The US government may be considering headhunting some of Silicon Valley’s best and brightest companies to fill part-time positions as reserve officers within the US military.
A technology executive who takes a position in the U.S. military is expected to help solve “our national security problems and national security challenges for decades to come,” said Brynt Parmeter, chief talent management officer at the Department of Defense. (via WJ).
The project is not a new concept, as civilian professionals have been recruited by the military and state authorities to help solve problems or provide training in the medical, legal and cybersecurity professions. What makes this project unique, however, is that it will be the first time civilian professionals will be ranked and serve as paid and uniformed reservists.
Patrolling Silicon Valley
There’s no confirmation on the ranks cybersecurity managers will receive if they choose to join, and more details apparently need to be worked out before the program launches, but Parmeter, who is leading the program, has been given the green light from his superiors.
As geopolitical tensions have worsened following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, and the US-China trade war, national and state-sponsored cyberattacks have followed suit, both in frequency and lethality.
China, Russia and Iran have been observed trying to gain long-term fortitude in US energy and water infrastructure, ready to strike if war breaks out.
So turning for valuable insight to the experts in the private sector, who often produce technology used by the U.S. military and its allies, seems like a good course of action.
For example, Shyam Sanker, CTO of Palantir Technologies, has said he would be “first in line to join,” and earlier in 2024, Palantir and Microsoft announced a partnership with the U.S. Defense and Intelligence Community to develop military AI, cloud and improve analytical skills. possibilities.
Typically, those who have held cybersecurity and analytics positions within the U.S. military have sought higher-paying jobs within the private sector upon completion of their service, leaving the military with a dwindling supply of experts.
By offering part-time jobs, the military can attract talent and cybersecurity professionals can continue to enjoy private sector salaries.