New Defense personnel system frees managers

In the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress gave the Defense Department authority to design an implement a system governing how more the Defense civilian employees are hired, paid, promoted, and disciplined.

With a focus on flexibility, the National Security Personnel System enables the department to link pay raises more closely to performance and to move employees between jobs without competition and with minimal paperwork.

Brittany Ballenstedt examines the effect NSPS has had on the department in a feature story in the Jan. 1, 2008, issue of Government Executive.