DoD mounts program to exchange cybersecurity personnel with the private sector

The Defense Department is mounting a pilot program for the exchange of cybersecurity personnel between itself and the private sector.

The pilot, authorized under the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill and further codified through an interim rule effective Dec. 14, allows GS-11 and above career employees to work in a private sector firm for a period of three to 24 months while remaining a federal employee. The minimum assignment is three months and after a year has passed, the assignment must be extended quarterly.

The idea is for DoD personnel to gain exposure to private sector best practices. The rule also allows the DoD to likewise accept private sector personnel to work within government for the same period. Private sector personnel must be the "equivalent" of a GS-11 and have U.S. citizenship.

Authorization for the pilot program--formally known as the Information Technology Exchange Program--runs out on Sept. 30, 2013. Since the rule implementing the program is interim, anyone wishing to submit a comment can do so through Feb. 14.

For more:
- see the Federal Register rule implementing ITEP

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