Pentagon's Mad Scientists Need Fresh Brains

In certain military research circles, getting a job at DARPA is considered a pretty sweet gig -- a sign that you're at the "top of the top," as one scientist told me yesterday. So you would think the Pentagon's blue sky science division would have no problem getting top-level talent to sign up. But maybe not.

Everywhere you turn at DARPATech -- the agency's big conference in Anaheim, California -- there are symbols of a major recruiting drive going on.

The agency's director promises the geeks gathered here that joining DARPA "it is the best thing you can do for your career." In between speeches, the video screens are filled with filmed testimonials of how totally freakin' rad it is to work at the agency. Even the folders and playing cards being handed out as schwag to the attendees come with a plea to "JOIN DARPA!" More...