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DON Civilians Receive High Praise and Thanks from Military Leaders

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091113-10
Release Date: 11/13/2009 12:36:00 PM

By George Markfelder, Civilian Human Resources

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of the Navy (DON) Senior Executive Corps was lauded by the department's most senior military leaders at its 2009 Leadership Seminar held recently in Washington D.C.

"The civilian workforce has shown us how to go from a battlefield commander's desire to design, develop and procure quickly and in the case of MRAPs, (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles) that process saved lives. I thank you all for that," said Maj. Gen. Walter Gaskin, assistant deputy commandant for Plans, Policy and Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

Gaskin was speaking to more than 100 DON executives and his theme, that an experienced and professional core of civilian leaders directly supporting the warfighter is a critical component to successful operations, was echoed throughout the day by the various speakers in attendance. These speakers included Under Secretary of the Navy, Robert Work, the newly appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Juan Garcia III and Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead.

"We are at war; the budget and economy have become a challenge and now is the time when budget and acquisition leadership is needed," said Roughead. "I could not be more proud of the civilian leadership we have in the Department of the Navy today."

There are more than 300 career Senior Executive Service (SES) members within DON and Civilian Human Resource (CHR) figures show that 50 percent of those executives are eligible to retire within the next five years.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Civilian Human Resources), Patricia Adams said the department's efforts to build 21st century executives prepares today's leaders for our current challenges and positions us to develop talent to meet future demands.

"Following DOD directives, the DON has instituted a deliberate, systematic and predictable approach to managing the SES career lifecycle from the initial recruitment phase, to executive development, performance management and succession management," said Adams. "The intent of this seminar is to share information about the developing aspects of the SES career lifecycle and renew the link between senior civilian executives and DON operational goals."

The SES was created by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Congress designed the SES to be an elite corps of managers charged with running the Federal government. The SES was set up as a separate, gradeless personnel system - distinct from the competitive and excepted services - whose positions are classified above the GS-15 level of the General Schedule.

In addition to the SES, the Department of the Navy has designated other senior executive positions, to include: senior level positions; scientific and professional positions; Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service and Defense Intelligence Senior Level. The DON goal is to have superior leadership in civilian executive positions to provide experience, vision, innovative ideas, and dedication to assist in achieving the DON mission.

"I thank all of you for what you do," said Gaskin. "It is the partnership between DON civilians, Marines and Sailors that enables us all to do our jobs."

To learn more about the Senior Executive Service, visit: http://www.opm.gov/ses/.

For more news from Department of the Navy (Civilian Human Resources), visit www.navy.mil/local/donchr/.