Today, following our series of episodes at DEF CON 29, our host, Nigel LeBlanc, discusses the Air Force civil service and its mission with the United States Air Force Personnel Center members, Jessica Bartley, Laurie Coleman, Dionne Dunham, and Melissa Joyner. 

Jessica Bartley and Dionne Dunham are Talent Acquisitions Consultants, and Laurie Coleman and Melissa Joyner are Cyber Security Specialists. 

In this episode, the conversation revolves around working as a civilian for the Air Force, being a cyber-operator from a civilian perspective, and security clearance. Our guests also share their journeys into cyber security and the military, what keeps them going, and the characteristics and qualities they look for in candidates. 

Resources:

You can visit the Air Force Civilian Careers website: https://afciviliancareers.com/

Or you can connect with our guests on LinkedIn:

Jessica Bartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-bartley-267a8847/

Dionne Dunham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionne-dunham-901b5a101/

Laurie Coleman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-coleman-4672b982/

Melissa Joyner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisa-joyner-82a58726/

Full Episode Breakdown:

3:52 – Our guests talk about their background and their journey into the military. 

8:52 – Nigel and our guests discuss some characteristics of Air Force jobs, like its longevity and what part of the Air Force culture helps them keep going.

11:28 – Jessica talks about her experience working at the Air Force as a civilian. 

13:49 – Melissa talks about her perspective as civilian working as a cyber-operator.

18:33 – Our guests talk about the career opportunities at the Air Force for civilians.

21:42 – Nigel and our guests talk about the elephant in the room: security clearance. 

 25:21 – Melissa and Dionne talk about the roles they find more challenging to fill and the characteristics they look for in candidates for those roles. 

28:11 – Our guests talk about what they look for in candidates in general. What are the characteristics they must have, and what traits are desirable but not definitive.