Building the future workforce requires agencies to find new ways to attract, train and retain talent. Apprenticeship programs are one way government is developing a pipeline of skilled workers, especially as it relates to the technology and cybersecurity fields. Learn more about the accomplishments of the Department of Labor’s 120-Day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint, best practices and the path forward for these “earn-while-you-learn” models.

Many factors lead to women becoming discouraged from pursuing careers in technology, leading to a federal workforce that is not quite representative of the people it serves. Often times, women cite specific mentors or leaders whose working environments led them to take on the challenge and pursue tech careers. These leaders discuss key recruitment and retention strategies that have led to more representation in the workforce.

Tech leaders highlight a project or initiative making impacts in federal missions.

Government has a recruiting challenge as it competes with the private sector. But agencies are in a unique position to market their public service mission to encourage more women participation in tech. This panel discusses strategies to communicate and integrate that mission into its tech workforce development.

The flywheel — a critical component in a machine to increase its momentum — is also a critical symbol representing our publication’s goal to keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology’s impact on government. This momentum is what fuels the constant need for transformers to innovate in federal technology and communicate those strategies across the industry.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) estimates there are upward of half a million unfilled cybersecurity jobs nationwide, and women still remain underrepresented. Developing and building a diverse cyber workforce to address pressing cyber threats underpins the White House’s recently released National Cybersecurity Strategy. In short, solving the cybersecurity workforce shortage is a national security imperative. The Office of the National Cyber Director discusses how it’s preparing for these workforce challenges and the role women will play in the cyber workforce of the future.