Position Title: Publications Oral History and Research Assistant
Company: Strategic Technology Institute, Inc. (STi)
Location: The Pentagon, Washington, D.C. (Primarily on-site; limited telework may be authorized)
Anticipated Start Date: 8 September 2026
Clearance: Active Top Secret clearance required
EMPLOYMENT NOTE
- Full-time key position contingent upon contract award and final staffing approval. STi is actively identifying a highly qualified, cleared candidate for proposal staffing and rapid post-award onboarding.
- Period of Performance: 8 September 2026 – 7 September 2031, inclusive of option periods. Dates are subject to adjustment based on contract award.
- The selected candidate will serve as Government-evaluated key personnel.
POSITION OVERVIEW
STi is seeking a Publications Oral History and Research Assistant to support the Historical Office of the Office of the Secretary of War (OSW) Publications Program at the Pentagon.
This key position will conduct historical and archival research, prepare for and conduct oral history interviews, support major historical publications, develop information papers, respond to official historical inquiries, and assist with public-history and exhibit projects.
The work supports the Secretaries of Defense Historical Series, the DoD Acquisition History Series, historical corridor exhibits on the Pentagon Reservation, special historical studies, and inquiries from Department leadership, Congress, other Federal agencies, the media, and the public.
The ideal candidate is a professionally trained historian with graduate-level expertise in national security, defense, diplomatic, military, foreign affairs, or governmental history and demonstrated experience in archival research, oral history, analytical writing, and scholarly editing.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities include:
- Conduct primary and secondary research in preparation for oral history interviews with current and former senior Department of Defense and national security officials.
- Provide input on prospective interviewees and develop focused, historically informed interview questions.
- Conduct oral history interviews at the direction of the Government Chief Historian.
- Format, edit, revise, and organize oral history transcripts and ensure transcripts and audio recordings are properly maintained.
- Research published literature and classified and unclassified primary-source materials, including Office of the Secretary of Defense records, other Department records, Presidential library collections, Federal agency records, and private archival collections.
- Provide research and writing support to authors contributing to the Secretaries of Defense Historical Series and related publications.
- Research, analyze, and prepare information papers that provide useful historical or analytical insight to Department officials.
- Research and draft responses to historical inquiries from Congress, executive-branch agencies, the media, and the public.
- Contribute research and writing to special historical studies.
- Review and edit scripts for historical corridor exhibits and other public-history products.
- Select and prepare historical source materials for physical displays, publications, and the Historical Office website.
- Assist with prepublication security reviews of manuscripts and oral history transcripts and with declassification reviews of source documents.
- Coordinate with Government historians, authors, senior officials, archivists, security-review offices, and other Department stakeholders.
- Serve as key personnel with authority to support the daily operation and coordination of contract requirements.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
U.S. Citizenship and an active Top Secret clearance are required at time of proposal submission. The clearance must be maintained throughout contract performance.
- Master’s degree or higher in history, political science, international relations, or a closely related field from an accredited university
- At least two years of experience involving the history of U.S. national security policy, conflicts, foreign affairs, or governmental affairs
- Extensive experience researching government, diplomatic, defense, or military records in official archives or private repositories in support of a thesis or book
- Graduate-level research-paper writing and professional written work addressing governmental affairs, national security policy, diplomacy, or defense organization, strategy, technology, or operations
- Completion of at least two oral history interviews related to national security policy, conflicts, foreign affairs, or governmental affairs
- Experience applying the Chicago Manual of Style, 18th edition, demonstrated through at least one published article or graduate thesis
- At least two presentations at professional conferences or experience teaching at least two college-level courses
- Excellent historical-research, analytical-writing, editing, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills
- Ability to obtain and maintain access to SCI, NATO, Restricted Data/Formerly Restricted Data, CNWDI, and Q information
- Ability to obtain Pentagon access and a Common Access Card and to travel for interviews and archival research
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Current or prior access to SCI or other special-access information
- Prior DoD, Federal, military-service, or national security historical-program experience
- Experience interviewing senior defense, military, diplomatic, intelligence, or Government officials
- Experience with classified records, prepublication security review, declassification review, official histories, or Government publication programs
- Experience researching at the National Archives, Presidential libraries, DoD repositories, Federal agencies, or private archival collections
ABOUT STi
Strategic Technology Institute, Inc. (STi) supports national security missions across Engineering MRO Logistics IT & Cybersecurity Program Control. STi is a minority-owned Small Disadvantaged Business focused on delivering flexible, mission-driven solutions that help Federal customers solve complex operational challenges.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Primarily on-site at the OSW Historical Office in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; limited Government-approved telework may be authorized
- Full-time, Monday through Friday, within the Government’s 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. operating window
- Classified work must be performed in authorized Government facilities
- Local National Capital Region travel and occasional travel outside the region may be required for interviews, archival research, meetings, or training
Keywords: oral historian, oral history, research historian, DoD historian, military history, national security history, diplomatic history, government history, archival research, historical research, Presidential libraries, National Archives, Chicago Manual of Style, historical publications, information papers, prepublication security review, declassification review, Pentagon, Washington D.C., Top Secret clearance
EEO: STi is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other protected status.
Pay: $90,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Have you conducted at least two oral-history interviews concerning U.S. national security policy, military conflict, foreign affairs, or governmental affairs? (Y/N)
- Have you delivered at least two professional conference presentations or taught at least two college-level courses? (Y/N)
Education:
Experience:
- U.S. national security policy or history: 2 years (Required)
- Government, diplomatic, or military archival research: 1 year (Preferred)
- DoD or Federal historical-office support: 1 year (Preferred)
Security clearance:
Ability to Commute:
- Arlington, VA 22203 (Required)
Work Location: In person
