NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

NatSec@Work is a digital magazine powered by ClearanceJobs, crafted to keep the national security workforce in the loop. Each issue is distributed to over 800,000 recipients, packed with insights covering everything from workforce trends to the art of military transition.

inside The Security Clearance Trap

AI at Work and Play

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025 1

CONTENTS

Leadership Lessons and Highlights Profiles in Leadership: Peering into the Future with Peter Singer Peter has spent decades researching and writing on 21st-century national security issues, emphasizing the strategic importance of deception in modern warfare and the evolving impact of technologies like AI and drones. From the E-Ring to Foggy Bottom: Colin Powell’s 13 Rules of Leadership Powell drew on personal lessons and anecdotes to express the wisdom of a lifetime in service to the nation, both in and out of uniform.

Message from the Editor Team on a Mission Workforce Trends What Are Defense Contractors Doing With AI in 2025? In 2025, artificial intelligence isn’t a side project for defense contractors— it’s the main event. Top 10 Ways to Find AI Talent in 2025 The demand for AI talent has exploded. Whether you’re building autonomous systems for defense, scaling generative tools for intelligence missions, or launching secure AI platforms for federal clients, one truth stands out. The Future of OSINT: Truth, Trust, and Tradeoffs in an AI Driven Era The future of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) took the stage at the recent AI+Expo in Washington, D.C., where national security leaders wrestled with how to counter AI-driven deception. Security Clearance Updates The Security Clearance Trap: Common Mistakes When Switching Government Contractors When leaving a government contractor for another one, it is essential to be careful in how you handle it. Trump’s New Travel Ban: What Security Clearance Holders Need to Know President Donald Trump signed a sweeping new travel ban that took effect at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 9, 2025

04 05

Military Transition Not “Just A Vet” - 7 Steps to Rebuild your Identity Outside of the Uniform When a service member transitions out of the military, no one hands us a roadmap for who we’re supposed to become next. How to be a Real Mentor to Veterans Making the Military-to-Civilian Leap Instead of truly mentoring, people often just give advice. This can leave the person seeking help feeling frustrated and unsupported. Contract Highlights Microsoft’s AI Tools Are Everywhere And So Is Its Soaring Revenue Microsoft’s (MSFT) strong leverage to multiple aspects of AI enabled it to recently report very impressive quarterly results and should enable it to grow rapidly for the foreseeable future. Top DoD Contracts of Q2 - 2025 If you’re wondering where the DoD is placing its biggest bets in 2025, look no further than the second quarter’s contract awards. Voices of the Issue

Advance Your Future with Amentum Join Amentum’s Intelligence & Cyber team—where innovation meets impact. With more than 53,000 employees in approximately 80 countries, Amentum is proud to be the #1 Military Friendly® Employer and a leader in national security. We harness the power of AI, machine learning, and cutting-edge cybersecurity to protect what matters most. We deliver innovative solutions in mission-driven environments, and your skills are an essential part of our shared success. Take the next step and advance your future with Amentum.

Career Advice Climbing the Ladder? Check your Emotional IQ Emotional intelligence is a topic that isn’t discussed enough in relation to the workplace. 7 Steps to Building a Standout ClearanceJobs Profile How to create a ClearanceJobs profile that gets noticed Lifestyle How to Use AI to Plan Your Next Vacation. Let the algorithms sweat the details so you don’t have to. Gone are the days of juggling 12 open tabs, getting lost in TripAdvisor rabbit holes, or asking that one well-traveled cousin who always replies, “It depends.” What if your Commute Could Drive Itself? We might finally have a way to take the edge off— autopilot. Not just cruise control, not just lane assist. We’re talking true, hands-off, mind- back-in-your-own-business driving.

Visit: https://tinyurl.com/AmentumIC

2 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025 3

Message from the Editor

Team on a Mission

If the first issue of NatSec@Work was about introducing ourselves, this one is about looking ahead.

Jill Hamilton CONTENT DIRECTOR

Amanda Hauck SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Eric Peinovsky VP OF MARKETING

Alex Schildt PRESIDENT, CLEARANCEJOBS

Artificial intelligence is no longer something we’re preparing for—it’s something we’re already using. From streamlining daily tasks to reshaping global defense strategies, AI is quickly becoming embedded in every layer of how we work, live, and lead. And as national security professionals, we don’t have the luxury of ignoring its impact. In this issue, we explore AI through both lenses: the personal and the professional. What does it mean for your career? For hiring talent? For the way agencies, companies, and contractors innovate and compete? Whether you’re planning your next move—or your next mission—understanding AI isn’t optional. It’s essential.

Morgan Wheeler SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Phoebe Wells PR & PARTNERSHIPS CONTENT MANAGER

Karen Camp SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER

Chaz Dorr ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BRANDING & SALES MEDIA

We’re also proud to feature voices that bring history and humanity into the conversation—from leadership lessons that never go out of style to profiles of those shaping the future.

Thanks for reading—and for continuing to be part of this growing conversation.

