Ask HN: Tips on how to get into government contracting

Be very prepared to play politics. The exact skills and experience you bring to the table are obviously important. But once you are contracted, you need to accurately assess the various parties, their interests and the political maneuvering.

As an individual contractor (it is very different if you are contracted through a global consulting firm): if you are successful your contract will be terminated so the persons hiring you can claim the credit. If you are unsuccessful then you are the scapegoat and thus terminated.