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Return to Article: Lack of cybersecurity specialists sparks concern

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  I was assigned to WPAFB after completion of the Management Intern Program. First assigned to the write production control procedures, I was sent to assist the DCS Maintenance, reporting to his exec. When he was out, I was acting exec(Colonel postion). After several years in that position, I was offered a job in an office which used QRC procedures for speedy acq. of jammers, etc for Wild Weasel acft. (Vietnam war.) Trained at RHAW school at Nellis AFB. Next I was sent to computer school and to Sunnyvale, Ca to do acceptance testing on a new mainframe computer. After a stint in the Management and Cost Analysis organization, I went to the mission assignment function. Worked on high security black programs, then was Air Force rep on Join Service group on combat identification (to work on the friendly fire problem), then as Air Force rep on a joint service task on resolving a security issue with the NSA. Incidently I was sent to the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell--The only civilian in my class. How many of these positions was I qualified for? Bottom line: When you get stymied by "don't bother me with logic, I go by the book" people you take another approach. Convince someone of your qualifications and that they need you, and let them handle the personnel problem. They have the benefit of being able to elevate the discussion to another level. Good luck.

  Tom Collins Posted June 10, 2007 5:20 PM
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  I thought I might comment on how the short fall of cyber security specialists might be filled. I am a US Air Force Civilian and work for a command that has me concentrating on information security and information management. Unfortunately for me, I am classified as an 0855 Electronics Engineer.

  Recently, I was seeking a position as a 2210 Information Technology Specialists. To make a long story short, the job description basically described the job I have been doing for that last 4 years so I applied. The Air Force Civilian personnel center stated that I was NOT qualified because I had no experience. After numerous calls to AFPC, I found out that I was not qualified because I did not have a number (2210) in my career brief. Since I am classified as a 0855, I can not do 2210 work that I have been doing for the past 8 years.

  I believe a system such as this should be dissolved. How many other qualified individuals have been denied a job because of a number in their career brief?

  Robert Cameron Posted February 24, 2003 4:21 PM