On this episode of INSA’s Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Susanne Hake, EVP and GM, USG, Vantor, to discuss her career across government, consulting, and national security technology. She reflects on her early experience at the National Security Council, transitioning into industry, applying her strengths in technical environments, and building technical fluency.

On this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Philip Ritcheson, Senior VP for Corporate Strategy at Leidos, for a conversation on leadership, service, and navigating a career across government, the military, and industry. Dr. Ritcheson reflects on lessons learned from decades in national security, the realities of public-to-private sector transitions, and the importance of mentorship, resilience, and staying mission-focused in an increasi...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by INSA Executive Vice President John Doyon. John reflects on the moments that defined his decades of service at NSA, from supporting treaty negotiations in Geneva to briefing the President in the Oval Office. He shares how mentors encouraged him to pursue unfamiliar opportunities, why interagency assignments broadened his perspective on national security, and the framework he still uses today when evaluating ca...

An exclusive preview of INSA’s upcoming nine-episode podcast series, The Career Playbook, explores the mentorship, setbacks, leadership lessons, and career pivots that shape success across the intelligence and national security community.

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly is joined by Dr. Linda Bixby, Chief Research and Partnerships Officer at the University of Arizona. Dr. Bixby reflects on her nonlinear career spanning government, academia, industry, and the nonprofit sector, sharing insights on continuous learning, mentorship, leadership, and navigating career pivots across the national security ecosystem. She also discusses the importance of communication skills, embracing discomfort, ...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Robert Goodson, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen. Mr. Goodson reflects on his path from Army intelligence officer to private-sector leader, sharing insights on career growth, mentorship, networking, and leading teams in the national security space. He also offers practical advice on continuous learning, adapting to emerging technologies, and building the communication skills needed to succeed in a rapidl...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Meisha Lutsey, Executive VP, Mission and Engineering Support, CACI International. Meisha shares how she built her career in the intelligence and national security community, along with insights on developing skills through on-the-job experience, navigating career growth, and leading a large, globally deployed workforce. She also offers practical advice on continuous learning and adapting to rapidly evolving...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with David Marlowe, SVP, Operations, Intelligence & Cyber, Amentum. Marlowe reflects on his 30-year career in human intelligence, from early field assignments in the Middle East to leading global operations. He shares candid insights on critical thinking, leadership, and the transition from public to private, emphasizing the importance of clarity, trust, and mission focus. Thank you to our episode spon...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Stephen Iwicki, Senior VP and GM, Intelligence Solutions Business Unit, SOSi, and a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer. Mr. Iwicki reflects on his career from Desert Storm to leading Army Intelligence Transformation. He discusses the evolution of intelligence tradecraft, the growing role of AI and open-source intelligence, and why critical thinking and mentorship remain essential for the next gene...

On this episode of Intelligence Career Conversations, host Jim Donnelly sits down with Dr. Deborah Wituski, Professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced and International Studies. Dr. Wituski reflects on her path from academic research to the CIA, her leadership roles at Google, and her return to higher education. She discusses the value of mentorship, lifelong learning, and adapting analytic tradecraft in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. The conversation offers an inside...