What People Get Wrong About Federal Employees—and the Reality of Leadership in Government

Part II of our podcast with Hire Heroes USA, Redeployable, and Gerald Irvin (Hire Heroes USA client) to discuss a new report that takes a closer look at how AI is reshaping the workforce—and where veterans fit into that shift. What it finds is pretty compelling: veterans aren’t just employable in this changing landscape, they’re actually well aligned with many of the roles expected to see the most long-term growth and stability.As more routine tasks become automated, the demand for skills like judgment, leadership, and adaptability is only increasing—and those are areas where veterans already have a strong foundation.The report, called “The AI Career Shift: Where Veterans Should Focus in 2026,” highlights clear trends around where veterans tend to find the most career satisfaction, stronger retention, and long-term stability in this evolving job market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes the GEOINT Symposium 2026 a must-attend event for national security professionals? Lindy sits down with Jim McCool to break it down.From his experience at organizations like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Air Force, McCool shares why GEOINT remains at the center of modern intelligence—and how it’s evolving fast.They dive into the role of tradecraft in an AI-driven world, the growing importance of data and critical thinking skills, and how professionals at every stage can get the most out of the symposium. Whether you're navigating the clearance process, exploring career opportunities, or trying to understand how emerging tech is reshaping intelligence work, this conversation offers practical insights and forward-looking perspective.Plus: tips for first-time attendees, what skills are in demand, and why networking at GEOINT can shape your career long after the event ends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 A new report from veteran empowering organizations Hire Heroes USA and Redeployable finds that as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes how work is done, veterans are especially well positioned for many of the roles showing the strongest long-term growth, stability and opportunity. Veterans are not only employable — they are well aligned with roles that continue to require human judgment, leadership and adaptability.Titled, “The AI Career Shift: Where Veterans Should Focus in 2026,” the report identifies clear patterns in where veterans experience the strongest long-term satisfaction, retention and career stability.Hire Heroes, Redeployable, and a client of Hire Heroes joins the conversation to discuss the career sweet spots that veterans should target. Tune in next week to hear part 2 of this important conversation! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is moving fast—but are you moving with it?In this episode of ClearedCast, we sit down with Ryan Carpenter and Karina Barao from the Special Competitive Studies Project to break down what’s different about this year’s AI + Expo—and why it matters for national security professionals.From drone racing arenas and robot demos to hands-on workshops designed to build real AI skills, the expo is shifting from conversation to action. But beyond the tech, this episode tackles something deeper: the fear, hesitation, and misconceptions surrounding AI adoption—especially in cleared spaces.If you’ve ever felt like AI is happening to you instead of for you, this conversation reframes that narrative. With insights on workforce readiness, education, and the role of individual agency in shaping the future, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of AI, defense, and career growth.Plus: why one of the largest gatherings of government, industry, and academic leaders is completely free—and what that says about the future of innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a persistent narrative about federal employees: slow-moving, overly bureaucratic, and disconnected from urgency. But step inside the reality of government leadership—especially for women navigating high-stakes, mission-driven roles—and a very different picture emerges.In a recent conversation featuring federal workplace expert Mika Cross and executive coach and former Senior Executive Service leader Love Rutledge, we aim to break the bureaucracy, and explored what it truly means to lead, serve, and sustain a career in government today. The discussion uncovered powerful insights about leadership, burnout, and the misconceptions that continue to shape public perception. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when government, industry, academia, startups, and cleared talent all come together in one place? In this episode of ClearedCast, Phoebe Wells sits down with Tyler Johnson and Carlos Romero of eMerge Americas to talk about why this year’s conference matters for national security professionals.They break down how eMerge has evolved into a major hub for technology, policy, and public-private collaboration, and why cleared professionals, veterans, and innovation-minded leaders should be paying attention. From dual-use technology and workforce development to live Army pitch competitions, hackathons, venture capital, and veteran-focused programming, this conversation explores how emerging tech is moving from idea to mission impact.If you work in national security, hold a clearance, or want to better understand where AI, defense innovation, and talent strategy are headed next, this episode offers a strong preview of the conversations shaping that future.Register now, and we'll see you in Miami. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a great boss—and why do so many get it wrong?In this episode, Lindy sits down with former CIA Chief of HR Mike Mears to unpack the real driver behind employee engagement, retention, and performance: certainty at the local level.Drawing on decades of experience inside the intelligence community—and insights from his book Certainty—Mears explains why employees don’t leave missions, they leave managers. He breaks down how the brain responds to uncertainty, why psychological safety is critical in high-stakes environments, and how small leadership habits can dramatically improve team performance.From fixing broken clearance processes to building trust in ambiguous environments, this conversation offers practical tools for leaders across government and industry.Plus: what cleared professionals should know about insider risk, disengagement, and why “soft skills” may be the most critical national security asset.If you lead people—or want to—this is a must-listen.Purchase Certainty: www.certaintyleadershipbook.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The modern battlefield isn’t confined to war zones overseas, it’s evolving rapidly along the U.S. border. Criminal organizations like the Juarez and Sinaloa cartels are leveraging commercial technology, decentralized networks, and real-time adaptability in ways that challenge traditional intelligence models. At the center of this shift is a growing gap between how threats evolve and how intelligence systems respond.Former military intelligence specialist, Stefano Ritondale, and current the Chief Intelligence Officer at Artorias joins the podcast to provide insights on UAV threats, OSINT, and strategic implications for the U.S. from a national security perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.