Recommendations for Strengthening the National Security Workforce

June 18, 2020

U.S. national security relies on people just as much as policy or technology.

In response to the growing challenge of building a strong, skilled national security workforce, three national commissions have come together to raise the issue before Congress. On June 17, the National Defense University will host a virtual two-panel discussion to explore the challenges and the recommendations proposed by the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service (NCMNPS), the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), and the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC).

Featuring Remarks from Vice Admiral Fritz Roegge, NDU President, and Dr. Cassandra Lewis, Acting Dean of Faculty and Academic Programs / Acting Chancellor, CIC NDU

Panel One: Hiring in the Federal Government

Policies that govern hiring in the federal government must strike a balance between important priorities like fairness and flexibility or security and speed. In competitive hiring markets like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, finding this balance is especially difficult. In this session, representatives from the three commissions will discuss hiring authorities, security clearance processes, and other key issues that shape how the government brings talented individuals into public service positions.

• Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), Commissioner, Cyberspace Solarium Commission; U.S. House of Representatives - Rhode Island's Second District

• Shawn Skelly, Commissioner, National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, Former Director, Executive Secretariat, U.S. Department of Transportation

• Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, Vice Chair for Military Service, former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

• Thomas Wingfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, U.S. Department of Defense (Moderator)

Panel Two: Strengthening Pathways into Federal Jobs

The U.S. government has established a number of tools to help bring talented individuals into government jobs. Programs like CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service and the Pathways Internships have a strong track record of success, and can be expanded and improved to help address critical workforce needs. This session will explore opportunities like these to expand and strengthen these types of tools for federal hiring

• Chris Inglis, Commissioner, Cyberspace Solarium Commission

• Debra Wada, Commissioner, National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, Vice Chair for Military Service, former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

• Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, Commissioner, National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, President of Dakota State University

• Dr. Laura Junor, Director, Research and Strategic Support at the National Defense University (Moderator)