- Jill Hamilton Content Director, NatSec@Work

Megan Scholten DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Lindy Kyzer VP OF CONTENT & MARKET ENGAGEMENT

Sonja Klass SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER

Mark Chase HEAD OF PRODUCT & ENGINEERING

4 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025 5

Workforce Trends

Key concern? Data privacy and hallucination control. Expect contractors to invest big in red-teaming models and integrating human-in-the-loop validation. AI Ethics and Oversight Get Serious AI’s power is clear—but so is the need for guardrails. In 2025, nearly every defense contractor is hiring AI ethicists, establishing internal review boards, and building model documentation pipelines. Why? Because DoD mandates and public scrutiny are catching up to the tech. Compliance isn’t a checkbox. It’s now a competitive advantage—especially in contract awards involving autonomy or lethal decision support. Speed is the New Metric Traditionally, acquisition cycles have been long. But AI development doesn’t wait 18 months for a contract mod. That’s why contractors are embracing DevSecOps pipelines, rapid prototyping, and modular architectures that allow for quick iteration. Contractors that win in 2025 are the ones who can deploy AI models fast, test them under pressure, and improve them without breaking security protocols. A NatSec Imperative From space to seabed, air to cyber, AI is being used to make decisions faster, secure systems smarter, and train warfighters better. And with DoD investments surging and battlefield requirements evolving, AI isn’t just a tech trend—it’s a national security imperative. The real question? Who will lead, who will lag, and who will make AI truly mission-ready. And are you ready to join a contractor on the AI mission?

WHAT ARE DEFENSE CONTRACTORS DOING WITH AI IN 2025?

Autonomy Isn’t Optional Anymore Uncrewed systems (UxS) are getting smarter. Contractors are moving beyond simple GPS-based nav to full- on autonomous pathfinding, object recognition, and swarm coordination. AI is the brain behind it all. The Navy’s “Ghost Fleet Overlord” program? Powered in part by contractor- led AI autonomy. Companies like Shield AI and Kratos are building aircraft that fly themselves—and learn as they go. Cyber + AI = Constant Vigilance With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, defense contractors are combining AI with cybersecurity tools to detect intrusions, predict vulnerabilities, and harden critical systems. Think threat hunting at machine speed. Northrop Grumman and Parsons are developing AI tools that sift through oceans of log data to flag anomalies in seconds—not hours.

Training Simulations Go Next-Gen

Gone are the days of static PowerPoint drills. AI-powered simulations now adapt in real-time, challenging warfighters based on their skill level, decisions, and even stress responses. It’s like a military- grade version of a video game that learns how to beat you. Contractors are leveraging generative AI and natural language processing to power dynamic training—where the “enemy” adapts its strategy mid-mission. It’s personalized, scalable, and being adopted across service branches. Generative AI Is Being Tamed (and Secured) Yes, everyone wants in on the generative AI game. But in defense, it’s about controlled environments, secure data, and mission-specific outputs—not novelty. Contractors are building GenAI systems to summarize ISR intel, draft operational plans, and speed up decision cycles.

By Jill Hamilton

AI and the Tactical Edge One of the hottest areas this year is edge AI. Contractors are building models that can run without constant cloud connectivity—on aircraft, in submarines, on handheld soldier devices. These AI tools operate in low-bandwidth, high- risk environments and deliver mission- relevant insights without pinging a server in Virginia. Booz Allen’s edge AI push includes ruggedized hardware + deployable ML models. Anduril is rolling out autonomous systems for border monitoring and ISR missions with built-in real-time AI processing.

Operationalizing AI for the Warfighter AI isn’t just being built—it’s being deployed. Defense contractors are

In 2025 , artificial intelligence isn’t a side project for defense contractors—it’s the main event. From the Pentagon’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) initiatives to tactical edge deployments in contested environments, AI has officially moved from the lab to the frontlines. And contractors? They’re no longer asking if they should adopt AI. The only question is how fast they can scale it. Here’s a look at how the biggest players— and the most agile upstarts—are weaving AI into the fabric of national defense.

embedding AI into systems that provide real-time decision support, detect threats faster, and reduce cognitive load for commanders. In 2025, think AI-powered targeting, predictive maintenance, and ISR platforms that do more than collect— they interpret. Lockheed Martin is leaning heavily into edge AI for aircraft and drone systems. Raytheon is building on autonomous threat detection and countermeasure systems. Palantir? Still doing big data fusion—but faster, smarter, and more forward-deployed.

6 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025 7

Career Advice

By Grace Boone

Emotional intelligence is a topic that isn’t discussed enough in relation to the workplace. Many of us quickly buckle down and grind out our work while neglecting our emotional health and how our mental state may affect others. Those in upper management and leadership positions have a unique responsibility to stay in tune with both themselves and their team members could be closer than you think.

Check Your Emotional IQ A team thrives best under a leader who understands the needs of its members, but how does that play out in the day-to- day office setting? If you’re aspiring to an upper management role, here are a few self-examination starting points. 1. Are You Empathetic? A huge part of managing a team is relating to your team members. Reading the room and knowing when your team needs extra help or encouragement is crucial. Without empathy, team members may struggle to reach out when they need assistance or may hesitate to ask clarifying questions. Don’t hold back on relatability, even when it feels unnatural. 2. How’s Your Self-Awareness? Even the most competent leaders make mistakes. Recognizing when you’ve made one and owning up to it sets a great example for your team. Knowing your weaknesses and tendencies helps predict and avoid possible downfalls. When possible, discuss and reflect upon any setbacks with the team to encourage openness among coworkers.

3. Would You Say You’re Adaptable? If you’re too rigid in your thinking and stuck in certain patterns, team members may feel they can’t express ideas or provide feedback. The best leaders are open to changing rhythms and processes to allow creativity to flow freely in a team dynamic. Adaptability is a great way to show your team members that you value their input and ideas.

You may meet all the professional qualifications for a leadership role, but checking in on your emotional intelligence and people skills is just as vital for long- term success. Your future team will thank you for doing the self-work to lead them to victory in any scenario!

