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Defense Information Systems Agency

Is this your company?

Make a Holistic Evaluation with Your Eyes Wide Open. Often More Cons than Pros. - Senior Program Manager Defense Information Systems Agency Employee Review

1.0
9 June 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

DISA has postings on USAJOBS all the time and that is a clue. DISA has people in high GS positions 14/15 leaving for private industry frequently, which is unheard of. If you do not have a job, are a government contractor, or the position offered at DISA is substantially more pay (=>20%), then take the job and jump to something better in a couple of years. They have a nice gym and some decent base amenities. Just don't plan on making a career out of it. Like any agency DISA has a few good pockets where it is pleasant to work, however you will need to have an inside contact to know if you will be landing in one of them. DISA however is constantly reorganizing, and good areas have turned into very bad places to work. DISA has a reputation for corrupt management and bad HR practices, run a Google Search for DISA Military Corruption and look at what you find.

Cons

First research DISA on “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” where it ranks 345 out of 420 and has been falling like a stone since 2012. Then read the reviews on Glassdoor and Indeed from dozens of people who were promised signing bonuses in writing and then had them pulled days before they started work. You don’t rank in the bottom 18% of federal agencies without earning it. DISA is a bad first federal job because most positions are in the excepted service, and DISA does not have an interchange agreement with other agencies. That means you cannot transfer to another federal agency. DISA makes a big deal out of something called the cyber excepted service (CES) and advertises all the “benefits” it can offer such as higher steps, more leave, signing bonuses, and moving assistance. The reality is DISA never offers candidates any benefits beyond what one could obtain in the competitive service, unless the candidate has inside contacts. It is a total bait and switch tactic. If you already have a federal job in the competitive service, stay in the competitive service.

Explore other reviews about Defense Information Systems Agency

5.0
20 June 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nothing wrong came in recently been on a good team.

Cons

Things can move slow in the government

5.0
9 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great teams, great hands on training

Cons

Heavily dependent on politics and presidents when it comes to the direction the agency is moving

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