The last three years have thrown a lot of curveballs. Just this past year, Russia’s war against Ukraine remained an ongoing issue. And the year ended with escalated conflict between Israel and Hamas. Add in some espionage and Jack Teixeira drama, and it’s been a full year. Remote work conversations are still prevalent, but with the rest of the world operating more in office, it will continue to be less of an impact on the cleared workforce. Hybrid work options or improving work-life balance continue to be a key tactic for employers.
TOP 10 SECURITY CLEARANCE NEWS STORIES IN 2023
The world of national security is diverse and interesting, and the top stories reflect that.
1. Army Fitness Keeps Evolving: Another Change Coming to the ACFT
Another year, and the interest in Army fitness and the ever evolving ACFT continues to be of interest. This one came at the end of the year, with some potential tweaks to it in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
2. The U.S. Navy Will Soon Have to Deal With Two Retired Nuclear-Powered Carriers
As the U.S. Navy is thinking through recycling the USS Enterprise, Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding division formulated requirements for scrapping the next nuclear-powered carrier, USS Nimitz (CVN-68). The hardest part isn’t just building it the ship – it’s also figuring out how to get rid of it.
3. SF-86 and other Sensitive Data Exposed in U.S. Military Email Spill
A missing password was the culprit for the server hosting the Microsoft Azure government cloud used for DoD customers, causing U.S. military emails to be out on the open internet for two weeks. If it’s not a breach, it’s a password problem creating cyber havoc.
4. The 10 Best Paying College Degree Majors 5 Years After Graduation
College is expensive, so you want to get the biggest bang for your buck. When you’re looking at a career field, see what has a future, and then go for it.
5. NSA Gives Guidance on Working Remotely and Securing Home Networks
6. It’s Not Me, It’s You: The 10 Red Flags of a Self-Awareness Gap
Whether you’re trying to find out if you’re the problem or if it’s your coworker, there are ways to diagnose a self-awareness gap. What does it look like? You probably know the type, even if you haven’t labeled it.
7. DHS Is Looking for Dedicated Professionals to Fill Vital Roles
There are unique and challenging career opportunities available for those willing to seek them out at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This agency does so much, which means there are a lot of job opportunities for many critical mission positions.
8. New Employment Training Opportunities with Google Certificate Training
Google teamed up with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and created five different certificate programs to fast-track transitioning service members and/or their spouses into high demand growth fields. Sometimes, you need a degree. Other times, it’s best to look for a good certificate program.
9. Temu: The Shopping App and Your Security Clearance
Temu is a Chinese app that allows users to browse and buy various products, including fashion, home decor, beauty, electronics, and more. Lots of cheap options, but what’s the impact for security clearance holders?
10. The Pentagon is Now Addressing Use of Special Access Program Classification
Known as “Special Access Programs” (SAPs), these help control access and distribution for sensitive classified information beyond what’s normally required. Questions popped up this year on the Pentagon’s use of the classification for space-related and other programs.
Welcome 2024
The new year is here. We love having you following along with us. Thanks for being here in 2023, and here’s to a new year of stories that impact the cleared community in 2024. Feel free to leave us your comments and thoughts this next year, and of course, if you have any questions, email us at editor@clearancejobs.com. Here’s to a great year!
