Future of the IC Workforce: Technology and Talent Transformation: Episode One
September 5, 2024 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
On Thursday, September 5, the INSA Foundation, in partnership with ClearanceJobs and GDIT, launched the 2024 “Future of the IC Workforce: Technology and Talent Transformation webinar series. This first installment featured Jo-Ellen Adkins, Acting Director, Human Development Directorate, NGA; Aaron Bedrowsky, Senior VP, Intelligence & Homeland Security, GDIT; Lauren Bean Buitta, Founder and CEO, Girl Security; and series moderator Lindy Kyzer, Director of Content and PR, ClearanceJobs.
Recording courtesy of series underwriters GDIT and Clearancejobs!
Speakers began the discussion highlighting milestone changes in the workforce over the past 20 years. Ms. Adkins noted the increased diversity of thought, backgrounds and perspectives in the IC workplace since the 9/11 Commission Report. Following up, Mr. Bedrowsky discussed how the post-covid environment has allowed for increased opportunities for industry to collaborate with academia to attract a diverse pool of candidates outside of the DMV. Ms. Buitta shared that Girl Security is working in communities and education institutions that the IC has often overlooked. For example, they are launching their first high school-based workforce training program (starting with structured analytics) in the Southside of Chicago this fall. "We are not just raising awareness of pathways but training them with an enduring skillset they can employ across different career paths." Ms. Buitta noted, "I have this dream where we create a civic model where people can serve across sectors. Because it really does showcase the actual way national security occurs, across the public and private sectors."
Panelists agreed that women are significantly underrepresented in the workforce. To properly mitigate this challenge, the workforce must engage women and girls early in their careers. Ms. Buitta stated that “every generation is a new opportunity to engage.” She also noted the importance of a sense of belonging to the women and underrepresented communities in the IC workforce. Closing the gender gap is a complex problem however, proactively encouraging women and girls to join the workforce is a sustainable solution for IC employers to advance gender representation. The ODNI’s 2023 Annual Demographic Report revealed a 7% gap between women in the workforce and women at the senior level. Providing high school counselors with a framework to guide students into national security careers can strengthen the IC’s ability to attract and retain new talent. Mr. Bedrowsky spoke on establishing partnerships where agencies and industry visit high schools so students can “align their academic pursuits to their interests,” which is invaluable to sourcing mission-driven students.
Serving the national security mission does not require a security clearance and Ms. Adkins shared how NGA is actively recruiting diverse talent in their unclassified hub in St. Louis. She detailed the convenience of work-life balance and NGA’s mission to build the unclassified GEOINT ecosystem. Mr. Bedrowsky expressed that like NGA, GDIT has partnered with Gateway Global to inform their curriculum and target individuals who are aligned to serving the national security mission. The goal is to get them into the clearance pipeline and eventually serve in the public or private IC.
Looking forward, speakers agreed that the IC is making steady progress in diversifying the workforce. Mr. Bedrowsky emphasized the benefits of upskilling to retain employees and improve their skillset. Incorporating practices for mid-career employees to smoothly transition in and out of government will motivate employees to remain at their organizations.
Special thanks to GDIT for underwriting this series!
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