By Stephen Barr
Monday, February 5, 2007

The first questions were right to the point: Is there a lot of paperwork in applying for a federal job? What's the easiest way to get a security clearance?

The questions came from Washington area high school students participating in the Information Technology Job Shadow Day at the Defense Department, one of 26 agencies hosting events last week aimed at recruiting the next generation of computer professionals into government.

As the shadow day activities underscored, many federal agencies are trying to build a recruitment pipeline that goes beyond colleges and into high schools, where teenagers can be introduced to federal work through summer jobs, internships and scholarship programs.

"We're hitting all ages," said Joyce France, director of the management services directorate for Defense's chief information officer. "We want to reach back to high schools, and show them how critical and important information technology is, and grow these students for the Defense Department and the federal government and for private industry."

Like other parts of the government, Defense is concerned about its aging workforce. The department has about 69,000 technology professionals in its civil service ranks, and officials estimate that 10,000 will be eligible to retire at the end of this year.

Not all of them will leave, of course, but Defense officials are looking to the future and want to make sure that teenagers understand the importance of math, science and English courses as building blocks for technology careers.

For the job shadow day, the Pentagon revved up briefings and tours worthy of visiting dignitaries.

Lt. Gen. Michael W. Peterson, the Air Force chief information officer, welcomed one group of students. Army Maj. Jim Enicks, who has served in Iraq and currently works for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shared his experiences with another. Civilian executives and managers, including France, Debra Filippi and John Venit, offered advice and fielded questions.

Tour stops for the students included the National Military Command Center, which links the defense secretary to other top government leaders during emergencies; the office of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates (who was not in); the Pentagon courtyard; and the 9/11 Memorial Chapel.

One group of students started their Pentagon day with a "talk show" segment taped by the Pentagon Channel, the in-house TV and Web broadcast service.

Two Defense computer scientists, Alex Eisen and Kunal Johar, urged the students to look into education scholarships provided by Defense and to think about what they want out of life and how a technology career might help them achieve personal goals.

Defense officials told the students they looked for potential hires who had good grades and had tried to apply their skills, by building a Web site or by using commercial software to compile data.

About 30 Washington area students participated in the Defense shadow day, coming from Ballou Senior High, Benjamin Banneker, the Edison Academy, the Fairfax Academy and T. C. Williams.

They were part of an estimated 280 students attending technology job shadow days across the government, drawn from 27 area high schools. The schools included Anacostia, Cardoza, Chantilly, Frederick Douglas, Gaithersburg, Springbrook, West Potomac and Wheaton.

The government's effort was organized by the Federal Chief Information Officers Council, an interagency group, in partnership with the Association for Federal Information Resources Management, a nonprofit group; and Junior Achievement, a group dedicated to educating young people about business and economics.

Last week's events marked a reinvigoration of technology shadow day. It was last held in 2003, drawing about 100 students from nine high schools for visits at nine agencies.

Doris McGuire, a co-chair with Ned Kieloch of the information officers council's student outreach subcommittee, said organizers went into the event hoping to match past participation and double the turnout. The advance planning paid off.

She said the students turned in feedback cards with comments, such as "I had a first-hand experience of what people do at work" and "How cool is that!"

Jonathon Glad, a senior at Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, told reporters that he decided to participate in the shadow day because of his interest in technology and he wanted to see the Pentagon. He said he thinks technology will mesh with his career plan -- to join the Army after completion of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.