How the U.S. Department of Defense Builds a Robust Cybersecurity Talent Pipeline

Cybercrime is on the rise, but finding professionals with the skills to fight it is harder than you think. According to a 2023 International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) workforce study, 67% of organizations have a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. 

Despite its scale, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) also encounters this challenge. Granted, with heightened severity compared to other organizations given its:

• Status as the largest employer in the world
• Role in protecting national security 

As a result, traditional workforce solutions aren’t enough to close the gap and equip the DoD with top cybersecurity talent. To overcome this obstacle, the DoD partnered with Correlation One to develop its cybersecurity workforce. 

The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge: The DoD's Winning Workforce Development Initiative

Rather than implement traditional workforce development tactics, Correlation One and the DoD launched the Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge — a recurring series of cybersecurity competitions designed to attract qualified professionals. 

To date, it has produced a pipeline of 5,700+ cybersecurity candidates, including many professionals who may not have been found through conventional recruitment methods. It has proven to be an effective workforce development initiative for the DoD for the following reasons:

1. Practical Application: The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge emulates the complexity and pressure of cybersecurity situations at the DoD, allowing candidates to showcase their skills in an environment similar to the real world. 
2. High-Quality Talent: Participants are matched with roles at the DoD based on their interests, experience, and technical skills. These participants are then connected with DoD hiring teams. 
3. Strong Career Trajectory: The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge establishes a training-to-jobs pathway for veterans and military families to transition into civilian roles. As a result, military personnel can use existing skills to develop cybersecurity careers at the DoD.

Highlights from May’s Cyber Sentinel

On May 18, Correlation One and the DoD hosted the first Cyber Sentinel. It used a Capture the Flag (CTF) format where participants solved security challenges to uncover concealed pieces of data known as "flags". Participants tackled 20+ simulations based on real scenarios encountered by the DoD. The Cyber Sentinel included tasks to test technical, analytical, and strategic abilities in the following categories:

• Forensics
• Malware/Reverse Engineering
• Networking & Reconnaissance
• Open-Source Intelligence Gathering (OSINT)
• Web Security

In addition to learning about DoD career opportunities, top performers received a share of the $15,000 cash prize pool. 

Creating Connections in Cybersecurity: What Participants Have to Say 

Despite the competitive nature of the event, attendees enjoyed tackling unique problems and learning about DoD career opportunities. The competition fostered a sense of camaraderie, mutual respect and allowed participants to network with one another. Here’s what competitors had to say about their experience: