Border Security Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Opportunity (Part-Time): Border Security Subject Matter Expert (SME) – U.S. Military Background

Bottom Line Up Front: Hoplite Group seeks a retired O-5/O-6 officer, experienced in land-border security and interagency coordination. SME will support a U.S. Government advising effort in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Location: Remote (CONUS) and forward engagements (OCONUS)

Level of Effort: (Part-Time)

• Non-Travel Months: 20–30 remote hours/month
• OCONUS Engagement Months: 80–100 hours/month
• Travel: Quarterly OCONUS; initial travel anticipated January 2027

Availability: December 2026

Objective: Improve partner-nation land-border security operations, interagency coordination, command relationships, and sustainable defense-management processes.

Advisor Responsibilities:

• Assess land-border security capabilities, readiness, structures, and processes.
• Evaluate surveillance, detection, patrol, interdiction, and response operations.
• Assess intelligence and surveillance integration into command and control and decisions.
• Review authorities, command relationships, and military/law-enforcement coordination.
• Link detection and threat assessment to operational tasking and response.
• Develop operational concepts, plans, doctrine, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Assess readiness, training, workforce needs, and capability priorities.
• Recommend evidence-based capability improvements.
• Coordinate with governance, joint operations, intelligence, and defense-management advisors.
• Facilitate senior-leader problem-solving and institutional improvements.
• Adapt engagement methods to sensitive information-sharing and partner relationships.

Required Qualifications:

• Active U.S. Secret Security Clearance. 
• Retired military officer (O-5/O-6) with Homeland Defense experience.
• Experience with National Guard Bureau or Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Policy, Homeland Defense.
• Knowledge of defense article transfer processes to federal law enforcement agencies for border surveillance and detection operations.
• Headquarters or command experience developing border-security plans and strategies along international borders.
• Interagency experience coordinating with law-enforcement, intelligence, and government agencies.
• Experience using Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for operational decisions including directing integrated patrols, ISR allocation, and response operations.
• Experience developing border-security concepts, doctrine, SOPs, or plans.
• Discretion, flexibility, and cultural sensitivity in partner-nation settings.