Alexander Sinclair Edwards of Oklahoma City fought in Operation Enduring Freedom, bringing home multiple service awards for valor and bravery. In 2005, Alex S. Edwards joined the Oklahoma City Police Department and has spent the last ten years protecting the citizens of Oklahoma City. In the following article, Alexander S. Edwards discusses the best reasons why a job in national security is a fantastic long-term career.
When students enter the
national security studies program at Utah Valley University, there’s usually a common reason why.
They want to be involved with something bigger than themselves. They want to make a difference in the world. They want a job with purpose. They have a calling.
And they’re not alone. Even in times of recession or high inflation, the national security field steadily offers numerous attractive jobs and career paths, including cybersecurity specialists, intelligence officers, linguists, and security analysts.
Those in national security work for the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. They work across all branches of the federal government and for state and local offices.
Over the decades, interest in national security jobs and long-term careers has only grown. Alexander Sinclair Edwards of Oklahoma City explains why.
The Mission
Alexander Sinclair Edwards explains that those who pursue jobs in national security do so because they believe wholeheartedly in its purpose: to protect the United States and its citizens, making the country and the world a much safer place. Those in national security jobs spend each day serving, protecting, and defending Americans.
That’s something that makes it more than easy to get up and go to the office each morning says Alex Edwards.
The Job Security and Benefits
There’s a good reason why many federal government jobs are tough to get. They often come with substantial stability and longevity. Government employees, even those in contract positions, rarely worry about losing their job explains Alexander Sinclair Edwards of Oklahoma City.
Workers in national security also seem to rarely want to leave their job. National security jobs usually come with fantastic benefits, especially affordable health care under the Federal Employment Program Blue Cross/Blue Shield, a good amount of paid time off, and likely a federal pension that is guaranteed explains Alexander S. Edwards of Oklahoma City.
After 20 years, there is usually an option to take an early retirement payment, which is common throughout the federal government. A pension only sweetens the deal for those steadily saving for retirement without any breaks in federal government service.
Alexander Sinclair Edwards explains that if you are looking solely within the National Security Agency, employees rate it highly for health care on-site, the availability of life insurance and a comprehensive retirement plan that includes 401(k) contributions.
Employees also give the NSA high ratings within it comes to a good work/life balance. National security jobs frequently come with reliable schedules, usually 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, rarely more and rarely less.
The Salaries
Alex Edwards says that many consider income from national security jobs as “recession-proof,” and that is pretty accurate. Salaries in national security fields have either kept steady or risen steadily over the past few decades, and salaries are particularly attractive.
Take for example jobs within Homeland Security. Intelligence analysts on average make about $70,000 a year. Cybersecurity analysts take home around $76,000 and counterterrorism analysts usually hit nearly $90,000 explains Alexander S. Edwards of Oklahoma City.
One of the most coveted positions within the field is a national security intelligence officer. These employees regularly work within military operations or for secret intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, Department of Defense, or FBI. The average salary is about $85,000, but there are intelligence officers who make $100,000 or more.
Information security analysts not only make $102,600 a year on average but the number of jobs in the field is expected to grow 33% through 2030. Over 16,000 information security analyst positions are expected to be open each year over the next eight years explains Alex Edwards.
The Multiple Options to Choose From
A national security job doesn’t just mean working within the National Security Administration. While there are many
jobs within the field available at the NSA and 17 other federal agencies and partners in the private sector, there are also business jobs in the field related to accounting, management, and research.
Alexander Sinclair Edwards of Oklahoma City says that business analysts and project managers within national security have salaries ranging from $60,000 to $100,000. Security organizations hire communications professionals specializing in writing, editing, website development, and social media.
Those specializing in logistics and infrastructure can find numerous roles within national security, including facilities management, construction management, employee safety specialists, electronic security, and telecommunications management. Professionals such as architects and engineers, as well as supply chain analysts, readily find work opportunities in the national security field.
It's Techie Heaven
If you’re a technology person with a degree in cybersecurity, a job in national security may be a perfect fit for you says Alexander Sinclair Edwards of Oklahoma City. Job demand for global cybersecurity experts grew a whopping 350% between 2013 and 2021. There will be an additional estimated 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings through 2025.
Some of the top cybersecurity jobs in 2022 can be found within national security fields. Chief information security officers, cybersecurity architects, security engineers, and cybersecurity consultants are among the most desirable for students and national security agencies looking for top minds in modern security.
