FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Professional spy. “Novels, movies, TV shows and video games have all created a modern mythos of what it is like to be a ‘spy.’ One common theme across many works of fiction is what is involved in the training. While these fictional spies and secret agents engage in fantastical ‘top secret’ missions to ‘take out’ enemy assets – including hard and soft targets – the actual training part isn’t really all that far removed from reality.”
Talent search. “Keep the external referral program simple to influence and maximize participation. Create a general email inbox for submission of resumes for the external referrals. Advertise the monetary incentive to every person viewing your current employment opportunities. Filling an open position is a numbers game. By increasing the number of people who apply for a position, you will increase the potential that the right person for the job will be in your applicant pool.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Inside CIA’s Directorate of Digital Innovation. “The CIA’s newest directorate consolidates several technology business units into one hub organization focused on deeply embracing innovative approaches and capabilities throughout the agency. As part of an effort to make digitization commonplace in both operations and analysis, the CIA also will work with industry to speed up the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. To start, the agency will add some of the latest data capabilities in the infosphere, and then it will nurture new technologies as they emerge from laboratories in government and industry.”(AFCEA)
Dive into NSA’s novel guide to the World Wide Web. “The NSA has a well-earned reputation for being one of the tougher agencies to get records out of, making those rare FOIA wins all the sweeter. In the case of Untangling the Web, the agency’s 2007 guide to internet research, the fact that the records in question just so happen to be absolutely insane are just icing on the cake – or as the guide would put it, ‘the nectar on the ambrosia.’” (Tech Dirt)
Building a collective defense for cyberwarfare. “NATO and its member states face network intrusion attempts and denial-of-service attacks from a wide spectrum of adversaries. This list includes hacktivists, cybercriminals, terrorists, state-sponsored groups and rival military and intelligence agencies. In the cyber domain, it can be quite difficult to distinguish among them. However, some threats can be identified and prioritized over others. Several allies place Russia at the top of the list.” (Center for European Policy Analysis)
CONTRACT WATCH
Navy takes a seat at the Blackjack table. “Insitu Inc., Bingen, Washington, is being awarded a $71,555,347 firm-fixed-price contract for six low-rate initial production Lot V RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems. This contract provides for the procurement of the air vehicles, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment, shipboard equipment kits, and systems engineering and program management. Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington (70 percent); and Hood River, Oregon (30 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2017.” (AFCEA)
Boeing retains Minuteman III. “Missile guidance experts at the Boeing Co. will continue upgrading the guidance systems on U.S. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) under terms of an $8.1 million U.S. Air Force contract modification . . . . The order asks Boeing to provide engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) for the nuclear missile’s CEIU. EMD means full-scale development. Boeing engineers will provide updates to the Minuteman III’s legacy CEIU to a more robust software language and change the communication protocol from telephony to internet protocol to address security concerns.” (Military & Aerospace Electronics)
