Nextgov Event: Join Us Thursday to Talk About the Tech Workforce

Attracting, recruiting and retaining top tech talent is a tough sell for federal agencies.

In emerging fields like cybersecurity, even stalwart public-sector organizations like the National Security Agency have a hard time hiring good people.

So, how are federal agencies shoring up the talent gap, and what are they doing to empower and embolden their existing workforce?

On Thursday, we’ll address technology and the future workforce in our Innovation After Hours series, convening a panel of experts who are actually infusing innovation within their agencies.

Elizabeth Hoag heads the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s eNGAge program, which is a sort of a talent exchange that places NGA professionals in temporary positions outside the agency, such as industry and academia. Conversely, the program allows those in industry, academia and nonprofits to temporarily work within NGA. All in all, the 1-year-old program’s goal is to bolster knowledge sharing, bring new ideas to the organization and increase opportunities for existing personnel to improve their experience and meet NGA’s mission.

Hoag will discuss NGA’s challenges and how the program is working to help to address them.

Blake Henderson, who serves as the innovation coordinator for the Veterans Health Administration’s Connected Care program, will discuss how the Veterans Affairs Department is attempting to improve the veteran experience, which includes efforts to both retain and engage its existing workforce. One of the ways VA is upping employee engagement is through the VA Innovators Network, an employee-developed space where VA employees can test new ideas and unite with stakeholders across the veteran community.

We’ll be hosting Thursday’s event 5:45-7:30 p.m. at 20 F Street NW Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Weather permitting, we’ll be talking tech and drinking tasty beverages on the rooftop, so check the weather forecast prior and dress appropriately (and maybe bring your sunscreen or shades).

For more information and to register, check out our website.