Staff Officer – Counter-UAS Program with Security Clearance

Position Overview
The Staff Officer will support a high-visibility Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) program at the Mark Center, providing operational planning, program integration, strategic coordination, and executive-level staff support. The individual will serve as a key liaison across DoD organizations, Joint Staff elements, Combatant Commands, Services, acquisition offices, and industry partners to advance C-UAS capabilities and address emerging unmanned aircraft threats.
This role requires a highly organized professional capable of coordinating complex initiatives, managing action items, developing senior leader briefings, and supporting the planning, synchronization, and execution of C-UAS activities across the defense enterprise. The description is informed by prior enterprise examples of C-UAS planning, staff integration, senior leader support, and operational coordination activities.
Coordinate and synchronize Counter-UAS initiatives across Joint, Service, Combatant Command, interagency, and industry stakeholders.
Develop executive briefings, read-ahead materials, decision papers, information papers, and talking points for senior leaders.
Track and manage action items, taskings, milestones, and program deliverables across multiple organizations.
Support strategic planning efforts, capability development initiatives, and operational integration activities related to C-UAS.
Prepare and staff correspondence, CONOPS, operational plans, strategic recommendations, and policy documentation supporting C-UAS programs
Coordinate working groups, integrated product teams (IPTs), governance boards, and senior-level meetings.
Analyze C-UAS operational trends, emerging threats, lessons learned, and capability gaps to support leadership decision-making.
Assist with technology assessments, demonstrations, experimentation events, exercises, and test activities supporting C-UAS modernization efforts.
Collaborate with operational, intelligence, acquisition, requirements, and testing organizations to ensure alignment of program objectives.
Maintain situational awareness of evolving UAS threats, countermeasure technologies, policies, and operational requirements.
Develop reports, dashboards, and status updates that communicate program progress and operational impacts.
Support engagement with Joint Staff, Services, Program Executive Offices, operational commands, and mission partners regarding C-UAS capability development and employment. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of military, government, or defense industry experience.
Experience supporting DoD headquarters staffs, operational commands, Joint organizations, or acquisition/program offices.
Knowledge of Counter-UAS operations, air defense, integrated air and missile defense, intelligence operations, or related mission areas.
Experience developing executive-level briefings, staffing packages, and written products for senior leadership.
Strong understanding of DoD staffing processes, strategic planning, and action officer functions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Teams, SharePoint).
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
Active Secret clearance. Preferred Qualifications Active TS/SCI clearance.
Experience supporting Joint Counter-UAS Office (JCO), Joint Staff, OSD, Combatant Commands, or Service C-UAS organizations.
Military operational planning experience.
Familiarity with C-UAS sensors, radar systems, electronic warfare, RF technologies, command and control systems, and defeat mechanisms.
Experience supporting DoD acquisition, requirements, testing, experimentation, or force development programs.
Knowledge of MAVEN, Palantir, data analytics tools, or operational planning systems. Desired Backgrounds C-UAS Staff Officer
Joint Operations Planner
Air Defense Officer
Integrated Air & Missile Defense Planner
Action Officer
Program Analyst
Military Operations Research Analyst
Capability Development Analyst
Strategic Planner
Requirements or Acquisition Specialist Clearance: Active TS/SCI highly desired
Work Location: Mark Center, Alexandria, VA (On-Site)
Travel: Up to 10–20% for exercises, demonstrations, conferences, and stakeholder engagements.