Shaina Turner

"My start in the IC was as a Junior Proposal Writer (Technical Writer) at Six3 Systems, initially writing past performance references for proposal responses to the government. The choice was not based on the customers that the company supported, as I had no familiarity with the IC before taking the position. However, not much time progressed before I came to appreciate the customers, missions, and the industrial base that support them. I enjoy the environment created by the nature of our work and the dedication and skill that work demands of those who support. It is an environment and culture that places emphasis on what individuals have to offer to achieve our goals, and not as much on rank, title, or demographic. Our missions are complex, dynamic, challenging, and critically important to our nation, and I enjoy being challenged and constantly learning. Even though I did not deliberately choose to support the IC initially, I've made a conscious decision to stay, and I take pride in doing so."

"Although I do not currently directly support our customers from the line, participating in the acquisition processes supporting critical national security requirements keeps me motivated. The intentional journey of learning a customer's unique mission needs; forming a high-performance team comprised of internal and external "A-players" in requisite areas of expertise; and devoting countless hours discussing, debating, whiteboarding, etc. to develop the most effective combination of technology, expertise, and management methodologies—that journey excites me the most about my job. Each one has its own nuances and problems to be solved, and each offers an opportunity to learn and collaborate differently than before."

"Technological parity and continuous progress, mostly around data [will be the top IC focus in the year ahead]...Our customers are very aware of the risks associated with not taking a technology-first approach to their missions and are no longer accepting the traditional SME-centered approaches to support their needs. They are more informed than ever of the advancements in areas like microservices, AI/ML, and edge computing, and expect to maintain parity and speed of progress with the most advanced organizations, commercial and government."

"[Advice for a student considering a career in the IC] Relationships are important. Embrace networking, engaging, and finding opportunities to build rapport with those outside your respective agency and across the IC. Too often silos are created due to various unique missions, and we become comfortable interacting with only those with whom we work directly. There is merit and significant benefit to engagement beyond that."

Favorite TV show: Ted Lasso. The show evokes a variety of emotions, but it's mostly just hilarious. If you haven't watched it yet, do so! No judgement for binge-watching.