Gwen Clavon, Senior Vice President for Digital Security and Analytics at Amentum, joined ClearedCast for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and prioritizing wellness in the high-pressure world of national security.
With over 30 years of IT leadership experience across both the federal government and private sector, Gwen’s career has mirrored the evolution of technology itself—from early system engineering work at the National Science Foundation during the birth of the internet, to leading large teams today supporting global national security missions. At every stage, Gwen’s approach has remained consistent: people first, mission always.
Throughout the conversation, Gwen emphasized the importance of bringing your full self to work. “I can’t come in piecemeal. I’ve got to come in whole with my mind focused on supporting the team, supporting the requirements, because what we do matters every day,” she said. “Everything we do is a team effort—or as I tell my team today, a team sport. So there’s no me; there’s all of us. If one of us fails, all of us fail. If one of us does something good, all of us get to rejoice and be happy in that win for the team and for that individual.”
At Amentum, a people-first culture isn’t just talk. Gwen described a leadership philosophy rooted in daily care, active listening, and human connection, from hosting culture-of-care moments at meetings to personally visiting customer sites to check on employee well-being. Amentum’s commitment to mental health and holistic support stands out in the defense contracting space—especially, as Gwen noted, at a time when outside noise and uncertainty can easily distract from the mission.
She also addressed a common stigma head-on: seeking help for mental health concerns will not automatically jeopardize a security clearance. “It is okay to not be okay,” Gwen emphasized. “You can be on medication. You can take care of yourself and still serve this country with your security clearance.”
For young professionals entering cleared careers, Gwen’s advice is simple but powerful: understand the mission you’re serving, protect your clearance, and stay focused on why you chose this path. “I hope everybody understands the blessing that it is and the privilege and the honor it is to serve this country as a trusted, cleared individual,” she said. “We are all better together.”
To learn more about careers at Amentum, visit their ClearanceJobs profile.
