A Pentagon cyber adviser said the lack of personnel and complicated security clearance process has slowed implementation of a congressional authority for faster hiring of cyber and tech workers at the agency, FCW reported Tuesday. During a recent meeting with the Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Marines Corps Brig. Gen. Dennis Crall, deputy principal cyber adviser for the Department of Defense, said the agency faces delays implementing the Cyber Excepted Service program.
Congress granted DoD the CES authority to accelerate the entry of cyber and tech workers. Crall said the agency is set to enter phase 2 of the program but the same personnel and security clearance issues remain. He cited that the Pentagon needs to increase the five full-time personnel tasked with the initial rollout of CES. The official suggests hiring 10 people for the team to handle the hiring and training of thousands of cyber workers.
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Crall also called on other defense leaders to address security clearance concerns that are affecting CES. “The onboarding process can be very frustrating†and the long process could lead workers to “potentially lose interest,” he said.
