March 10, 2023
The U.S. Defense Department has released a cyber workforce strategy that outlines development programs, modifications to the selection process, and advanced training that it aims to initiate between 2023 and 2027.
The strategy will allow the DoD to close workforce development gaps, resource workforce management and development initiatives, stay on the cutting edge of technological advances, securely and quickly deliver resilient systems, and transform into a data-centric enterprise with optimized workforce analytics.
The strategy is divided into four goals: identify what skills are required, recruit more talent, develop a cyber-aware workplace culture, and retain the talent they already have. As part of the strategy, the Defense Department intends to develop a new talent management system and conduct regular assessments to determine what additional training and skill sets are required.
According to the strategy, it will also identify “previously untapped or under-represented sources of talent” in its recruitment strategies. To foster talent already in the Pentagon, the department also plans to establish a development fund for employee trainings.
“We are looking at every aspect of the cyber employee’s lifecycle to ensure we are not only finding and hiring a diverse group of skilled cyber specialists but also developing the tools, resources, and partnerships required to continue to grow these individuals professionally,” said Patrick Johnson, director, Workforce Innovation Directorate (WID). “I’m proud of the work our team has done so far, and we still have a lot more work to do to overcome talent shortages within the cyber workforce.”
Meanwhile, experts believe that given the size of the department’s workforce, some of the ideas in the plan will take years to implement, and officials admit that not every idea will be implemented. Furthermore, they believe that several ideas outlined in the strategy will aid the Defense Department in competing with Silicon Valley.
The sources for this piece include an article in Axios.
