Mark Gorak News Today

Learn about the DOD's new Cyber Academic Engagement Office and how it supports cyber efforts in the Pentagon.

This year Breaking Defense heard straight from some top network and tech officials in the Pentagon about their ambitious plans.

DoD "will prioritize technologies that can confound malicious cyber actors and prevent them from achieving their objectives in and through cyberspace," according to an unclassified summary.

"Anybody who leads knows that the hardest thing to do is change culture,” Mark Gorak told Breaking Defense. "And I think we have to do that in order to retain the force we have.”

WASHINGTON — In February, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks signed the DOD Cyber Workforce Strategy, which sets the foundation for how Department of Defense will foster a cyber workforce

Civilian cyber workers are the main challenge, as it's harder for DOD to attract and keep them.

Civilian cyber workers are the main challenge, as it's harder for DOD to attract and keep them.

The White House unveiled its new National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy on Monday. The goal is to encourage skilled cybersecurity professionals in healthcare and other industries, communicating the benefits of careers in public service to job seekers and lowering barriers associated with hiring and onboarding, according to the Office of the National Cyber Director.

The DoD's new cyber workforce strategy aims to address 30K unfilled cyber positions, and the agency is looking hard at "moving away from certifications," said Mark Gorak, cyber workforce policy and development integrator.

The 2023-27 strategy aims to improve identification, recruitment, development, and retention of civilians in IT and related jobs.