WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 18, 2024 — The Government Technology & Services Coalition’s (GTSC) Homeland Security Today this morning launched “Meet Your Mission,” a series of informational interviews to help educate students in high school, college, and recent graduates about opportunities to have a “mission” instead of just a job.
GTSC manager Kalyna White, a recent graduate of the University of California, San Diego, interviewed numerous current and former leaders of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to learn about opportunities to work on behalf of missions like human trafficking, border security, immigration, climate security, cybersecurity, and more. The project is on-going.
“Meet Your Mission is all about empowering the next generation – showing them how their concerns align with missions in homeland security. Informational interviews with those who have spent their careers supporting pressing challenges like climate change, school shootings, and cybersecurity, and so much more, provides an understanding of the diverse and meaningful careers in DHS,” said Kalyna White.
Structured similarly to an “informational interview” to explore careers, participants discuss the mission they support, their career path, their responsibilities, how what they do supports the nation, and other advice for students and recent graduates.
“It is vital to our Nation’s security that our next generation understand the critical missions undertaken by DHS and the role that they can play in ensuring our Nation’s success. The Department is often painted as very “one-dimensional” by the media despite the varied and important missions carried out by DHS. DHS is leading efforts on the most cutting-edge solutions to our biggest problems, and this campaign seeks to educate young people about the incredible opportunities available for them to make a difference every day,” said Strategic Advisor to GTSC Angela Bailey, former Chief Human Capital Officer, DHS.
“As DHS and other agencies work to find great candidates for critical positions, GTSC and Homeland Security Today wanted to educate and attract students to match their passions and interests with the incredible, impactful positions at the Department. Do you care deeply about the trafficking of children and people? Do you care about climate change and its impact? Do you want a STEM career that would support the nation’s battle against fentanyl and other drugs? All of those missions are in DHS,” said GTSC CEO Kristina Tanasichuk at the announcement.
Launched at the announcement are interviews with:
Secretary Elaine Duke, former Secretary, U.S. Department Homeland Security discussing the many missions within the department;
Admiral Thad Allen, former Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department Homeland Security, discussing maritime security and disaster response;
Patricia Cogswell, former Deputy Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, Department Homeland Security discussing protecting the traveling public;
Ryan Scudder, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, Customs and Border Protection, Department Homeland Security discussing the IT and enterprise work protecting the nation’s borders;
Antonio Villafana, Chief Information Officer, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, Department Homeland Security discussing how IT and cybersecurity protects the nation against a Weapon of Mass Destruction;
Michael Daniel, President & CEO, Cyber Threat Alliance and former Special Assistant to President Obama and Cybersecurity Coordinator on the National Security Council Staff discusses the role and importance of cyber security professionals throughout government;
Diane Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Department Homeland Security discusses how she supports the field operations of the border patrol;
Eric Leckey, Associate Administrator, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department Homeland Security discusses how he supports the needs of disaster victims across America;
Kim Weissman, Senior Communication Advisor, Biometrics and Passenger Processing, Customs and Border Protection, Department Homeland Security discusses the role of public affairs and communications to help the public understand the latest technologies at CBP;
Chris Mocella, Deputy Director, Interdiction Technology Branch, Customs and Border Protection, Department Homeland Security discusses how cutting edge technology identifies drugs at the border;
Micia Moses, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent, West Palm Beach Station, Department Homeland Security discusses the role of a Border Agent at the many stations across America.
Watch the interviews here.
The Meet Your Mission campaign is on-going and will continue to interview and share the opportunities in DHS throughout 2024.
If you are interested in being interviewed about your mission at the Department, or would like to share this series with your students, please reach out to Kalyna White at [email protected]. Interviews are published at www.hstoday.us/meet-your-mission and promoted through Linkedin, Facebook and other social media.
GTSC, a non-profit, non-partisan association of innovative, agile companies that create, develop, and implement solutions for the federal homeland and national security sectors, owns Homeland Security Today. Since 9/11, the highly acclaimed publication has focused on providing information, news, and a forum for collaboration on pressing homeland security challenges for the homeland security community.
You can learn more about GTSC and subscribe to Homeland Security Today’s free weeklies by visiting www.HSToday.us.
