2025 Leidos Team
Strengthening Cybersecurity Talent Recruitment and Retention
At A Glance:
Capstone Sponsor: Leidos
Faculty Advisor: Donna Wertalik
Capstone Team Members: Will Coker, Anthony Brozey, Alberto Calderon, Alexa Karmis, Sarah Chevraux
Solution Summary: Developed actionable strategies and models to help Leidos attract, develop, and retain cleared, highly skilled cyber talent in a competitive market.
The Challenge
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the demand for cleared, highly specialized computer network operators has surged — but the supply of qualified talent has not kept pace. Leidos faced intense competition for this limited workforce and needed strategies to stand out, recruit effectively, and reduce turnover in high-stress roles.
The Solution
The student team approached the problem through five focused phases. They examined the most effective sourcing pipelines — from demographic hotspots and military markets to open-source communities and job platforms — and benchmarked Leidos against key competitors to highlight differentiators.
They explored how Leidos could grow its internal pipeline through upskilling, AI integration, and partnerships with organizations like the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative. They built predictive models to forecast future talent needs and analyzed strategies for engaging passive candidates who are not actively job hunting. Together, these insights provide Leidos with a clear roadmap to bolster recruitment and retention for critical cybersecurity roles.
The Impact
The recommendations equip Leidos to expand its cleared cyber talent pipeline with smarter sourcing, stronger branding, and new development pathways. By building a more adaptable workforce and addressing retention challenges proactively, Leidos is positioned to stay ahead of evolving threats — while keeping top talent engaged and supported for the long term.
2025 Leidos Team Public Presentation