Engineer cleared systems with staying power. Apply today

LockheedMartin.com/Careers

8 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025 9

Military Transition

HOW TO REBUILD YOUR IDENTITY Rebuilding your identity is not only possible, it’s a journey worth embracing. RECOGNIZE THE TRANSITION IS MORE THAN A JOB CHANGE Leaving the military isn’t just switching careers, it is a transformation of lifestyle, purpose, and identity. Give yourself space to acknowledge the gravity of the shift. Be patient with yourself, because no skill is perfect overnight, and adapting to a whole new lifestyle takes time. You may feel a mix of pride, grief, confusion, and hope. All of those emotions are valid. Instead of rushing to “move on,” pause to reflect on what the military meant to you. This is an important step in not ‘creating’ the new you, but growing and evolving into who you are capable of being. Keep in mind all of the lessons learned while serving and what parts of that experience you want to carry forward. REDEFINE YOUR “WHY” In uniform, your purpose was often tied to a collective mission. But in civilian life, you get to define your mission. It is not less of a ‘team’ mindset, but more of an individual mentality. You are no longer responsible for those who stand in formation to your left and right. Now is the time when you can ignore the feeling of guilt and focus on your personal reasons of ‘why’. That can feel daunting, but it’s also incredibly freeing. ASK YOURSELF: • What do I value most? • What kind of impact do I want to make now? • What brings me meaning outside of rank or title? • This process helps you uncover a new ‘why’. This new ‘why’ is one that’s aligned with your current life stage and goals.

EXPLORE, DON’T JUST ‘EXECUTE’ In the military, you’re trained to take action. You are in an industry of executing orders and accomplishing the mission. Rebuilding your identity isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about discovering more than just what the mission is and how to complete it. You don’t have to get it right the first time. Try out different career paths. Volunteer. Take a class that has nothing to do with your MOS. Get back into a hobby you loved as a kid or try something completely out of your comfort zone. Every experience brings you closer to who you are becoming. RECONNECT WITH COMMUNITY AND FIND YOUR NEW TRIBE One of the most overlooked losses during transition is the sudden absence of community. In the service, you always had a team. In civilian life, you have to build it again. For some reason, when Service Members transition into being a veteran, they put up walls between their life and the military. This inadvertently secludes you from the safety net that has supported you for years. This is sometimes intentional, but it can happen unintentionally. Don’t purposefully remove yourself from your support group, but if you have found that it has happened, there are ways to get back to a safe place.

By Aaron Knowles

Seek out veteran groups, both in-person and online. Get involved with clubs, sports leagues, creative groups, or faith communities. Don’t limit yourself to just “military” spaces— sometimes your new identity blooms in unexpected places. Consider taking classes in your hobbies or crafts, and then go from there.

REMEMBER : a tribe isn’t about shared background—it’s about shared values and mutual support.

W hen a service member transitions out of the military, no one hands us a roadmap for who we’re supposed to become next. While serving, we are given nearly everything we need: where to be, when to be there, what we are doing, and what to wear. The only thing that we are responsible for is having the right attitude when we get there. The mission-driven lifestyle, tight-knit community, and clear structure that defined our daily life feel like they vanish overnight, leaving you asking: Who am I now?

That question is one many veterans wrestle with, sometimes for years. But here’s the truth: our identity doesn’t disappear with the uniform. It evolves.

10 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

TIRED OF UNCERTAINTY? CREATE YOUR OWN STABILITY.

Military Transition

Your Next Chapter Starts with Veteran Service Brands

CREATE A NEW ROUTINE AND STRUCTURE In the military, your day was mapped out with precision. Civilian life can feel unstructured, even chaotic. You can feel lost, without motivation or passion, or even empty, without the day-to-day tasks, formations, etc. To ease the transition, build your own routine. Create a daily routine to get you back on track until you find a better way to operate at a civilian pace. INCLUDE: • Physical fitness (helps with stress and mood) • Daily goals (small wins create momentum) • Time for reflection or mindfulness • Intentional connection (family, mentors, friends) • Structure isn’t restrictive—it’s grounding. It gives you stability while you forge a new path. PERMIT YOURSELF TO GRIEVE AND TO GROW It’s okay to miss the uniform. It’s okay to miss the clarity of purpose and the camaraderie. It is okay to miss the built-in daily stressors. You’re not weak for feeling lost or uncertain. Those emotions are proof that your service mattered. But you need to turn those feelings into motivation to find a new mission, a new goal, or whatever it is that you may discover on this journey to a new you. But once you’ve processed that grief, turn your focus forward. What’s next? What legacy do you want to build now, not just as a veteran, but as a leader, creator, parent, entrepreneur, or advocate?

YOU BRING INCREDIBLE (MARKETABLE) STRENGTHS TO THE TABLE: • Leadership under pressure • Strategic thinking • Teamwork • Adaptability • Integrity Whether you’re starting a business, going back to school, managing a household, or advocating for others, those skills still apply. You just need to reframe them in ways that resonate with civilian audiences (and sometimes yourself). REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT—IT’S A SIGN OF STRENGTH No matter how far removed you are from the service, you’re not meant to go through this alone. There are transition coaches, VA counselors, mental health providers, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping veterans find their footing. Some programs will help you at the local, state, and federal levels. Many of these programs are created to help before, during, and after you have already started the transition into civilian life. Do not let pride get in the way of you requesting any type of assistance that you might need. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And often, it’s the key to unlocking your next chapter with clarity and confidence. You’ve served your country. You’ve lived a life of purpose, discipline, and dedication. Now, it’s time to serve yourself with that same energy. Rebuilding your identity takes courage, but you already have that in spades. This next chapter isn’t about forgetting who you were, it’s about discovering who you’re meant to become. And trust this: who you are now will be just as powerful, just as impactful, and just as needed.

