Life After the Mission: Navigating Identity, Transition, and Purpose

For decades, the cleared workforce followed a fairly predictable path: long tenures, stable programs, and careers built within a single agency or contractor. But today, cleared professionals are moving faster between roles, contracts, and even employment models. Some are chasing better pay, others are seeking flexibility, and many are responding to the realities of contract-driven work.To help unpack what this shift means for both employees and employers, I’m joined by John Berry, security clearance attorney with Berry & Berry and someone who has had a front-row seat to cleared hiring trends for years.In this conversation, we’ll talk about why job hopping has become more common, how the idea of “gig work” is showing up even in highly regulated cleared environments, and what recruiters, hiring managers, and cleared professionals should be thinking about as career mobility accelerates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Across the cleared workforce in early 2026, a consistent picture is coming into focus: hiring hasn’t stopped, investigations are picking back up, and modernization efforts are accelerating. But the system still feels uneven for many navigating it. Recent discussions across the clearance community, combined with new policy updates from DCSA, suggest a process in transition, one that is improving in some ways while remaining frustratingly opaque in others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the uniform comes off—or your federal service ends—and the identity that once defined you suddenly shifts?In this episode of Security Clearance and Security, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Lisa Parmeter, Executive Director of Merging Vets and Players (MVP), to explore the often-overlooked challenges of transition for veterans, active duty service members, and former professional athletes.From the loss of identity and purpose to the need for intensity, structure, and community, this conversation dives into what it really takes to rebuild after high-performance careers. Parmeter shares how MVP helps individuals rediscover meaning through peer support, whole-health approaches, and mission-driven community.The discussion also tackles mental health stigma, the importance of vulnerability in leadership, and the real risks of isolation—along with practical ways to navigate change, build resilience, and find your next chapter.Plus, in the second segment, security clearance attorney John Berry joins Lindy to break down one of the most common clearance pitfalls: misuse of IT systems. From downloading unauthorized software to AI-related risks and repeat violations, they unpack what can jeopardize your clearance—and how to avoid it.Whether you’re transitioning careers, supporting someone who is, or navigating the evolving clearance landscape, this episode offers critical insights you won’t want to miss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transitioning out of the military is often framed as a career decision — finding the next job, updating a resume, or navigating the cleared workforce. But for many service members and their families, it’s much more than that. It’s an identity shift, a lifestyle change, and a redefining of purpose.In this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down with Herb and Corrie Thompson for a candid and deeply insightful conversation about what transition really looks like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most common questions we hear from job seekers is: How do you get your first security clearance if you don’t already have one? It can feel like the ultimate catch-22. Many roles require a clearance, but you need an employer to sponsor you before you can get one.So today we’re digging into exactly how that works and how candidates can actually convince a company to take that step.Joining Katie Helbling is Jillian Hamilton, Content Director at ClearanceJobs and someone who has spent years covering the defense workforce and helping candidates navigate the cleared job market. She’s also written extensively about companies willing to sponsor security clearances and what job seekers should know before applying. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The security industry is evolving rapidly — and it’s no longer just about guards, gates, and access badges.In this episode, Lindy Kyzer speaks with Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association (SIA), about how emerging technologies, federal policy, and workforce development are transforming the modern security ecosystem. Representing more than 1,700 companies across the global security industry, SIA sits at the intersection of innovation, physical security, cybersecurity, and government policy. Erickson shares insights into how technologies like AI-enabled surveillance, cybersecurity integration, and advanced access control systems are changing how organizations protect people, assets, and critical infrastructure.The conversation also explores the growing demand for talent across the security sector. From engineers and cyber analysts to project managers and security technicians, Erickson explains why the industry offers a wide range of career opportunities — including for veterans, government professionals, and those transitioning into security roles.Kyzer and Erickson also discuss responsible AI use, the challenges of evolving regulatory frameworks, and how collaboration between government and industry is shaping the future of security.For professionals interested in national security, emerging technology, or security careers, this episode offers valuable insight into where the industry is heading next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, where we explore the people, stories and strategies shaping the national security community.Today’s guest brings a perspective few can claim — years inside the CIA, operating in high-risk environments where awareness wasn’t optional… it was survival.Tim Beard is a former CIA officer and security expert who has spent his career thinking about threats most of us never see. Now, he’s translating those hard-earned lessons into practical guidance for everyday life through his new book series, Look Twice, beginning with Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World. His message is simple but powerful: safety isn’t about fear — it’s about preparation.In this conversation, we’ll go beyond the headlines and beyond the book to talk about real-world situational awareness, travel security, everyday OPSEC, transportation risks and the mindset shift intelligence professionals use to stay one step ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unfiltered guidance recruiters talk about internally—but don’t always say publicly.Recruiters spend their days reviewing resumes, navigating hiring manager expectations, managing candidate emotions, and balancing timelines that rarely cooperate. In between interviews and offer letters, there are quiet conversations recruiters have with each other — the honest, unfiltered kind.Tune in to this episode where the Director of Talent Acquisition and HR at STEMBoard, Casey Talley, shares some of the advice recruiters wish they could give every candidate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the federal career you expected no longer exists?Lindy Kyzer speaks with Love Rutledge, host of the FedUpward podcast and longtime advocate for federal employees, about navigating unexpected career transitions in government.Love shares her own experience retiring earlier than planned through deferred resignation — and the identity shift that comes with stepping away from lifelong civil service. Together, they unpack the emotional and financial realities of leaving federal employment, how to translate federal resumes for private-sector roles, and why outcomes matter more than duties in today’s job market.They also highlight grassroots resources supporting transitioning federal employees, including community-led initiatives, networking strategies, and professional organizations that are helping fill gaps left by traditional support systems.Finally, they discuss an important countertrend: federal hiring isn’t gone. Agencies are rehiring. Budget cycles still drive opportunity. And for some professionals, the next move may be a return to government service — this time with clearer strategy and broader perspective.If you’re transitioning, underemployed, job searching, or simply reassessing your path in public service, this episode offers clarity, realism, and practical next steps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your first impression often isn’t a handshake. It’s a subject line.Recruiters spend hours crafting the perfect message to candidates, only to see it go unopened. The truth? Even the most compelling opportunity won’t matter if your email never gets clicked. A strong subject line can be the difference between a missed connection and your next great hire.Jay Schwedelson, founder and CEO of GURU Media Hub, has built and led businesses that have generated over $400 million in revenue, all by doing what most marketers are too afraid to try: breaking the so-called “best practices.” He joins the podcast to talk about what subject lines actually increase open rates and what best practices you should ignore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.