Fixing Broken Clearance Systems and Stopped Insider Threats with Tricia Stokes

Show Summary

In this episode, host John Dillard interviews Tricia Stokes, whose 41-year security career spans from administrative work to Director of Security for the Army and roles at DCSA and SOCOM. Stokes discusses her results-oriented approach and how her diverse security background equipped her to handle complex challenges. She reflects on how high-profile incidents shaped vetting procedures and advocates for leveraging open-source data in security assessments. Currently advising tech companies like Babel Street, Stokes encourages government agencies to embrace external technology solutions. Her leadership advice centers on people-first management, active listening, and calculated risk-taking.

Key takeaways

• Multidisciplinary Approach: Security professionals benefit from cross-training in different disciplines (physical security, personnel security, operations security) rather than specializing in just one area.
• Relationship-Based Leadership: Building trust and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders is essential for implementing significant security changes in large organizations.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Security leaders should constantly ask "how can we make this better?" and be willing to challenge the status quo, even in established processes.
• Technology Integration: Government agencies should more actively partner with specialized technology companies rather than building all solutions internally.
• Open-Source Intelligence Value: Current vetting processes underutilize publicly available information that could enhance security clearance procedures and supply chain risk management.
• People-First Management: Listening to staff concerns, implementing requested changes when possible, and maintaining personal connections drives loyalty and performance.

"You need to never say no. Say how."

"Every discipline that you're responsible for, it should apply to. It's your mindset when you go to work, how can I make it better?"

"It's so easy to say no, and it's much harder to say yes, but you gotta get to yes, and you gotta be results oriented, and you gotta take on those challenges and you gotta take on those risks and you can't be afraid."

"I don't think that we use open source data enough because I really believe...there's so much more out there on these people in open source, and there's so many incredible technologies out there that can go do a deep dive."

Connect and learn more about Tricia

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