Human Capital: Opportunities Exist for DOD to Enhance Its Approach for Determining Civilian Senior Leader Workforce Needs
Highlights
The Department of Defense (DOD) relies heavily on its civilian workforce to perform duties usually performed by military personnel--including combat support functions such as logistics. Civilian senior leaders--some of whom occupy positions that might be cut during DOD's latest attempts to reduce overhead costs--are among those who manage DOD's civilians. In 2007, Congress mandated that DOD assess requirements for its civilian senior leader workforce in light of recent trends. DOD reported its recent reply to this requirement in its 2009 update to the Civilian Human Capital Strategic Plan, which used information from a 2008 baseline review to validate its senior leader requirements. GAO was asked to review DOD's approach for (1) assessing its civilian senior leader workforce requirements, (2) identifying and communicating the need for additional senior leaders, and (3) developing and managing this workforce. GAO reviewed submissions for DOD's baseline review and requests for additional senior leaders, including DOD's intelligence agencies. GAO also interviewed DOD and Office of Personnel Management officials.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | In future reviews of the civilian senior leader workforces, the Secretary of Defense should direct that the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness document the analysis conducted to provide supportable information about what DOD's requirements are for the Senior Executive Service, Senior Level, and Senior Technical workforces. |
In September 2020, officials with DOD's Strategic Human Capital Planning Division stated that the 2007 statutory requirements for DOD to conduct human capital planning, which were the basis for the recommendation, had been rescinded. According to the officials, the department is now focused on addressing newly issued OPM human capital planning requirements.
|
| Department of Defense | To improve the management and development of DOD's civilian senior leader workforces, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence to finalize and issue common criteria for the military service intelligence elements and the defense intelligence agencies to use in their assessments of Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service requirements. |
In September 2020, officials with DOD's Strategic Human Capital Planning Division stated that the 2007 statutory requirements for DOD to conduct human capital planning, which were the basis for the recommendation, had been rescinded. According to the officials, the department is now focused on addressing newly issued OPM human capital planning requirements.
|
| Department of Defense | To improve the management and development of DOD's civilian senior leader workforces, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence to better communicate key information, including justifications for each Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service position needed, during the development and presentation of legislative proposals to congressional decision makers. |
In September 2020, officials with DOD's Strategic Human Capital Planning Division stated that the 2007 statutory requirements for DOD to conduct human capital planning, which were the basis for the recommendation, had been rescinded. According to the officials, the department is now focused on addressing newly issued OPM human capital planning requirements.
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| Department of Defense | To improve the management and development of DOD's civilian senior leader workforces, the Secretary of Defense should direct the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to establish clearly defined metrics for the Defense Senior Leader Development Program in order to measure the overall success of the program. |
In September 2020, officials with DOD's Strategic Human Capital Planning Division stated that the 2007 statutory requirements for DOD to conduct human capital planning, which were the basis for the recommendation, had been rescinded. According to the officials, the department is now focused on addressing newly issued OPM human capital planning requirements.
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