Skills, Scale, and Security: Building Tomorrow’s National Security Workforce Today

Cleared Recruiting Three panelists sit on a stage during a ClearanceJobs event, participating in a discussion. Behind them is a branded backdrop with the ClearanceJobs logo. The woman on the left wears a navy pantsuit and holds a microphone. The woman in the center wears a white blouse and dark wide-leg trousers, also holding a microphone. The man on the right wears a navy suit and is mid-sentence, gesturing with one hand while holding a microphone in the other. All three are seated on wooden chairs, engaged in conversation.

AI isn’t just a tool—it’s transforming how companies hire, train, and scale in national security. That message was front and center during a recent panel moderated by AI Careers Expert Diana Gehlhaus, featuring Allison Kerzner, VP of People at Anduril, and Liam Stanton, Program Manager at August Interactive.

Kerzner described Anduril’s massive hiring effort—2,000 new employees in 2024 and a projected 2,500 more in 2025. But it’s not just about volume. Anduril uses AI-enhanced recruiting platforms to sift through thousands of applicants and find mission-ready talent—while also investing in internal learning and development to help teams adopt these tools with confidence. “We have the tools,” said Kerzner, “but we have to bring our people along with us.”

Stanton added a powerful perspective from the upskilling front. With a background in education and now working with the Department of the Air Force, his focus is on training teams—both human and AI. “We’re entering a stage where AI will be a teammate,” he noted. “Trust and adaptability are everything.”

Despite the rapid pace of AI adoption in personal lives, both panelists pointed to workplace hesitancy as a key barrier. Internal adoption, trust, and character-driven decision-making will define how AI is integrated in national security roles going forward.

As AI reshapes the defense workforce, the challenge isn’t just in the tech—it’s in helping people see these tools as extensions of their talent, not replacements for it.

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Phoebe Wells is the Public Relations & Partnerships Marketing Manager at ClearanceJobs and loves every aspect of her role. Creating content and working with the CJ team to connect cleared candidates with employers is incredibly rewarding, as the work ClearanceJobs does ultimately supports the mission of the U.S. As the daughter of a veteran and former cleared worker, she knows the sacrifices security and defense professionals make. She is honored to assist them in leveling up their careers. Plus, she gets to work from home in the Adirondack Mountains with her partner and two huskies!