The Defense Department’s cyber workforce just hit a major milestone: the average time to bring a new civilian on board has dropped to 79 days. With the Cyber Excepted Service hiring authorities in play, that number falls even further to 73 days—a timeframe that not only meets but surpasses the Office of Management and Budget’s requirements and beats the DoD’s typical hiring time. According to Mark Gorak, DoD’s principal director for resources and analysis, these numbers mark big progress in building a strong, responsive cyber team.
This speedier hiring is part of the broader Cyber Workforce Strategy, launched in early 2023, which aims to shape a capable, resilient workforce equipped for DoD’s critical cyber missions. They’ve also expanded talent exchange programs with seven new industry partners and dropping the civilian vacancy rate to 16.2%, a nearly 5% improvement since last year.
With over 14,000 new civilian hires in 2024, the DoD has not only offset the 10,000 personnel who moved on to other roles in government or industry but has strengthened its cybersecurity bench. Adding to these strides, the DoD opened its Cyber Academic Engagement Office this year to connect more closely with academia and advance cyber-related educational initiatives.
Layoffs: Boeing
Boeing announced on October 11 that it would be downsizing its workforce by approximately 10%, citing a need to realign financially due to significant debt and ongoing challenges within key programs, including the 777x, 767 freighters, and its Defense, Space, and Security division. Although the union vote to end the machinists’ strike was scheduled for November 4, Boeing stated that the outcome of the vote wouldn’t impact the planned layoffs, which are set to begin mid-November. Facilities beyond Boeing’s headquarters may also see reductions, with the Moses Lake site—a crucial part of the local economy—potentially affected.
Moses Lake Mayor Dustin Swartz expressed concerns about the ripple effect on the community, noting that Boeing employees are deeply woven into the fabric of the area. “They really fit into who we are,” he said, highlighting the potential impact on local businesses and the city’s identity. Although other companies in aerospace and battery manufacturing have been expanding in Moses Lake, including names like Group-14 and Sila Nanotechnologies, Mayor Swartz is uncertain whether these firms could absorb laid-off Boeing workers. Notices for layoffs are expected to be delivered starting November 13, with affected employees officially leaving the payroll by January 17, 2025.
Hiring: Allied Universal
Allied Universal is a major security services provider in North America with over 300,000 employees. Right now, they are looking for candidates with security clearances across the U.S. Allied is known for promoting from within. And they have plenty of growth opportunities—many of its senior leaders started out as security professionals.
They’re hiring for 159 roles that require Secret clearance, nine with Top Secret, 4 for Top Secret/SCI, and six spots with the Department of Homeland Security. Major hiring hubs include California, Texas , Virginia , and Florida. If you’re a cleared professional ready for a career move or looking for ways to keep your clearance while working some cleared hours, Allied Universal could be worth a look.
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Opportunity to Watch
In a significant shift, the Pentagon gives the green light for U.S. defense contractors to head to Ukraine to support the maintenance and repair of U.S.-provided weaponry, officials shared with Reuters on Friday. The decision aims to ensure that Kyiv can keep critical systems, like F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air defenses, operational without the logistical challenges of moving them out of Ukraine for repairs. These contractors will work far from active combat zones and in limited numbers, focusing strictly on maintenance to keep equipment running smoothly. Until now, restrictions meant Ukraine relied on video support for repairs or had to move gear out of the country, often slowing down the maintenance of essential equipment. This update aligns Pentagon policy with agencies like the State Department, which already has contractors stationed in Ukraine, further supporting Kyiv’s defense without U.S. troop involvement.
