece of cake and finding the right one takes self reflection and awareness. Janice says, “If you’re only focused on the shininess of someone's title, you could be missing out on a really engaging relationship.“ People may miss out on other leaders that are more accessible and really could catapult you into the next step up in your career. In this episode, Janice also touches on:Reasons your company should adopt a mentorship programThe importance of building mentorship programming that helps BOTH parties— not just oneThings to consider when building out a new mentorship program or revamping an existing oneMatching mentors with mentees: The do’s and dont’s The benefits of mentorship for employees Debunking myths associated with mentorship Janice can also draw from her personal experience, specifically with The Mentor Method, an enterprise software she created that transforms company culture through mentorship. While she built the software she notes, “Sometimes meaningful mentorship matches come from humans not machines. It’s important to let them decide and know that they have a choice.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bartholomew Perez got his start in mechanical engineering after leaving home for university, later earned his Masters in Architecture-based Enterprise Systems Engineering, then got a Professional Certificate in Electronic Warfare Technology. He worked for one of the top defense contractors in this space and is now a program lead amongst other things. Perez didn't serve in the US military and was born to immigrant parents. He joins the podcast to discuss the scares of what applying for a clearance may mean for his family.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The security clearance is by nature intrusive – and dredges up a number of details that would never see the light of day in a traditional employment process. How can the government work to ensure greater equity and inclusion in light of the potential for bias inherent in personnel vetting? A recent report released by RAND looks into the potential for bias and inequity in the clearance process. Sina Beaghley, senior defense researcher and Jessica Welburn Paige, behavioral scientist with RAND discuss the report and simple steps the government can take to make the security clearance process more equitable for diverse applicants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vice Admiral (Ret.) Mike LeFever of the US Navy is the former Director of Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center. Mike heads up Concentric, one of the world's most influential privately held security firms and are co-authors of the best selling book End Game First: A Leadership Strategy for Navigating Crisis and Business. In the book, he details how the national security industry has changed rapidly over the past few decades, writing "...men with guns can’t protect you from a virus, an online threat, or crypto-driven cyber extortion." This former Director of Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center crashes the podcast to spill the tea on leadership, security, how high-profile companies can survive a cyber-attack, and shares epic tales from the humanitarian battlefield! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you work in national security and with classified information, you may come across the highly nuanced issue of dealing with how to address classified information that may seemingly need to be listed on the SF-86 - be it work locations, sources or foreign contacts, or other issues - how do you address that? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.