Closing Date: 9th September, 2026
Description:
Summary:About the Position: This position is located with the U.S. Cyber Command, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Meade, MD.
If you are currently serving in a permanent, competitive service appointment in the Federal service, and are selected for this position, the appointment will remove you from the competitive service while you occupy this position.
Duties:
- Serves as a senior national security law attorney on cyber operations, sensitive activities, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other emerging technologies.
- Conducts extensive research into command operational issues associated with tactical, operational, and strategic issues in cyberspace operations, artificial intelligence, emerging technology, telecommunications, and information operations.
- Conducts extensive research into the legal, ethical, and policy issues surrounding emerging technologies to ensure compliance with all applicable laws while enabling the ethical adoption of new capabilities.
- Advises the USCYBERCOM command and staff and serves as a critical liaison to the Joint Staff legal office, Department of War Office of the General Counsel, and the interagency lawyers.
- Advises on all aspects of intelligence law and activities, to include the collection, retention, and dissemination of intelligence and the use of AI and emerging technologies in support of intelligence activities.
- Briefs the command leadership on highly specialized areas of law and in the most difficult, complex, controversial, delicate, or unprecedented legal issues.
- Represents the command and its organizations on a number of discussions and meetings involving international, federal, and state and local laws, and policy regulations and directives relating to cyber operations.
- Performs duties related to complex cyber operations and national security law issues, involving not only legal matters, but also policy and significant matters of command operations and day-to-day activities of offensive and defensive operations.
- Drafts and edits a full range of authoritative legal opinions on the employment of AI, machine learning, and autonomous/semi-autonomous systems, including their compliance with international law, the Law of Armed Conflict, and Rules of Engagement.
Requirements:
Conditions of Employment:
- Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
- A two-year trial period may be required.
- The incumbent must obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance as a condition of employment and must also complete a counterintelligence scope polygraph exam.
- This is a Drug Testing Designated Position. The incumbent is required to sign a DA Form 5019-R and must pass urinalysis testing, as required, prior to appointment, reassignment, or transfer and periodically thereafter.
- This position may require the incumbent to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) upon entry, and annually thereafter in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
- This position requires the incumbent to maintain active bar membership, in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
- Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military and/or commercial aircraft up to 10% of the time.
- The incumbent may be recalled to duty, may be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays, and may be required to work overtime.
- The incumbent must meet NSA personnel security requirements outlined in NSA/CSS Policy 5-1.
- Candidates are required to disclose any pending ethics or other judicial or miscellaneous allegations under review, including any adverse findings by a state bar or disciplinary committee.
- Must consent to provide a letter for each state where admitted to demonstrate good standing.
Qualifications:
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Applicants will be evaluated to determine if they meet the minimum qualification requirements and on the extent to which their application shows possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the position. KSA's:
- Skill in identifying and researching highly technical and complex legal issues.
- Skill in providing legal, technical, and policy guidance.
- Ability to effectively, professionally, and ethically manage a heavy caseload of clients with complex legal needs.
Education Requirements: Position requires the possession of the first professional law degree (LL.B. or J.D.) AND active membership in the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. Applicants for initial appointment into attorney positions within the Department of Army must be graduates of law schools accredited by the American Bar Association at the time of the applicant's graduation. As indicated below, a law school transcript must be submitted with your application materials.
Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As noted below, proof of such membership and good standing must be submitted with your application materials.
Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants for the GG-15 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 4 years of professional legal experience , acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience.
Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled.
Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions.
Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference", and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/.
Education:
Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
Additional Information:
Bar Membership: Applicants must currently be a member in good standing (as defined by the pertinent bar) of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As noted below, proof of such membership and good standing must be submitted with your application materials.
Experience: In addition to the requirements above, applicants for the GG-15 or equivalent Attorney positions must also possess 4 years of professional legal experience , acquired after being admitted to the bar, commensurate with the duties and responsibilities of the position. Graduation from an ABA-Accredited Law School in the top 25% of the class or an advanced law degree such as an LLM may substitute for one year of the required professional legal experience.
Time in Grade: The Qualifying Authorities (QA's) will make a determination as to the applicability of time in grade based on the requirements of the position. If you are currently employed as an attorney by the Federal government you must have completed one year at the next lower grade level within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement, or previously served at the same or higher grade level as the position being filled.
Notice of Veteran's Preference: There is no formal rating system for applying veteran's preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of the Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty") to their submissions.
Although the point-preference system is not used, applicants eligible to claim a 10-point preference must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference", and supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed. The SF 15 will identify the supporting documentation required along with the list of the types of 10-point preference. The SF 15 is available from the OPM at https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/sf/.
Education:
Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute education for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. Department of Education websites at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications and http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
Additional Information:
- Please Note that Requirements for Education, Time in Grade, and Experience May Be Waived By the Applicable Authority and The Requirements Should Not Deter Any Individual from Applying for The Position.
- Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
- You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
- This position requires a 2 year trial period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
- Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
- If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant (https://portal.chra.army.mil/hr_public?id=
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