October 30, 2024 (Arlington, VA)— The Intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF) has published a new paper outlining key insights from its three-part webinar series, The Future of the IC Workforce: Technology and Talent Transformation, held in September 2024. Underwritten by ClearanceJobs and GDIT, the series convened leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss actionable strategies to strengthen the Intelligence Community (IC) workforce. Now in its fourth year, the INSF Future of the IC Workforce series examines the top issues, trends, and challenges facing the IC workforce. 

"These findings underscore the importance of building a resilient and inclusive workforce ready for the challenges ahead,” said INSF President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg. “This is a call to action for IC leaders across all sectors to work collaboratively in developing talent strategies that meet the evolving needs of the community.”

• Closing the Cyber Skills Gap: Emphasized the importance of skills-based hiring and contract reform to help fill over 500,000 U.S. cybersecurity vacancies, creating pathways for a diverse workforce drawn from nontraditional backgrounds.

• Early STEM Engagement: Stressed the value of building STEM pipelines through partnerships with high schools and universities to introduce students early to careers in national security.

• Cross-Sector Flexibility: Supported policies that enable talent to move between public and private sectors, fostering career flexibility and driving innovation.

• Upskilling & Retraining: Underscored the importance of ongoing technical and soft skills training, including communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.

The paper is available on the INSF website. For further information on upcoming INSF initiatives and events, please visit INSAonline.org/Foundation.