How to hire a mission commander

How to hire a mission commander, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mission commander hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mission commander job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mission commander
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the mission commander you need to hire. Certain mission commander roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a mission commander to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a mission commander that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of mission commanders.

   Type of Mission Commander	Description	Hourly rate
   Mission Commander		$12-61
   All Source Intelligence Technician	An all-source intelligence technician is someone who specializes in surveillance equipment meant for gathering intelligence. This type of intelligence gathering system is usually found in military installations or companies that require strict securities such as banks, top-level corporation headquarters, and the likes... Show more	$13-65
   Intelligence	Intelligence is responsible for providing information that is difficult to find. That may be an opportunity, potential threat, proposed policy option, or personal information regarding a government or foreign official... Show more	$23-81

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Combat
   • Logistics
   • DOD
   • UAS
   • MC
   • ISR
   • Reconnaissance
   • Mission Planning
   • Emergency Operations
   • UAV
   • Flight Operations
   • Airspace Management
   • US Army
   • VIP

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage operation of steam propulsion plant and facility services (electricity, hydraulic power, HVAC, & compress air).
   • Conduct reviews of classify war plans for operations tempo impact upon mobility capabilities and leveling of theater assign combat support capabilities.
   • Work with AutoCad 14 and AutoCad 2000.
   • Used AutoCAD as a tool to draw and design layouts for building remodels and infrastructure upgrades.
   • Perform system parameter maintenance in the AS400.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mission commander job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A mission commander salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, mission commanders' average salary in montana is 56% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level mission commanders earn 80% less than senior-level mission commanders.
   • Certifications. A mission commander with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a mission commander's salary.

   Average mission commander salary

   $58,510yearly

   $28.13 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mission commander salary

   $26,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 8, 2025

4. Writing a mission commander job description

   A mission commander job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a mission commander job description:

   Mission commander job description example

   Required Travel: 51 - 75%
   
   Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt
   
   Hours Per Week: 40
   
   Security Clearance: TS/SCI w/ CI Poly
   
   Level of Experience: Senior
   
   HII
   
   Job Description
   
   HII is looking for a Mission Commander (MC) supporting program flight operations as an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Subject Matter Expert (SME) working in a small, close-knit crew environment providing expertise in support of mission requirements. Leverages their aviation and ISR experience and critical thinking skills to develop tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to counter emerging threats. Coordinate with DoD entities and agencies to facilitate cutting-edge product development to ensure client capabilities meet current and future objectives. Shall have strong knowledge of ISR operations, air navigation, aircraft mission planning, and the key factors in aircraft survivability. Recent operational experience is a must. Must be comfortable with managing multiple tasks in a dynamic environment and possess the ability to complete assignments with little or no supervision. Demonstrate sound Crew Resource Management/Operational Risk Management (CRM/ORM) skills and airmanship. Typically 60 day rotations to remote sites with austere conditions. Work will be in support of multiple Combatant Commands to include but not limited to Indo-PACOM and EUCOM.
   
   Essential Job Responsibilities
   
   * The primary responsibilities of a Mission Commander are to work with the Pilot in Command to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft to complete assigned mission, effectively operate assigned remote sensing systems, aircrew resource management, make sound tactical decisions in flight, and support the processing, exploitation and dissemination of collected information.
   * Deploys OCONUS working with US Military Forces and/or Foreign Allied Military Forces in Tactical Operations Centers, Military Intelligence Community or Manned Aircraft.
   * Provide technical, tactical, and operational Signals Intelligence, Electronic Warfare Analysis, Mission Planning and/or Operations support to external and internal customers.
   * Performs U.S. military intelligence, signals intelligence & electronic warfare analysis, tasking, collection, processing, exploitation, and dissemination (TCPED) with an operational background focused on Manned ISR mission sets.
   * Conduct real-time communication and distribution of multi-source information with aircrew and ground assets during all phases of flight via Tactical Data Link and chat (e.g., Link-16/mIRC) or beyond line of site satellite communications (BLoS SATCOM).
   * Operate Airborne Communications systems (e.g., ICS, PRC117, ARC 210/231) as well as Small Secure Datalink (SSDL) radios.
   * Provide post-mission airborne mission system equipment performance debrief.
   * Maintain appropriate electronic and hard copy products, reports and records.
   * May provide guidance and training to less experienced Operators.
   * Perform other duties as assigned or required.
   * Travel:
   
   50% travel to OCONUS locations expected.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   * 5 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 3 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; 0 years experience with PhD or Juris Doctorate in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 9 years relevant experience.
   * Clearance - TOP SECRET/SCI eligibility with ability to obtain a CI Polygraph.
   * Must be a US Citizen.
   * United States Passport valid throughout deployment periods
   * Experience with Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance operations.
   * Recent deployed operational experience in the ISR mission set.
   * Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain good working relationships with the tasking authority, local officials, customer on-site representatives, and crew members.
   * Applicants must be fully deployable according to AFRICOM, EUCOM, Indo-PACOM and CENTCOM's Theater Entry Requirements.
   * Recent Operational ISR experience.
   * Ability to deploy OCONUS and to travel with reasonable notice for periods up to four months where required.
   * Read, write, speak and understand English fluently.
   
   Preferred Requirements
   
   * 5 years as a Navy SS-3/EWO/Special Projects (P-3C, P-8A), ECMO/WSO (EA-6B, EA-18G), or EP-3E LABOP or EWOP or Mission Commander. Air Force EWO/WSO (RC-135, EC-130 Compass Call), Air Force/Navy Air Battle Manager (AWACS, E-2C/D).
   * Graduate of military technical training courses such as Electronic Warfare Officer, Navy Aviation Electronic Warfare School, Air Battle Manager, Navy Airborne Early Warning School, or qualification as a Mission Commander in the U.S. Military or on prior DoD contracted aircraft.
   * Experience in aircraft and sensor test and evaluation and sensor integration.
   * Experience with international operations.
   
   Physical Requirements
   
   * Have or be able to obtain a FAA Class III medical certificate.
   * Successfully complete Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape 220 training.
   * Successfully complete a FAA High altitude chamber / physiological training.
   
   This opportunity resides with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, a business group within Mission Technologies, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. From towers to processors, we design, develop, integrate and manage the sensors, systems and other assets necessary to support integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, exploitation and analysis for the Intelligence Community, the military services, geographic and functional combatant commands and DoD agencies.
   
   HII is a global engineering and defense technologies provider. With a 135-year history of trusted partnerships in advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities ranging from the most powerful and survivable naval ships ever built, to unmanned systems, ISR and AI/ML analytics. HII leads the industry in mission-driven solutions that support and enable a networked, all-domain force. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's skilled workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, please visit:

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5. Post your job

   To find the right mission commander for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with mission commanders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit mission commanders who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mission commander job on Zippia to find and recruit mission commander candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting mission commanders requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mission commander

   Once you've found the mission commander candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new mission commander. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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