“Owning a VSB franchise gave me the structure and support I needed to build something stable for my family. I stopped worrying about what's next and now I’m in control of my future.” Damian Schlereth USMC Veteran & Owner of PAINT CORPS Denver West

You’re not leaving your identity behind, you’re expanding it.

LEVERAGE YOUR MILITARY STRENGTHS IN CIVILIAN LIFE Once you find what you are passionate about, you can then implement what you have learned from your time in the service. You can expand on what you enjoy doing, you can find purpose in that, and if things align and it is a marketable idea, you can then turn that into potentially a next step for you. Start by looking at what you did during your time in the service, then think about what brought you fulfilment while in that role. Once you have these ideas picked out, you can now think about how your military training, career, and experience will make you more marketable for those roles.

NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED OWNER-MANAGER ROLE WITH LEADERSHIP FOCUS LOW COST, FAST GROWING FRANCHISE PROTECTED TERRITORY & NATIONAL MARKETING SUPPORT BUILT BY VETERANS EXCLUSIVELY FOR VETERANS

VeteranServiceBrands.com

12 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Leadership Lessons and Highlights

► How are classic deception efforts Operations Fortitude and Bodyguard in World War II relevant today? Every single one of their principles still holds true today, from disguising your actions and intentions to reinforcing an enemy’s wrongful assumptions. Think of the then classified, but now famous “Ghost Army,” which made the Nazis think we were going to invade at the wrong location, but where they worried most. It was all so masterful and detailed, all the way down to little items like having an actor who looked like General Montgomery deliberately get photographed on a trip thousands of miles away, in the days before the invasion. Yet there is also a warning in them. Our research found that we now face a “deception gap.” The deception operations that our forces executed brilliantly on D-Day involved years of planning and thousands of moving parts. Now, the teaching of military deception gets short shrift in our training manuals, and counter-deception even less. This was insufficient for training how to fight the Taliban, unconscionable for when facing a great power. ► You recently released a detailed report on deception for New America with Mick Ryan. What have we learned about the evolution of deception from the Ukraine war? The so-called “transparent battlefield” is actually still filled with the fog of war, now heightened by new technologies like drones, AI, and 3D printing. Russia and Ukraine have managed to deceive each other again and again in spite of the mass presence of drones and satellites. So, deception has not gone out of style, it is even more important than ever. ► What trends in deception do you anticipate over the next decade? One is the growing vulnerabilities to systems with a “lower barrier to entry” like small drones. Another is that AI both enables new approaches to deception but also has certain vulnerabilities that can be exploited. AI can be tricked, and, even more so, future deception campaigns will target the relationship between human and machine. We are also seeing the growing role and importance of the space domain in deception campaigns. Finally, nations like Russia, North Korea, Iran and China have a learning complex, so we should expect to see our foes share lessons and technologies.

Peering into the Future with Peter Singer

By Steve Leonard

N early 20 years ago, I was meeting with Peter Singer for coffee at The Brookings Institution, where he led the 21st Century Defense Initiative for the Washington, DC, think tank. Each year, he would work with a remarkable group of fellows from the Army War College and refocus their thinking from the present to the future. Not surprisingly, our conversation that morning inevitably drifted from what the fellows were doing for Brookings to what Singer himself could do to help us prepare for that future. For some people, the future can be a little unnerving. What waits around the bend of the next international crisis? Which direction will the fortunes of global power dynamics turn? What threats lurk over the horizon? Those questions and a litany of others have become a driving passion for Singer, a best-selling author and renowned futurist whose research and writing on 21st-century national security issues continue to fuel the imagination of leaders. In the years since that first meeting, Peter Singer and I have written books together, explored the concept of FICINT – fictional intelligence – through the Useful Fiction initiative, and maintained a close dialog. But it was Singer’s latest effort at New America with another of my co-authors, Mick Ryan, that convinced me that another conversation was necessary.

► It’s 2030 and still nothing is happening between China and Taiwan. Why or why not? We did a project related to this question for SOCOM via our Useful Fiction project. We were asked to envision “What would winning look like?” Our answer was a future scenario not in which we defeated an invasion of Taiwan, but rather one in which China never invaded Taiwan. That is what winning would actually look like. The key lesson was that deterrence, however, turns on not just what you do, but what the other side perceives and decides.

So, I sat down with Peter to discuss his projects, his sense of what’s to come, and what keeps him awake at night. ► What inspired your interest in deception in war? The story of how militaries trick each other is one of the most essential—and fascinating—aspects of war. It goes from the Trojan Horse to the deception operations before D-Day to how Ukraine and Israel have more recently pulled it off. It is also something that new technologies like drones and AI are reshaping. Finally, it is an area that potential foes like China care about deeply and could pull off against us. ► How would you explain deception to someone without a background in the field? It has two key parts. First, deliberately misleading your foe. And second, so that they will take some action that contributes to your own goals.

So, the story we created was of a PLA general in that future, looking back on why it was never the right day to invade Taiwan, lamenting that they could never figure out how to win. He blames 20 dastardly things that the Taiwanese, Americans, and their allies put into place, possible real-world actions that made PLA military planners’ lives more complicated and our defenses more resilient. What is great is that the story was used not just at SOCOM, but in testimony to Congress. Hopefully, many of the scenario’s action items are being enacted, to make that fiction come true.

14 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powererd by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powererd by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Leadership Lessons and Highlights

► Will people look back in 20 years and revisit Ghost Fleet as a print documentary? Since it is the story of a war where we get our butts kicked in part 1, I hope not! One of the most rewarding outcomes of that book’s approach of what we call “useful fiction” was that in addition to all the briefings we did on its real-world lessons was there were three government investigations launched from leaders reading the book and wanting to keep certain bad things that happen in Ghost Fleet from coming true. That’s why this work is sometimes called FICINT, a play on the various INTs in intelligence. In the intelligence field, you often would prefer to warn and prevent something bad from happening, then predict something bad and it actually occurs. ► You published Like War seven years ago. Is it too late to turn the clock back on social media? That’s one where I can’t be so positive. Every aspect of social media and its effect on our world has just gotten worse since then.

► What can we do as a society to de-weaponize social media? The problem isn’t that we don’t know what to do about the weaponization of social media. There is all this research, as well as proven approaches in other democracies, on how to limit the harm, while still respecting individual rights and democracy, and even preserving massive profits for the companies. They range from providing digital literacy skills for our kids to enable them to protect themselves, to platform companies taking some pretty simple steps to keep their customers from being abused to governments not turning a blind eye to foreign government campaigns targeting their citizens. And, yet, we just aren’t willing to do them, not so ironically because of how social media has already successfully been weaponized against us. We are under attack, and we have unilaterally disarmed ourselves. ► The real question for the audience... when are you and August Cole going to complete the trilogy? As the great thinker Dr. Dre, PhD, put it, we’ve been “in the lab with a pen and a pad, trying to get this label off.” In all seriousness, we’ve actually been writing a great deal through our Useful Fiction writing business, helping various organizations ranging from NATO to SOCOM to the Army figure out how to share real world trends and lessons via scenarios. A final note on this short interview. The power of what Peter Singer brings to the table is usually in his remarkable ability to fuse the lessons of the past with a vision of the future. In that way, he is truly unique. Fundamentals don’t really change, but how they apply in a brave, new world just might.

At D’Youville, veteran and military aligned students thrive because they have a community of support that helps them navigate their VA benefits and success from recruitment to graduation and into great careers.

Scan to Learn More

16 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Lifestyle

5 .

7 .

3 .

Compare Flights and Hotels Faster Than Humanly Possible AI-backed platforms like Hopper, Kayak Price Forecast, or Google Flights’ Explore tool now use machine learning to predict price drops and suggest better booking windows. Hopper even tells you when to book and what’s likely to happen if you wait. Some sites now flag “AI-identified deals,” meaning the system has spotted rare discounts based on past travel patterns. Bonus: some travel apps also summarize hotel reviews using generative AI—so you don’t have to scroll through 400 mixed messages about the breakfast buffet. Speak the Language (or at Least Fake It Smoothly) Headed somewhere where you don’t speak the language? 4 . Tools like Google Translate, iTranslate, or ChatGPT voice mode let you speak or type anything and instantly get it translated—with proper context. AI voice tools now translate tone and cultural nuance, not just words. Some apps even let you scan menus or signs for instant translation. It’s like having a tour guide in your pocket—without the awkward tipping.

Stay Flexible with Smart Rebooking Tools

Use AI to Pack Like a Pro Want to avoid overpacking—or worse, forgetting your swimsuit? Ask an AI to build your packing list based on destination, weather, and trip length. “Going to Iceland in October for 5 days. Mostly outdoor stuff. Staying in hotels. Help me pack.” AI will factor in cold nights, wet hikes, indoor dinners, and even suggest layers, camera gear, and travel plugs. No more night-before suitcase panic. Avoid Tourist Traps and Discover Hidden Gems AI can now sift through local blogs, review sites, and real traveler itineraries to surface what’s trending—and what’s overhyped. Ask: “Best non-touristy breakfast in Lisbon?” or “Hidden beaches near Dubrovnik with no crowds?” New AI travel tools even suggest timing your visits to avoid cruise ship swells or rush hours. 6 .

Flight delayed? AI bots like TripIt Pro or Google Assistant can automatically rebook you, suggest alternate routes, or alert you when better options pop up.

No more waiting on hold for an agent or refreshing the airline app 37 times.

And if your plans change mid-trip? AI itinerary tools can adjust in real time and shuffle your bookings like a digital travel ninja. The Guesswork Out of Vacay Prep AI can’t sip piña coladas for you—but it can make getting there a lot less stressful. Whether you’re a spreadsheet planner or a spontaneous traveler, using AI takes the guesswork out of vacation prep so you can focus on what matters: relaxing, exploring, and maybe even getting lost in the best way. So next time you’re daydreaming about your next getaway, don’t just Google. Ask AI.

Local knowledge, curated and filtered, just for you.

By Jill Hamilton

1 .

2 .

Start With a Chatbot—It’s Your Travel Brainstorming Buddy Forget generic listicles. Type into your favorite AI assistant something like: “I have a week off in July, want something warm, not too expensive, and near water. Ideas?” You’ll get a tailored list of destinations based on weather, flight costs, hotel availability, and vibe. Want family- friendly? Romantic? Quiet with great coffee? Just say so. AI tools can now cross-reference weather, events, price trends, and safety—all in seconds.

