NatSec@Work - National Security Workforce - July Issue

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

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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

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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.

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