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Institute for Defense Analyses

Engaged employer

Best FFRDC for Old White Men - Research Staff Member Institute for Defense Analyses Employee Review

3.0
7 Jun 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Stable work, easy-going colleagues, lovely new building - will soon be Metro-accessible. A lot of technically interesting work. Good relationships with its government sponsors. Retirement benefits are great.

Cons

Extremely risk adverse organization that is not that interested in developments outside its orbit. You also don't get a lot of recognition for working here because...no one's heard of IDA. Your research will be under the radar and not something the outside world will really know about. There is also a culture dominated by older white men who seem to actively resist efforts to make IDA any different. And why should they? The culture is ideal for them. For others, not so much. There are people who have been here for 30, 35 years and you can tell. If you're a woman, think twice before coming. No, seriously, consider every other FFRDC before you come here. If you do come here, stay active in your professional network. You COULD come here and deal with this culture, but WHY.

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Institute for Defense Analyses Response
3y
Thank you for taking the time to review IDA on Glassdoor. We are sorry to hear about your concerns with company culture. IDA is always looking for opportunities for improvement and we’d like to understand more about your experiences. Please use one of the many ways to offer feedback including through your division leadership, Human Resources, or feedback@ida.org.

Explore other reviews about Institute for Defense Analyses

5.0
26 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

High-quality mentorship Professional development Exposure to real-world problems

Cons

Restricted or classified work (not so much of a con)

2.0
24 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great retirement Good PTO & federal holidays

Cons

Finance “leadership” demonstrates a blatant disregard for its staff. Employee concerns are routinely dismissed, driving unnecessary turnover and leaving the organization in a position that feels increasingly unsustainable. Individuals are consistently pushed beyond reasonable limits, expected to carry the workload of two or three people without support. Performance issues go unaddressed, further compounding the strain on those who are already overextended. At the same time, leadership makes decisions in isolation—despite being new and lacking a meaningful understanding of day-to-day operations—while ignoring the input of those actually doing the work. There is a clear unwillingness to offer even basic accommodations, such as work-from-home flexibility, despite the level of effort and commitment employees continue to demonstrate.

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Institute for Defense Analyses Response
1mo
Thank you for the feedback and we acknowledge your concerns over turnover morale and churn within our Finance team. Your comments will be shared with the appropriate leadership for review. IDA has implemented several methods to express concerns and share your feedback. If those concerns need to be expressed outside of a staff member’s immediate supervisor or outside of your division/directorate, Human Resources Business Partners are always available to listen and support with actionable ideas or to funnel information to more senior leadership if necessary. Additionally, the Office of General Counsel is a resource, and if appropriate, Code of Conduct violations can be reported anonymously via IDA’s intranet. IDA considers teleworking to be a viable, flexible work option when both the employee and the employee’s position are suited to such an arrangement, and when that arrangement is consistent with IDA’s business/sponsor needs. Employees seeking telework arrangements as a workplace accommodation for medical reasons can submit an Accommodation/Adjustment Request Form to HR.
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