Let AI Build Your Itinerary Sites like Roam Around, Tripnotes, and even Google Bard can create custom itineraries with a few inputs. You tell them your destination, travel dates, interests, and trip goals. They’ll spit out a daily breakdown: • Morning hike • Afternoon museum • Dinner with sunset views • Local bar that doesn’t appear in every tourist guide You can tweak it, shuffle stops, or ask for alternatives—like a virtual travel buddy who never complains.

Gone are the days of juggling 12 open tabs, getting lost in TripAdvisor rabbit holes, or asking that one well-traveled cousin who always replies, “It depends.” In 2025, AI can be your personal travel agent, logistics manager, translator, and hype squad—all rolled into one. Whether you’re dreaming of a coastal escape, a foodie city tour, or a national park adventure with zero cell service, here’s how to let AI take the planning stress off your shoulders.

18 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

20 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Workforce Trends

TOP 10 WAYS TO FIND AI TALENT IN 2025

By Jill Hamilton

The demand for AI talent has exploded. Whether you’re building autonomous systems for defense, scaling generative tools for intelligence missions, or launching secure AI platforms for federal clients, one truth stands out in 2025: finding AI talent is still hard. The competition is fierce, the skillsets are complex, and not every PhD from MIT wants to work on your codebase. So where do you find AI professionals who can actually deploy, scale, and secure machine learning systems that matter?

10. Tell the Right Story

8. Get Serious About Security-Cleared AI

Here are 10 strategies to find and hire AI talent that’s ready for the mission.

6. Prioritize the Polyglots The best AI hires in 2025 don’t just speak Python. They think in vectors and outcomes. They understand policy, data governance, edge deployment, and maybe even a little cyber or UX. Find the people who can cross bridges—not just stay in the model sandbox.

1. Recruit at the Source: Specialized AI Programs and Schools

2. Build an AI Challenge or Hackathon with a Purpose The best AI talent wants to solve problems, not just write models. Host a challenge tied to a real mission set: anomaly detection for satellite telemetry, multimodal analysis for border security, or secure LLM fine- tuning in a zero-trust environment. Think Kaggle meets DARPA. 3. Look for the Builders—Not Just the Researchers Publishing in Nature is impressive. But deploying secure, scalable models that work inside a DevSecOps pipeline is a different skill. In 2025, look for candidates who can ship products—not just theorize them.

4. Partner with Veteran Transition Programs in Data and AI Veterans with TS/SCI eligibility and applied experience in ISR, SIGINT, or logistics modeling are transitioning with AI certifications in hand. They’re mission-ready and already cleared.

AI professionals aren’t just looking for comp—they want mission, culture, and a compelling challenge. Make sure your job description speaks human, not HR. Talk about the impact, the people, the growth path, and the cool problems they’ll solve. SEARCH SMARTER In 2025, finding AI talent is part technical sourcing, part brand storytelling, and part mission alignment. Whether you’re supporting federal programs, building for national security, or developing commercial applications—don’t just search harder. Search smarter. AND REMEMBER: The best AI talent isn’t always looking. But they are listening.

Need someone who can build AI inside a SCIF or work with classified datasets? Then go narrow and deep. Build lists of cleared AI professionals. Partner with platforms that specialize in cleared recruiting (like ClearanceJobs). The Venn diagram of AI + TS/SCI is small—but it exists.

Yes, you’ll still find solid talent from Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon. But don’t overlook newer powerhouses like the Georgia Tech OMSCS program, University of Toronto’s Vector Institute, or DoD-funded scholarship pipelines. Build relationships with these institutions—not just for interns, but for full-time hires.

5. Use AI to Hire AI Talent

9. Use Strategic Referrals (and Reward Them Well)

7. Don’t Just Hire—Invite to Collaborate

You’re hiring AI engineers—so prove you’re walking the talk. Leverage machine learning-based sourcing tools, predictive retention tools, and skills mapping tech to proactively identify talent.

In a world of AI hype, nothing beats trust. Incentivize referrals from your current AI teams and trusted contractors. Their networks will almost always outperform a job board.

Offer short-term fellowships, part- time advisory roles, or “AI moonshot” weekends. You’ll attract academics, start-up folks, and contractors who might not want to commit full-time—but want to engage on meaningful projects.

22 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Contracting Highlights

customers, just five months after it was launched, CEO Satya Nadella reported on the company’s Q3 earnings call, which was held on April 30. Additionally, the number of users of the firm’s AI-powered programming assistant, GitHub Copilot , soared more than four times year-over-year to over 15 million, while the number of users of Microsoft 365 Copilot jumped three times YOY and the number of physician patient encounters documented by its AI healthcare tool, Dragon CoPilot, climbed over 50% versus the previous quarter to 9.5 million. And interestingly, a survey of UK government workers found that Microsoft 365 Copilot saved the employees an average of 26 minutes per day. This data point suggests that the tool can save government agencies and companies a great deal of money and indicates that the product will generate a needle- moving amount of revenue for MSFT over the longer term. Meanwhile, MSFT already has an extensive relationship with the Pentagon. For example, a year ago, the agency was reportedly seeking to have all of its components “start upgrading to Microsoft’s E5 licenses” by June 3, 2024, Axios reported. The Defense Department gave its managers until June 2025 to complete the move, the publication stated.

