Sourcing technical leaders to safeguard national security
The demand for cybersecurity and IT talent has never been greater, making technical recruitment a top priority for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). To find the best technical talent, the DoD partnered with Correlation One to execute innovative recruitment strategies that attract and assess cybersecurity, IT, and engineering professionals.
Industry
Defense
Headquarters
Washington, DC
No. of employees
3.4M
Founded
1949
8,000+
technical professionals have so far applied to take part in the competitions
68%
expressed increased excitement about joining the DoD
77%
of attendees reported an improved understanding of Army career paths
Context and Goals
Finding skilled cybersecurity and IT personnel is no easy feat, as the demand for skilled professionals in these fields continues to skyrocket. Research by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2)states that 67% of organizations have a shortage of cybersecurity professionals. This challenge is particularly pressing for the DoD due to its:
Status as the largest employer in the world.
Vital role in protecting national security.
The DoD employs 3.4M individuals under entities such as the:
U.S. Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Space Force
National Guard
Coast Guard
Rather than relying on conventional recruitment tactics to enhance its technical workforce, the DoD partnered with Correlation One to launch innovative cybersecurity and IT recruitment strategies such as:
Building the future of defense: The two competitions behind the DoD’s workforce strategy
To acquire the best technical talent, the DoD partnered with Correlation One to develop and launch two virtual competition-based events focused on attracting skilled technologists.
The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge
The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge was the first of the two series to launch, debuting in May 2024. The Cyber Sentinel is an online cybersecurity competition that:
Attracts and engages qualified industry professionals.
Evaluates participant skills and how they map to the hiring needs of the DoD.
The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge uses a Capture the Flag (CTF) format where participants solve security challenges to reveal concealed pieces of data known as "flags". Each competition features 20+ simulations based on real scenarios encountered by the DoD.
The U.S. Army Career Invitational
The next competition event that the DoD launched with the support of Correlation One was the U.S. Army Career Invitational. Similar to the Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge, the U.S. Army Career Invitational uses a competition framework to:
Create a talent pipeline of technical professionals who are ready to serve.
Strengthen its employer brand and showcase the employment benefits of joining the U.S. Army.
Each competition also includes:
An in-depth presentation for participants to learn about in-demand roles, job requirements, and career pathways with the DoD and the U.S. Army.
A raffle where competition participants can win their share of cash prizes.
About Correlation One's solution
Correlation One provides government bodies, such as the DoD, with custom workforce development programs that attract the technical talent needed to compete in the AI economy. The Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge and U.S. Army Career Invitational achieve these objectives by focusing on:
Skills application: The competitions simulate real-world scenarios to highlight which participants have skill sets that align with the hiring needs of the DoD.
Targeted recruitment: Competitions are promoted through key industry channels to ensure high candidate quality and technical proficiency.
Employer branding: Each event includes a comprehensive presentation that educates participants on in-demand roles, qualification requirements, and long-term career pathways with the DoD.
By partnering with Correlation One on career discovery competitions and skill challenges, the DoD strengthens its recruitment initiatives for key fields such as cybersecurity and IT. To date, the Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge and U.S. Army Career Invitational have:
Established a talent pipeline of 8,000+ technical professionals.
Increased understanding of career paths within the DoD.
Generated excitement from candidates about joining the DoD.
“My experience with the Army Career Invitational competition was a turning point in my decision to pursue a new career path that allows me to serve. It’s a great opportunity to gain insight into Army careers, connect with others, and expand your professional network.”
Vaugh R.
U.S. Army Career Invitational participant
What technical talent has to say
“To others considering entering future competitions, I strongly advise you to do so. I initially joined out of curiosity but left wanting to pursue a career in cybersecurity. I have the DoD Cyber Sentinel competition to thank for that!”
Chibueze A.
Cyber Sentinel Skills Challenge participant
“I entered the competition to test my cybersecurity skills and take another step towards my goal of contributing to national security. It gave me the opportunity to develop my skills and see what I needed to improve on for future challenges. I was also able to network with other professionals who share a passion for cybersecurity and gained valuable knowledge in techniques and resources along the way.”
USA
UK
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
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