Upon review of the NICE Workforce Framework, I am most interested in the specialty areas of exploitation and systems analysis, systems development, and technology research and development. Based on these interests, I intend to focus my career on systems expertise and exploitation.

The aforementioned specialty areas interest me the most because they involve reviewing large amounts of data and finding small things which could break an entire project. I enjoy this “needle in a haystack” kind of work. It also creates an environment in which I learn well; entry-level workers may not be expected to know a tremendous amount, allowing me time to identify my own mistakes and processes. Once more experienced, I will have a solid foundation with which to move to design and development.

The areas which appeal the least to me are those which focus on management and leadership. After a decade and a half in the Navy, I am a firm believer in rising from the ranks and that the best leaders have a firm background in the area in which they lead. So focusing on management has no appeal to me.