Career Development

The department offers a variety of training opportunities to employees, including academic programs, leader development, career development, mandatory training, professional development and technical skills training. DHS employees should visit their learning and development program office for more information about any opportunities listed below.

Academic Programs

Academic Programs cultivate creative homeland security strategic analysis and decision-making skills through high quality, fully accredited graduate degree programs at Department of Defense Senior Service Schools and other academic institutions.

DHS Fellows

DHS Fellows provides a competency-based, developmental opportunity for employees at the GS-14 and GS-15 level who have demonstrated leadership potential, may desire to transition into future leadership positions with greater responsibility.

DHS Leader Development Program

The DHS Leader Development Program helps ensure that leaders at all levels throughout the department are exposed to a core set of developmental experiences and leadership principles. The program offers courses and training resources for non-supervisors, supervisors and executives across the Department.

Homeland Security Rotation Program

The Homeland Security Rotation Program provides developmental assignments that give additional opportunities for employees to broaden their skills, gain organizational knowledge, and enhance their personal and professional growth. 

Interagency Development Opportunities

Interagency Development Opportunities provide employees the chance to enhance their knowledge of the federal government, gain experience in developing policy and strategy, identify best practices and lessons learned across the government and build their personal network of contacts and resources to fulfill their mission.

Mentoring Programs

The department offers a number of formal and informal mentoring programs in all components and across all occupational functions. The DHS Mentoring Programs are formal programs that provide enriching experiences through reciprocal relationships and opportunities for personal and professional growth while sharing knowledge, leveraging skills and cultivating talent. The programs provide a series of developmental experiences for matched mentoring pairs. Through the mentoring relationship, mentors have the opportunity to guide and share experiences, knowledge, and skills which will contribute to the mentee’s growth. Mentoring relationships require time, commitment, and clear plans of action.

Pathways Programs

The Pathways Programs offer clear paths to federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school and to careers for recent graduates, and provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their federal service. As a student or recent graduate, you can begin your career in the federal government by choosing the path that best describes you and where you are in your academics.

Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program

The DHS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program prepares high-performing individuals for positions in DHS’s Senior Executive Service through an intensive 12-18 month leadership development program.