Building Competent Diversity in National Security

What It Looks Like vs. What It Is: Building Competent Diversity in National Security highlights the voices of 841 members of the #NatSecGirlSquad community and the challenges they face entering, working, promoting, and leading in the field. Through the collaborative effort of Guidehouse and #NatSecGirlSquad, with input from Dr. Natalie Todak, this study sought to gather preliminary information from a large sample of employees and prospective employees in the national security field.

Despite the potential for competent diversity to significantly contribute to the goals of the national security apparatus, there is very little research into why the representation of women and other underrepresented groups has lagged so significantly. It is our hope that this initial survey will not only provide further context for one of the most significant national security challenges of our time, but also enable and support ongoing work to address it and encourage greater collaboration going forward.

Hear from the Experts

A Message from John Saad and Maggie Feldman-Piltch

• M.John Saad, Partner and National Security Segment Leader, Guidehouse

• Maggie Feldman-Piltch, Founder and CEO, #NatSecGirlSquad

About the Survey Creator 

• Dr. Natalie Todak, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, University of Alabama at Birmingham

• Interpreting Survey Results

• Using Talents at Work

• Amy Grubb, Ph.D., Senior Director, Organizational Development and Talent, FBI

Challenges of the Clearance Process

• Sabra Horne, Senior Advisor, Transformation, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

Criticality of a Mentor

• Colonel Candice Frost, U.S. Army, Director with the Army G-2

• Part 1

• Part 2

• Part 3

• Part 4

Leadership

• Jeremy Baker, Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Intelligence, Homeland Security Investigations, DHS

• Part 1

• Part 2

Part 3

Part 4