{"id":43198,"date":"2024-01-19T18:43:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-19T18:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/01\/19\/va-hopes-to-convince-tech-workers-that-public-service-matters\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:18:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:18:27","slug":"va-hopes-to-convince-tech-workers-that-public-service-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/veterans\/2024\/01\/19\/va-hopes-to-convince-tech-workers-that-public-service-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"VA hopes to convince tech workers that public service matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs officials<\/a> want to hire more skilled experts from the tech industry. But first they have to convince them that government jobs are important too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe tech industry as a whole lacks a tradition of public service, which I personally think is distressing,\u201d said Charles Worthington, chief technology officer<\/a> for the department, during a press event Thursday. \u201cThis industry needs to grow up and build that culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the most prestigious things you can do out of law school is to clerk for a federal judge. But there\u2019s no equivalent, for a staff engineer. A significant number of the best lawyers, the best scientists in the country, they work in public service for part of their careers. Tech industry workers also need to view it as part of their job to spend some of their career in public service too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Worthington\u2019s comments came as officials from the department\u2019s information and technology branch discussed plans to boost their workforce in the coming year<\/a>, with an emphasis on specialists in cyber security, artificial intelligence<\/a> and user support services.<\/p>\n\n\n\t