Security Clearance Insecurity

Lindy Kyzer of ClearanceJobs talks with Scott Cooper, who leads policy at With Honor, about how veterans in Congress are working across party lines. Scott describes the For Country Caucus, a bipartisan group of more than 50 House and Senate members he calls "radical moderates." He talks about the caucus' role in moving the Russia Sanctions Act and about With Honor's new 13-month fellowship, which...

How do we grow the pool of cleared talent instead of competing over the same people? Lindy Kyzer of ClearanceJobs talks with Jamie Jones Miller of Northeastern University, a member of the ClearanceJobs Policy Advisory Board. Jamie got her first clearance at 19 as an intern at the Defense Intelligence Agency, and she's held one through her career on Capitol Hill, at the Pentagon and now in academia...

Lindy Kyzer sits down with The Cipher Brief's COO Brad Christian to preview the 10th annual Threat Conference in Sea Island, Georgia — covering AI's growing role in warfare, the widening public-private innovation gap, and the "gray warfare" tactics adversaries are using inside the U.S. homeland. Apply to attend: https://www.tcbconference.com/ Then, attorney Elisabeth Baker-Pham joins Lindy to unpa...

This episode of Security Clearance Insecurity covers two timely issues facing the cleared workforce. First, Lindy Kyzer talks with Mike Flanders, founder of SudoTouch, about the technology gap slowing SCI nomination processing and how automation can help security offices keep pace with Trusted Workforce 2.0's shift to continuous vetting. Then, attorney Elisabeth Baker-Pham joins Lindy to break dow...

This episode tackles two very different but equally timely clearance issues. First, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Andrew Lotwin, Senior Vice President of Federal at ISI and a former senior leader at DCSA, to unpack the Department of War's proposed expansion of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) requirements. The draft rule would extend FOCI disclosure obligations well beyond the tra...

Could security clearance holders soon have more time to return to government service after leaving the workforce? In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, Lindy Kyzer is joined by ClearanceJobs Content Director Jill Hamilton to discuss the proposal to extend the security clearance eligibility window for veterans from two years to five years, what it could mean for workforce mobility, taxp...

Trusted Workforce 2.0 has transformed personnel vetting, but implementation is still catching up. In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, ClearanceJobs' Lindy Kyzer sits down with Aarti Smith, CEO of Chainbridge Solutions, to explore how continuous vetting is changing workforce risk management across the federal government—and why automation, AI, and modern personnel security systems are...

The federal personnel vetting landscape is evolving—and understanding the changes has never been more important. In this episode of Security Clearance in Security , host Lindy Kyzer is joined by former OPM suitability expert Bill Pedersen to unpack the biggest updates to federal suitability regulations, Trusted Workforce 2.0, and continuous vetting. They explain how OPM's reforms are creating grea...

Success in government contracting isn't built overnight—it's earned through consistency, credibility, and continuous growth. In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity on Federal News Network, Lindy Kyzer sits down with Shana Cosgrove , founder and CEO of Nyla Technology Solutions, to discuss what it takes to build a thriving GovCon business while establishing a trusted reputation in the cle...

What happens when a former true crime reporter, a national security storyteller, and a clearance industry expert sit down to talk espionage, insider threats, terrorism, and the cases that changed history? In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , host Lindy Kyzer welcomes Secret Squirrel Files hosts Phoebe Wells and Katie Helbling, ClearanceJobs new true crime, national security podcast....

Facility Security Officers (FSOs) are at the center of some of the biggest changes happening across the national security workforce—and many are feeling the strain. In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , Lindy Kyzer of ClearanceJobs sits down with Ike Rivers, NISPAC representative and advisory board member for TechnoMile Security Information Management, to discuss findings from the lat...

Average compensation for cleared professionals has hit a record high of $126,125 — but what's driving that number, and what does it mean for you? ClearanceJobs Content Director Jill Hamilton breaks down the 2026 Compensation Report, covering why pay jumped 6% year over year, which clearance levels and certifications move the needle most, and how location, education, and experience combine into wha...

In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Jacob Centeno, founder of Poor Bear Stories, to explore the power of storytelling within the national security community. From his personal journey as a Gold Star family member to building a mission-driven media company, Centeno shares how authenticity, vulnerability, and lived experience shape the stories he tells....

What makes the GEOINT Symposium 2026 a must-attend event for national security professionals? In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Jim McCool to break it down. From his experience at organizations like the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Air Force, McCool shares why GEOINT remains at the center of mode...

What makes a great boss—and why do so many get it wrong? In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , Lindy Kyzer sits down with former CIA Chief of HR Mike Mears to unpack the real driver behind employee engagement, retention, and performance: certainty at the local level . Drawing on decades of experience inside the intelligence community—and insights from his book Certainty —Mears explain...

What happens when the uniform comes off—or your federal service ends—and the identity that once defined you suddenly shifts? In this episode, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Lisa Parmeter, Executive Director of Merging Vets & Players (MVP), to explore the often-overlooked challenges of transition for veterans, active duty service members, and former professional athletes. From the loss of iden...

The security industry is evolving far beyond its traditional image of guards, guns, and gates. Today, it sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, federal policy, and critical infrastructure protection. In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , Lindy Kyzer speaks with Don Erickson , CEO of the Security Industry Association (SIA), about how emerging technologies a...

Career disruption and side hustles are increasingly common — but how do they impact your security clearance? In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , Lindy Kyzer of ClearanceJobs sits down with federal career coach and FedUpward host Love Rutledge to discuss navigating unexpected federal career pivots, translating government experience for the private sector, and the emotional impact of...

The federal government can no longer treat artificial intelligence as optional—but what does true AI readiness actually look like? On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity , host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Jennifer Ewbank , former Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation, to unpack how AI is reshaping national security missions, workforce expectations, and accountability across go...

The Security Clearance Insecurity podcast welcomes new legal contributors Elisabeth Baker-Pham of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C. and John Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC to the mic. In this episode, the panel breaks down how security clearance decisions intersect with employment law, why agencies handle cases differently, and what cleared professionals should know before filling out a...

What does flexibility really mean for the national security workforce—and why does it matter now? In this episode, ClearanceJobs’ Lindy Kyzer is joined by workforce strategist and former federal executive Mika Cross for a timely conversation on the future of federal and cleared work. Drawing from congressional testimony, workforce data, and decades of public service experience, they unpack how tel...

On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, Lindy Kyzer sits down with Elisabeth Baker Pham, attorney and federal employment expert, to unpack how government shutdowns trigger far more than political drama, they create real financial strain that can jeopardize a cleared worker’s livelihood and their security clearance. Elisabeth breaks down the most immediate financial impacts she sees when...

In this episode of the ClearanceJobs Podcast, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Leslie Reid, Vice President of Defense Programs at iWorks and former senior leader at the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), for a deep-dive conversation into the reality and the future of Trusted Workforce 2.0. With more than two decades of leadership experience across the national security and defe...

How does a government shutdown really impact security clearance holders and applicants? In this timely episode, Lindy Kyzer sits down with security clearance and employment law expert John Berry to break down the real-world consequences beyond the headlines. From delayed investigations and paused adjudications to furlough fears and continuous vetting confusion, we explore how shutdowns can ripple...

Federal hiring is never simple. And right now, it’s changing faster than ever. From new incentives for law enforcement and the growing demand for IT talent, to changes like the two-page USAJobs resume rule, the landscape can feel overwhelming. On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity on Federal News Network, ClearanceJobs’ Lindy Kyzer sits down with federal jobs coach Armand Curet to break...