Biggest Challenges Faced by an Agency Counsel at Department of Defense
Andrew's biggest challenge as Agency Counsel at the Department of Defense involves balancing the need to represent the United States' national security interests with the responsibility of giving full attention to each individual case, reminding himself that "this file is a person who has a career and a family as well". This challenge is framed against the backdrop of his 22-year Navy career, where the constant relocation, while exciting, presented its own set of difficulties for Andrew and his family.
Overcoming Challenges, Ethical Dilemmas, Workplace Challenges, Real-World Examples, Case Studies
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Andrew Henderson
Agency Counsel
Department of Defense
Bates College
Pepperdine University School of Law (JD); University of Redlands School of Business (MA); Army JAG School (LLM)
Political Science, American Studies
Government & Public Sector, Law
Legal
Took Out Loans, Veteran
Video Highlights
1. The dynamic nature of a career in the Navy, involving frequent moves and overseas assignments, presents both exciting opportunities and challenges for work-life balance.
2. The importance of individualized attention in legal cases, requiring careful consideration of each person's unique circumstances and avoiding a generalized approach.
3. The responsibility of representing the Department of Defense in security clearance hearings, balancing individual rights with national security interests.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
Let me first answer that, talking about the bigger picture of the Navy. The biggest challenge with the Navy is that you move a lot.
There are challenges, and as exciting as it is to live overseas or on a ship, there are upsides and downsides. It's tough on your family and your situation in life sometimes.
It's a double-edged sword; it's exciting, but also challenging. That's part of why I retired from the Navy after 22 years – I was ready to spend more time at home with my family.
As it pertains to my current position, the biggest challenge is representing individual people with individual cases. If you're not careful, you might gloss over them and not think of each file as representing a person with individual problems and concerns.
I need to keep reminding myself that this file is a person with a career and a family. I treat each file as important and requiring my full attention. Sometimes that's a challenge, but I do my best to stay focused on each one.
But they're on the other side, right? Because you're representing the United States. In these hearings, I represent the Department of Defense. Individuals come to these hearings who may have lost their security clearance or are in danger of losing it.
There are various reasons why losing it might be appropriate. But I represent the interests of the United States in these hearings to protect national security.
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