Cyber Workforce

The Marine Corps plans to convert all of the civilian billets within its cyber command to the new Cyber Excepted Service starting next month.

A new cyber workforce executive order charges multiple agencies to develop a rotational assignment program, which would create details for top talent in and around federal agencies and the private sector.

In this exclusive executive briefing, the following experts discuss practical cyber workforce strategies and ways government and industry can collaborate more effectively

U.S. Cyber Command said the new Cyber Excepted Service has cut its time-to-hire by 60 percent. But so far, DoD has only used the new personnel system for a few hundred positions.

Three years after Congress gave DoD permission to set up a separate personnel system to attract cyber talent, officials say they’re on the verge of an “exponential” increase in usage of the Cyber Excepted Service.

As the cyber industry expands, there’s an influx of unique job titles: cybersecurity analyst, cybersecurity manager, even cyber warrior. But, working in the field of cybersecurity doesn’t always mean holding a position with a trendy tech name.

Kathy Hutson, NSA’s senior strategist for academic engagement, said a 20-year partnership with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County helps keep current employees growing, while bringing in new ones.

Arlette Hart, senior cybersecurity technologist at Leidos, joined Federal News Network to discuss the state of cybersecurity today and the need to recruit and retain top talent.

Only 20 percent of the Army’s cyber teams are made up of civilians. The Army is analyzing whether that’s the right ratio in an environment where every uniformed servicemember is expected to be able to deploy to combat.

After a lackluster first year in its Cyber Direct Commissioning program, the Army is hoping a combination of higher pay and better marketing will let it attract more candidates from industry, academia.