The constant change in smart grid technology and the cyber security threat landscape demand an adaptive workforce which aligns specialist skills across a broad range of job roles. Energy companies have lacked clear guides and tools to help them understand whether their staff and consultants possess the right competencies to address the latest developments, or ground truth, in smart grid vulnerability and best practices for deterring and responding to the growing threat. Guided by a model of Ground Truth Expertise Development1 of the cyber security workforce, the Department of Energy recently commissioned a multi-year study to produce and validate predictive models of on-the-job performance by smart grid cyber security professionals. In this presentation, we will review the Smart Grid Cybersecurity Job Performance Model (SGC JPM) that resulted from the first phase of this project, focusing on the critical metrics expected to differentiate performance at varying levels of competency: novice, proficient, competent, expert, and master. We will discuss the implications of this model for the assessment of human capital vulnerabilities which limit the preparedness or resilience of smart grid installations to cyber threats and attacks. Finally, we will review the implications of the SGC JPM competency model and assessment tools for research and development of cyber security and control system engineering curricula and performance support technology.