Of all the places one might expect to find employment requiring a U.S. Government security clearance, colleges and universities likely don’t even make the list.
Yet, in a marked shift since student-led protests during the Vietnam War era ended classified government research on some college campuses, an increasing number of higher education institutions are operating, or moving to open, classified laboratories.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory are two of the oldest and most well-known examples, pre-dating the current trend by decades. According to its website, Lincoln Lab differentiates itself from other research and development laboratories by building operational prototypes of the systems they design. Among the areas of focus highlighted are air, missile, and maritime defense technology; tactical systems; homeland protection; and cyber security.
Meanwhile, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported in 2012 that “Johns Hopkins…Applied Physics Laboratory, home of the university’s classified activities, now collects more than $1-billion a year, or about half of the university’s $2-billion annual sum of research-and-development expenditures.”[1] That translates into a lot of opportunity for cleared employment.
But Johns Hopkins and MIT are undoubtedly finding stiffer competition for federal grants these days. Since the late 1990’s, “the Pentagon has more than doubled the number of its University Affiliated Research Centers, which give partner institutions exclusivity for research grants in their fields of specialty.”[2]
And now, spurred on a shift in student interest away from social media companies and towards the defense and aerospace sector, an increasing number of colleges and universities have seen the potential for a marriage of convenience: coupling their existing scientific and technological experts – many of whom are expected to seek external funding for their work – with lucrative U.S. government research and development contracts. Among the more interesting examples are lesser-known schools taking advantage of their geographic proximity to U.S. military installations or major defense contractors, like the University of Alabama at Huntsville..
The pairing seems obvious, but the job opportunities it presents remain relatively low profile, likely because most cleared workers aren’t searching college and university job vacancies. ClearanceJobs is an obvious solution. Indeed, a recent search of available positions returned dozens of available positions at university-affiliated classified laboratories.
However, opportunities also exist for undergraduate and graduate students who may not yet hold a security clearance (a necessary pre-requisite for registering for ClearanceJobs), but who are seeking a career in the national security sector. For those students, a security clearance sponsored by their university can provide a sizeable advantage against their uncleared fellow graduates in the post-graduation job search. That’s a benefit some colleges and universities may soon be highlighting for prospective students.
This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Although the information is believed to be accurate as of the publication date, no guarantee or warranty is offered or implied. Laws and government policies are subject to change, and the information provided herein may not provide a complete or current analysis of the topic or other pertinent considerations. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
[1] “Hunt for Federal Funds Gives Classified Research a Lift.” By Paul Basken, Chronicle of Higher Education, December 2012.
[2] Id.
