The Air Force plans to expand its use of hiring panels for GS-14, -15 and equivalent positions that will interview the applicants deemed most qualified and make a recommendation to the hiring official, with one goal being to increase diversity in those ranks, Air Force secretary Deborah Lee James said in a memo.
The memo said the concept “has already proven to be successful in some major commands . . . we are increasing transparency to the selection process and providing hiring officials various perspectives and insights on the candidates. It is our hope that these insights will help highlight the best candidates in each applicant pool while simultaneously increasing diversity in our higher civilian ranks.”
The panels will consist of at least three persons, usually equal to or senior to the advertised position, will be diverse, and will include civilians with no prior military service.
Expanding the concept is one element of a broader initiative to increase diversity and inclusiveness in both the civilian and military sides of the service.
