In the Fiscal Year 2004 Authorization Act, Congress granted the Department of Defense (DoD) the authority to implement a new personnel system.   The system, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), will enable the DoD to attract, develop, compensate and retain a high performing work force, needed by DoD to meet the national security demands of the twenty-first century.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense, together with the Defense Services and representatives from the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Merit Systems Protection Board, recently completed a three-week NSPS Strategic Engagement.  The purpose of the Strategic Engagement was to review the processes for NSPS implementation and to identify course adjustments that might be necessary.  The Strategic Engagement process was conducted by five teams that addressed NSPS: Requirements; Process; Personnel; Program; and Communications.  Focus Groups comprised of system users were also conducted as part of this process.

The recommendations of the Strategic Engagement Groups were presented to, and approved by, Secretary Rumsfeld, 13 April 2004.  Implementation of these recommendations will begin in the very near future.  As a result, the conversion of the Department of the Navy to NSPS that was proposed to take place in October 2004 will not occur.  Details regarding NSPS conversion dates and the conversion process are being worked; additional information on both of these issues will be posted to this web site as it becomes available.

The Department believes NSPS is the right system at the right time.  It is now taking time to ensure NSPS is implemented in the right way.

Information on this website is subject to change as NSPS regulations/program direction are further developed.  We encourage you to visit this site frequently to obtain the latest information on the NSPS program.

For more information on NSPS, please visit the DoD web site at, www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps.