The fiscal 2006 Defense Department authorization further requires
the department to develop a strategic plan for its civilian
workforce, to include a workforce gap analysis and a plan of
action for developing and shaping the workforce to address gaps
in critical skills and competencies. The report would have to
be produced in one year and be annually updated.
In addition, the measure requires DoD to commission the National
Defense University to conduct an independent study of
successful management practices of highly technical
workforces. That replaced an earlier Senate plan to require
the Comptroller General to conduct a study of defense
laboratory personnel demonstration authorities and successful
management practices utilized by laboratories and facilities
with similar technical workforce recruitment and retention
challenges.
The measure further directs DoD to support the implementation
of the Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps pilot project of the
Director of National Intelligence, a group of employees fluent
in foreign languages who would be available to provide
translation services and related duties.