Security Clearance Careers Podcast

Carmen Medina is a distinguished figure in the U.S. intelligence community, known for her innovative thinking and transformative impact. Her career in the IC spanned over three decades, during which she challenged conventional practices and advocated for critical changes that have left a lasting legacy. She joins the podcast to talk about being a Latina woman at a time when the agency hallways were filled with men.

The Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) offers a rare dose of transparency around the security clearance process. Contractors have their opportunity to have their case heard before a judge, and those cases are even written up and posted on the DOHA website. For a couple of security clearance geeks, those cases can be highly entertaining. Sean and Lindy discuss a few of the more memorable DOHA cases they've come across.

This week's episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast highlights some of our top read news stories: National Security Agency (NSA) hiring, getting a job at Booz Allen Hamilton, side hustles that won't impact your clearance, and extracirriculars that will. 

Insider trading refers to the buying or selling of a publicly-traded company's stock by someone who has non-public, material information about that company. This kind of trading can be legal or illegal depending on when the insider makes the trade. It is important to understand the nuances and implications of insider trading, both from a legal and an ethical standpoint.If you have a security clearance, you could have implications if you get asked questions about your investments that you haven’t reported. We don’t see many people talking about this in the security clearance space, but Lindy Kyzer and Sean Bigley discuss the movement within the defense and aerospace sectors amidst mergers and acquisitions.

Symone Beez is an influencer who has been working in the GovTech space for a while - started in the security clearance process even before turning 21. Aside from content, Symone does virtual workshops and decided it's time to go bigger than ever - introducing GovTechCon. A three-day career expo and conference for the government technology (GovTech) sector.

The clearance eligibility guidelines are the same, but the way clearances are granted and how suitability is addressed can change significantly between federal agencies. We often talk about the security clearance process as the broad DoD road affecting more than 95 percent of applicants - the red pill, as it were - and the blue pill, which represents the narrow path of Intelligence Community clearances and suitability determinations, where special access programs are much more likely to require a polygraph and have more stringent application of the criteria.

Congress is currently looking to make it easier for prior marijuana users to get jobs with the federal government, but marijuana topics are nothing new over at ClearanceJobs and drug-related articles continue to trend on the site. Sean Bigley and Lindy Kyzer discuss why marijuana use remains a hot topic and why clearance holders still need to 'just say no.'

On Monday, September 17, the INSA Foundation in partnership with ClearanceJobs and GDIT, hosted the second installment of the "Future of the IC Workforce: Technology and Talent Transformation" series. Speakers included Kimberly King, Career Service Manager for Analysis, DIA, The Hon. John Sherman, Dean, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, and moderator Lindy Kyzer, Director of Content and PR, ClearnaceJobs. The program opened with speakers discussing the unique values that national security careers offer. Ms. King stated that there is merit in safeguarding the nation by being a part of something bigger than yourself. Joining the workforce there is an opportunity for “combination of mission and chance to drive your own career,” said Ms. King. Dean Sherman reflected on his career pivots and being at the forefront of technological advancement over the years. He noted that “being a trailblazer” in a discipline is distinctive from other career paths.The conversation shifted to the private sector’s competitive strategy to retain and attract new talent. Ms. King highlighted DIA is building their talent pipeline through IC Centers for Academic Excellence. This initiative leverages DIA’s connection with students across the country to onboard internships. The pay gap between the private sector and government presents a complex challenge for recruiting stem talent. Ms. King revealed the agency’s new pay model is a proactive recruiting strategy that is attracting stem students to the DIA. Mr. Sherman responded, that students at the Bush School of Government and Public Service Texas A&M are attracted to the national security mission. To transform mission-focused students to employees; the Bush School of Government and Public Service hosts professors of the practice that extend “tangible real-world example” of careers in the workforce.Upskilling and training are focus areas of the DIA to ensure that employees are digitally- literature on emerging technologies. Kim noted that across-agency there are formal and informal training for employees. Continuing learning opportunities at DIA consist of technical training at universities, senior service schools, and speaker visits. Mr. Sherman urged that academia prepare the future workforce by enforcing effective and concise communication amongst students. “Getting them in a mindset that they’re writing decision-makers,” said Mr. Sherman. The ability to write clearly and brief a policy is a critical skill the workforce values.The speakers agreed that to reach the future workforce there is a need for a flexible workspace. Improving retention and attraction strategies relies on the workforce to effectively track talent. Insufficient communication with applicants is resulting in the workforce losing skilled candidates during the process.