Further, in January 2025, the tech giant disclosed that it had obtained approval to provide government agencies with 26 new products from “its top-secret cloud environment.” The systems, which will be used to handle ” the government’s most classified information,” include multiple AI tools. Also importantly, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has promised to utilize AI for many activities within the Pentagon. And finally, Microsoft’s partnership with Palantir (PLTR), which has obtained multiple, major contracts from the Pentagon related to AI, should help MSFT benefit meaningfully from the agency’s increased use of the technology. THE BOTTOM LINE ON MSFT The AI Revolution is tremendously benefiting MSFT. With many experts saying that this boom is only in its early stages and with the tech giant poised to benefit from the Pentagon’s increasing reliance on AI, the firm’s growth is likely to accelerate over the longer term. Finally, MSFT stock’s forward price-earnings ratio of 31 times is rather low, given its powerful growth and ample future opportunities.

Microsoft’s AI Tools Are Everywhere And So Is Its Soaring Revenue By Larry Ramer

Microsoft’s (MSFT) strong leverage to multiple aspects of AI enabled it to recently report very impressive quarterly results and should enable it to grow rapidly for the foreseeable future. Moreover, the tech giant’s revenue from the AI tools that it sells is growing extraordinarily rapidly, while MSFT looks poised to meaningfully benefit from selling AI-enabled products and other systems to the Pentagon in the medium- to-long-term. Finally, the shares’ valuation is attractive. In light of these points, I recommend that investors looking for a Mag 7 name to buy consider purchasing MSFT stock. IMPRESSIVE FINANCIAL RESULTS, LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE AI REVOLUTION MSFT’s overall revenue during its fiscal third quarter, which ended on March 31, jumped 13% versus the same period a year earlier, while its operating income climbed 16% year- over-year. The sales of Azure, the conglomerate’s cloud-infrastructure unit, soared 33% year-over-year in Q3, coming in well above analysts’ average estimate of a YOY gain of 29.7%. MSFT estimated that increased demand for the unit’s AI offerings accounted for nearly half of its growth. And the AI Revolution is reportedly significantly increasing companies’ spending on the cloud. Providing evidence for the latter point, Reuters recently reported that, “Cloud spending from major enterprises has remained resilient even amid global macroeconomic uncertainty over the past few

months, as companies invest heavily in artificial intelligence to modernize their digital infrastructure.” Further, a report issued last October declared that “The average company is spending 30% more on the cloud compared to last year, and AI and generative AI are the big culprits.” Moreover, the revenue of MSFT’s Intelligent Cloud unit, which includes “Azure and other cloud services,” climbed 21% year- over-year to $26.8 billion. Among the items in the “Azure and other cloud services” category are “cloud and AI consumption- based services.” Intelligent Cloud’s revenue increased by $4.6 billion versus the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, the tech giant’s overall sales rose by 13% to $70.1 billion. That works out to a gain of $8.25 billion. In light of this data and the fact that cloud spending growth is being primarily driven by the proliferation of AI, it’s clear that a very high percentage of MSFT’s growth is being spurred by the AI Revolution. Indeed, considering that the company’s AI- powered personal assistant, Copilot, is included in a different business unit, a majority of the company’s revenue growth is likely being driven by AI. LARGE INCREASES IN THE USE OF AI TOOLS AND STRONG POTENTIAL FROM THE PENTAGON The conglomerate’s Real-Time Intelligence tool, which “handles…AI,” along with modeling, analytics, and many other activities related to data, is being used by 40% of MSFT’s

24 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Security Clearance Updates

LAST FEW WEEKS AT THE CURRENT CONTRACTOR It is important to do your best to handle your last few weeks with the government contractor you are leaving with grace. How you handle your last few weeks with an employer will often form their final impression of you. This can affect future recommendations of you and how they feel about you when you leave. Many contractors often leave and then later try to come back to their old employer. This is another reason to leave on good terms. Also, it is not uncommon for a previously good work relationship to turn bad quickly after they are notified you are leaving. In some cases, the old employer might get really upset and start conducting an investigation. Typically, this consists of the employer examining your work email traffic and work computer. Depending on what they find, they may feel that they have to report you for misconduct to the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) or Scattered Castles. You want to avoid that. If this occurs, you could be left without a job or a sponsor to resolve the security concerns. This doesn’t often happen, but it does occur on occasion so be careful. WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T TAKE ANYTHING WITHOUT PERMISSION This is important. It is far too often the case that an employee is preparing to leave a government contractor and wants to keep a copy of their work or accomplishments. Make sure that you do not take or email anything that could be considered company proprietary information. I have seen major issues arise where departing employees think that it is okay to email themselves copies of an old project that they had worked on, or a contact list, only to have that later turn into a massive employment law issue or security clearance problem. The best way to handle this, if you need a document, is to ask permission to take it. I have had countless security clearance cases over the years where the employer has alleged that a former employee took proprietary information when leaving. In many of these cases, the former employer then files an incident report against the employee in DISS or Scattered Castles, notifies the new employer of the issue, and/or sometimes files a lawsuit against the departing employee. All of these things can be avoided by treading carefully. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION Moving from one contractor to another usually does not have any complications. However, some of these issues do arise, and it is important to prevent them in advance. It is very important to know any terms that you agreed to with your former employer when leaving and to handle your departure professionally. Lastly, it is important to avoid taking anything from work that could be considered the property of your former employer. If you run into any trouble with these issues, you should contact a lawyer to advise you immediately. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW? Switching government contractors without carefully managing your departure can lead to serious employment and security clearance issues, especially if proprietary information is mishandled or contractual obligations are overlooked. To protect your clearance and career, it’s essential to review your employment agreements, maintain professionalism, and avoid taking any documents or data without explicit permission.

