Intelligence Career Conversations

On this episode of INSA’s Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Susanne Hake, EVP and GM, USG, Vantor, to discuss her career across government, consulting, and national security technology. She reflects on her early experience at the National Security Council, transitioning into industry, applying her strengths in technical environments, and building technical...

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Philip Ritcheson, Senior VP for Corporate Strategy at Leidos, for a conversation on leadership, service, and navigating a career across government, the military, and industry. Dr. Ritcheson reflects on lessons learned from decades in national security, the realities of public-to-private sector tran...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by INSA Executive Vice President John Doyon. John reflects on the moments that defined his decades of service at NSA, from supporting treaty negotiations in Geneva to briefing the President in the Oval Office. He shares how mentors encouraged him to pursue unfamiliar opportunities, why interagency assignments broaden...

An exclusive preview of INSA’s upcoming nine-episode podcast series, The Career Playbook, explores the mentorship, setbacks, leadership lessons, and career pivots that shape success across the intelligence and national security community. 

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Linda Bixby, Chief Research and Partnerships Officer at the University of Arizona. Dr. Bixby reflects on her nonlinear career spanning government, academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector, sharing insights on continuous learning, mentorship, leadership, and navigating career pivots across the national secu...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Robert Goodson, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen. Mr. Goodson reflects on his path from Army intelligence officer to private-sector leader, sharing insights on career growth, mentorship, networking, and leading teams in the national security space. He also offers practical advice on continuous learning, adapt...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Meisha Lutsey, Executive VP, Mission and Engineering Support, CACI International. Meisha shares how she built her career in the intelligence and national security community, along with insights on developing skills through on-the-job experience, navigating career growth, and leading a large, globally deployed wo...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with David Marlowe, SVP, Operations, Intelligence & Cyber, Amentum. Marlowe reflects on his 30-year career in human intelligence, from early field assignments in the Middle East to leading global operations. He shares candid insights on critical thinking, leadership, and the transition from public to private, emp...

 On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Stephen Iwicki, Senior VP and GM, Intelligence Solutions Business Unit, SOSi, and a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer. Mr. Iwicki reflects on his career from Desert Storm to leading Army Intelligence Transformation. He discusses the evolution of intelligence tradecraft, the growing role of AI and open-sour...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Dr. Deborah Wituski, Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced and International Studies. Dr. Wituski reflects on her path from academic research to the CIA, her leadership roles at Google, and her return to higher education. She discusses the value of mentorship, lifelong learning, and adapting a...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations , host Jim Donnelly is joined by LTG Scott Berrier, USA (Ret.), former Director of DIA and Senior Vice President at Booz Allen. He shares hard-won lessons on leadership, the power of mentorship, and the shifts in intelligence across his 40-year career! General Berrier also offers advice for young professionals on building analytical, communicati...

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Dr. Yevgeniy Sirotin, Scientist Director, SAIC, shares his journey from neuroscience to national security. He discusses the challenges and misconceptions in his field, offers advice for STEM students, and highlights the significance of mentorship and soft skills in bridging innovation and intelligence. Dr. Sirotin also addresses the...

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly speaks with Gordon Hannah, Principal, Cyber Risk Services, Deloitte, about his extensive career in defense, intelligence, and cybersecurity. Gordon shares insights from his upbringing, military service, and various career transitions, emphasizing the importance of education, mentorship, and networking. He offers ad...

On this week's episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomes Tonya Wilkerson, former Deputy Director of NGA. Tonya reflects on her path into the intelligence community and her experiences serving at multiple agencies. She shares insights on career mobility, mentorship, and skills intelligence professionals should look to develop to keep ahead!

In this special holiday edition, INSA/INSF President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg, joins podcast host Jim Donnelly to reflect on the key themes and insights from the past year. They discuss the importance of mentorship, resilience, and the human aspect of the mission, emphasizing that while technology and innovation is crucial, it is the people who drive success. The conversation also touches on what...

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly welcomes Andrew Hallman, VP and Strategic Account Executive for the IC at Leidos. Mr. Hallman traces his path into the IC, sharing how early academic influences, on-the-job learning, and pivotal mentors shaped his professional journey. He also offers insights into the need for digital fluency across the workforce,...

In this episode of the ICC podcast, host Jim Donnelly welcomes Dr. Megan Anderson, Executive VP of Capabilities at IQT. Dr. Anderson reflects on her path from academia and biotech to the national security arena and how curiosity has guided her through unexpected opportunities. She discusses the growing intersections of emerging technologies, the strategic role of STEM talent in the IC, and the imp...

In this episode of the ICC podcast, host Jim Donnelly welcomes Wendy Noble, former Deputy Director of the NSA. Ms. Noble discusses her journey from the U.S. Air Force to the NSA, the challenges and rewards of leadership, and the importance of mentorship and continuous learning. She emphasizes the need for effective communication, adaptability, and the value of technical competencies in an evolving...

In the final episode of INSA's limited-run podcast series, The Unredacted Resume, Lindy Kyzer and Brian Drake discuss the evolving job market for national security workers, focusing on the strategies employers can adopt to attract high-quality talent. They emphasize the importance of employer branding, candidate experience, and the need for a human-centric approach in the hiring process. The...

In this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomed Horace Blackman, Senior VP/Business Unit Leader, Defense, Intelligence and Space, CGI Federal. He shares insights from a career spanning government and industry, reflecting on lessons learned from both sides of the mission. He discusses what it means to lead with purpose, why a passion for the mission outweighs...

On this episode of The Unredacted Resume, host Lindy Kyzer is joined by Dr. David Bray (The Stimson Center), Niloo Norton, and Charles Carithers (Cornerstone Government Affairs) to discuss the importance of networking. They explore how to build a strong professional network, the significance of authentic connections, and practical strategies for effective networking. The conversation also delves i...

On this week's episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly speaks with Suzanne White, former Deputy Director for the Defense Intelligence Agency. Suzanne reflects on her path from financial management to senior intelligence leadership, sharing lessons on humility, communication, and leading through uncertainty. She offers candid advice on mentorship, career growth,...

In this episode of The Unredacted Resume, co-host Brian Drake (Accrrete), along with guests Kim King (DIA) and Wyetta Morrow (Collins Aerospace, An RTX Business), discuss effective interview strategies for individuals transitioning from federal service to new roles in the national security sector. They cover various types of interviews, preparation techniques, importance of self-awareness, and tip...

In this ICC podcast episode, host Jim Donnelly sits down with The Hon. Ellen McCarthy, CEO and Founder of the Trust in Media Cooperative and a longtime leader in the U.S. intelligence community, as she recounts her unconventional journey, from freelance reporter to Soviet submarine analyst to Assistant Secretary of State for INR. In this engaging conversation, she shares lessons learned on her ris...

On this episode of The Unredacted Resume, host Lindy Kyzer is joined by Murshed Chowdhury (Founder & CEO, Tech Duels, and Partner, Rapid Talent Group) and Jamie Jones Miller (Regional Dean, Northeastern University Arlington) to discuss what it takes to stand out in the intelligence and national security job market. The conversation covers recruiter relationships, mindset shifts, and practical...