Wendy Kay, Defense Intelligence Senior Executive with the Department of War, and Victor B. Minella, Former Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy, have each built remarkable careers spanning decades of service and transformation in national security. Their experiences reveal what it takes to lead—and recruit—for a mission that never stops evolving.
Kay’s journey began in the late 1980s when she joined the U.S. Navy right out of college. What started as a paycheck quickly became a calling. From intelligence and security leadership roles across the Navy and Air Force to shaping defense policy, she learned that “security and intelligence are mutually reinforcing—you can’t do one without the other.” After a brief stint in the private sector, she returned to government service focused on how to outthink modern adversaries like China. For Kay, versatility and agility are non-negotiable traits for the next generation of cleared professionals.
Minella’s 38-year career began as an enlisted sailor in Mississippi and rose through commissioning as a naval intelligence officer, entry into the Senior Executive Service, and ultimately his role as Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Intelligence and Security. He underscored the growing need for technical fluency—AI, data, and cyber—balanced by strong communication and ethical judgment. “You can have all the information in the world,” he said, “but if you can’t communicate it, you’ll never reach your potential.”
Both leaders agree: everyone in national security is a recruiter. Whether you lead a team, hire talent, or mentor newcomers, the future of defense depends on people who think differently, communicate clearly, and serve with purpose.
This conversation was recorded at a ClearanceJobs Connect event, where industry and government leaders shared strategies for growing the cleared workforce of tomorrow.
