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Institute for Defense Analyses

Engaged Employer

Quasi-government - Research Associate Institute for Defense Analyses Employee Review

3.0
Apr 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great mentors, knowledgeable and helpful staff

Cons

Guidelines for promotions are unclear, lack of transparency regarding pay

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Institute for Defense Analyses Response
3mo
Thank you for sharing your feedback. It’s great to hear that our culture of mentorship and support continues to grow among IDA staff. If you’re looking for guidance on promotions, we would encourage you to engage with your Director or HR Business Partner and check out the resources available on the Human Resources section of the IIS (intranet). These resources include the Career Guide, which discusses career paths for both research and operations staff, as well as the Promotion Criteria document, which outlines the exact requirements for promotion within the Research Associate job family. With regards to compensation, IDA is committed to a policy of process transparency, where we openly share with staff information about how IDA administers pay. Employees may find a list of frequently asked questions and answers about compensation on the intranet, including information about our compensation structures, how IDA benchmarks compensation against the market, how individual pay decisions are made, etc. Employees may also find on the intranet a recording of an interview with our HR Director and Compensation Manager answering many compensation questions. External and internal job candidates will also see a salary range included for every posted position. However, if you have questions about your individual pay, you should talk to your Director or HR Business Partner.

Explore other reviews about Institute for Defense Analyses

5.0
Jul 14, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Loved it, learned a lot and helped me grow.

Cons

Pay and lack of advancement

4.0
Jul 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very smart people across a range of STEM disciplines Freedom on what you get to work on Relative lack of office politics Interesting exciting projects available

Cons

Hard to think of a con. Every place has its own flavour and IDA CCS Bowie like anywhere else, isn't for anyone. I'm not positive either way about IDA's budget/hiring situation these days, with all the stuff going on in this general space. It also can be easy to find yourself getting lost when it comes to finding a good project if you are not careful. But even that is a bit of a reach.

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