The Security Clearance Trap: Common Mistakes When Switching Government Contractors

By John Berry

When leaving a government contractor for another one, it is essential to be careful in how you handle it. Not doing so can cause employment difficulties and, worse, potential security clearance issues. In other words, tread carefully when changing contractors.

BEFORE SEEKING NEW OFFERS When seeking other government

TELLING YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER ABOUT THE NEW POSITION When you have an offer and tell your supervisor that you are taking a new position with a different contractor, be professional. Try to make the transition as easy as possible. Also, where possible, try to put your supervisor or employer at ease about the change in jobs. The fewer issues in your move, the better. It is quite often the case that the first thought that many employers have after being notified of your move is whether or not you will try to take clients with you. Many employers also think that you might try to take information from the company to your new employer. The old employer may also try to propose a separation or severance agreement before you leave to protect themselves. If that happens, make sure that you have an attorney look it over before signing it.

contracting offers, consider whether or not you have an employment agreement with your current employer. If so, you will want to review it and see whether or not you have a non-compete provision or other potential restrictions on future employment. You will also want to review any provisions that address your handling of proprietary information belonging to your current employer. Most employees don’t take these steps before seeking a new position. However, doing so is very important.

26 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Lifestyle

Robotics on the Road: Not Just for Luxury Cars In 2025, autonomous features are showing up in more than just high- end vehicles. Even mid-tier sedans and SUVs now offer driver-assist features that make stop-and-go traffic a little less maddening. It’s not full self-driving (yet), but it’s definitely semi-stress-free driving. And if you’re a rider, not a driver? Robotaxis are expanding in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. It’s not science fiction—it’s a beta test away from normal. Will This Actually Save Time? Maybe not right away. You’ll still hit the same red lights and merge into the same bottle-necks. But the mental load? Cut in half. When your car handles the hard part, you’re not white-knuckling the wheel. You’re listening, reading, voice-dictating notes, or just breathing. For a lot of commuters, autopilot doesn’t change the distance—it changes the experience. Bonus: Commutes That Don’t Break You Before 9 a.m. Let’s call it what it is: commuting fatigue is real. When you arrive at work already irritated from the drive, it’s hard to start the day on a high note. AI in your car acts like a buffer, giving your brain a chance to reset, recalibrate, or re-listen to that podcast episode you zoned out on yesterday. Add in smart routing, voice AI copilots, and even car interiors designed for comfort during assisted driving? Your commute becomes bearable—maybe even enjoyable.

Looking Ahead: Autonomous Carpools and Smart Shuttles The future isn’t just personal autopilot. Companies are experimenting with autonomous shuttles, AI-driven carpools, and even AI-matched ride shares for hybrid teams. Imagine this: ▸ You opt into your company’s AI shuttle. ▸ It knows your office days, your preferred route, and your coffee order. ▸ It arrives at 7:22 a.m. sharp and lets you nap until the final turn. It’s not fantasy—it’s just logistics, optimized. Robotics and Your Future Commute RTO might be here to stay. But the worst part of going back to the office—getting there—might finally be getting better. Autopilot won’t erase traffic jams, but it might make them suck a whole lot less. And for the millions of us who just want a smoother transition between our lives and our jobs, robotics might be the real MVP of the modern commute. So buckle up, press the “auto” button, and take back your time—one hands- free mile at a time.

By Jill Hamilton

Let’s be honest—it’s not the job, it’s the commute. In 2025, as more companies double down on return- to-office mandates, one thing stands between us and a productive workday: traffic. Soul-sucking, time- wasting, podcast-exhausting, nerve- fraying traffic. But here’s the twist: we might finally have a way to take the edge off— autopilot. Not just cruise control, not just lane assist. We’re talking true, hands-off, mind-back-in-your-own- business driving. So if you’re staring down a 45-minute crawl on I-95, or spending more time at red lights than with your kids, here’s how robotics and driving AI can flip the script on commuting. The Rise of the Reluctant Commuter Let’s set the scene. You used to WFH in slippers. Now you’re back in the office three, maybe four days a week. It’s not terrible—until you remember that you’re spending two hours a day behind the wheel, burning gas and patience in equal measure.

Return-to-office (RTO) policies might be great for collaboration, but they’ve revived the old enemy: the daily grind. And that’s where autopilot tech is starting to shine. Autopilot Is the Co-Worker You Actually Like Today’s driving AI systems—like Tesla Autopilot, Ford BlueCruise, GM Super Cruise, and Mercedes Drive Pilot— aren’t just toys for early adopters anymore. They can handle real highway driving: ▸ Maintaining lane position ▸ Changing lanes automatically ▸ Adjusting to traffic flow ▸ Slowing down and stopping with congestion Even letting you take your hands off the wheel (legally, in some states) Some drivers are now doing morning emails (in hands-free mode), sipping their latte in peace, or just thinking again during the drive. It’s like a productivity buffer between home and work.

“It’s not fantasy—it’s just logistics, optimized.” Companies are experimenting with autonomous shuttles, AI-driven carpools, and even AI-matched ride shares for hybrid teams.

28 JULY 2025 | NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs

NATSEC@WORK Powered by ClearanceJobs | JULY 2025

Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15 Page 16-17 Page 18-19 Page 20-21 Page 22-23 Page 24-25 Page 26-27 Page 28-29 Page 30-31 Page 32-33 Page 34-35 Page 36-37 Page 38-39 Page 40-41 Page 42-43 Page 44-45 Page 46-47 Page 48