Senior Executive Service

This is really a pretty comical thread. An SES is a Senior (General Officer Equivalent ) manager in the Government service (or in the Intelligence Community- an SIS). If you look it up in the Office of Personnel Manangment web site you will see this definition: "Members of the SES serve in the key positions just below the top Presidential appointees. SES members are the major link between these appointees and the rest of the Federal workforce. They operate and oversee nearly every government activity in approximately 75 Federal agencies."
You won't be qualified for a position as an SES for a decade or two after you graduate - (or longer). This is pretty much the equivalent of saying- "The Admiral's position looks pretty interesting to me- that's what I want to do when I graduate". Figure out what you want to do for a field and then after you have proven yourself in that field as a Manager of increasingly complex organizations and budgets for a decade or two, re-open this thread and consider it then because it is clear that right now you really have no concept of what you are talking about.
 
I'm just trying to get some information about it. I completely understand that it won't happen right when I graduate from college.My goal is to get into the Senior Executive service by the age of 45. I also understand that it will take 20+ years to get into SES.
 
bruno said:
This is really a pretty comical thread. An SES is a Senior (General Officer Equivalent ) manager in the Government service (or in the Intelligence Community- an SIS). If you look it up in the Office of Personnel Manangment web site you will see this definition: "Members of the SES serve in the key positions just below the top Presidential appointees. SES members are the major link between these appointees and the rest of the Federal workforce. They operate and oversee nearly every government activity in approximately 75 Federal agencies."
You won't be qualified for a position as an SES for a decade or two after you graduate - (or longer). This is pretty much the equivalent of saying- "The Admiral's position looks pretty interesting to me- that's what I want to do when I graduate". Figure out what you want to do for a field and then after you have proven yourself in that field as a Manager of increasingly complex organizations and budgets for a decade or two, re-open this thread and consider it then because it is clear that right now you really have no concept of what you are talking about.
Click to expand...

I will probably get a Doctorate in public administration or a related field before I even start applying to SES positions.
 
See, I think you need to shrink your picture a little bit here. A year ago you wanted to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. Now your goal is being in an SES position.

I think goals are great. I think goals that are too far ahead are not helpful.

Many SESs are an expert in a specific area. My old boss in the Coast Guard, who was a two star admiral, was an expert in emergency response. She's now an SES with that same focus. You build a career around an interest, a passion, and hopefully there's room for advancement in that area of interest. It's very hard to build a career (and be happy in a career) that's built around a single goal 25-30 years down the road).

I'm in public affairs / communication. I have experience in the federal government, with the U.S. Coast Guard, as a public affairs officer, and at Immigrations and Customs Enforcement as a contractor (doing public affairs work). I also have experience in the private sector. I like communications. I could move around agencies, with a focus on communications and be happy. There's room to focus that communications knowledge on a tighter area, such as healthcare or the financial sector, but the general public affairs path is there.

Hypothetical situation: LITS is a public affairs specialist, a GS-13, in Customs and Border Protection. LITS has been at CBP for 3 years, sees a merit based selection available (an internal job solicitation) for a non-public affairs position.... that is a GS-14 in Human Resources. LITS could apply for it, and hopefully get it. It would be one step closer to that SES position, but it would be in an area LITS has no interest. LITS gets the position, hates it, and is now stuck. Does LITS want to find a GS-15 position? Sure, but he has to wait a year and those GS-15 positions often take prior experience. Is LITS stuck looking for GS-15 positions in HR now? Is it possible to return to the public affairs world?

It's a pyramid, there are far more GS-9 positions than GS-13 positions and far more GS-13 positions than SES positions.

Your focus should be on the area you want to specialize in. The more senior you get, the more important that is (until you're political.... then experience means so much less).

If you're in the federal government, that road to higher positions is clearer. If you've coming from the outside world, while it IS possible, it's not always as clear or as "easy." Oh and nothing's really easy.

I think you need to consider what you want to do, and focus on the first step in that long series of steps. Think of the positions you want to start in, and the long road of federal promotions will be there for you when it's time.
 
Thanks I still want to be secretary of homeland security. I'm looking at the SES as a stepping stone to SOHS.
 
eaglescout68 said:
I was thinking of working in the state or local level and then make the jump to SES.
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Again proving you don't grasp how this works. You want to work at the local level and then jump to the senior levels of federal employment. Ok, I'd like to play rec league soccer in Ohio and then "make the jump" to the Arsenal third string.
 
scoutpilot said:
Again proving you don't grasp how this works. You want to work at the local level and then jump to the senior levels of federal employment. Ok, I'd like to play rec league soccer in Ohio and then "make the jump" to the Arsenal third string.
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It CAN happen, however, you'll have to be at a senior level within the local government, and those opportunities vary from location to location. Where I've more often seen jumps between the local/county/state level are political positions. You're the director or general manager or some senior position at the state level (or below). You know someone connected politically, that party wins, and the connected are brought in. Actually, if you look within DOD you'll see a lot of this. The DOD is so big, it has a million senior positions. Someone might be tapped for a "deputy assistant secretary" or "assistant secretary" level position. These are flag equivalents, but their rise is different from SES. It's more about connections and less about punching the right cards.

The other reason making a "jump" is hard is because you're outside the system. You're not familiar with federal agencies, the federal process.... maybe you don't have the connections with people you'll be working with, etc. And you'll be competing with people for those positions who DO have that experience, and a documented history of performance in the federal government.

"But in Houma, La. we do it like this....."

"Sorry but this isn't Houma."
 
Emergency management is a complex field that takes time to learn and master. For example the current Region 5 Administrator for FEMA was a Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Director and before that he was the Executive Director of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications and before that he worked in the Chicago Police department. Although there is a lot of other stuff he did. He started LOCAL and moved up the ranks.
Let's say that after I graduate in May 2018 that I get a job as an Emergency Management specialist somewhere in Illinois working for a city or county. Then after 10 years I get the chance to become IEMA director or Director of another states Emergency Management then after the term of being a director of a states EMA then I get the chance to go into SES. Thank you to everyone who has posted; it has given me a ton of different point of views.
 
That's a better way to think of it. In the scenario you just mentioned, you're considering a path and on that path you'll hopefully be happy. Maybe you top out at the county or state level, if you can be happy there, that's great, if you continue to move up, that's great too. The point is, while there seems to be a path, it's not as clear cut as you'd hope. It's not a natural, local -> county -> state - > federal path. At each level there are other feeders. For a position in FEMA, from a state agency, you'll not only be competing (theoretically) with other state-level folks, you'll also be competing with other FEMA employees and other federal employees. Some may have merit status or veterans preference too.

The key is, set yourself up on a path where you could be happy on any level moving forward. Plans change too, both organizations/agencies and your plans.
 
if you really wan tto know more about SES, check those GAO reports
http://www.gao.gov/search?search_ty...ate=&q=title:"Senior+Executive+Service"&adv=0


Human Capital: Building Diversity in GAO's Senior Executive Service
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-08-275T


GAO-08-275T: Published: Nov 13, 2007. Publicly Released: Nov 13, 2007.


EMPLOYMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE, RESTORATION TO DUTY FROM UNIFORMED SERVICE OR COMPENSABLE INJURY, PAY ADMINISTRATION (GENERAL), AND PAY ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT; MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES TO PAY AND LEAVE RULES
http://www.gao.gov/fedrules/150545

3206-AL21: Published: Mar 15, 2007 Effective: May 14, 2007 Received: Mar 20, 2007
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE PAY
http://www.gao.gov/fedrules/143138

3206-AL01: Published: Jul 10, 2006 Effective: Jul 10, 2006 Received: Aug 1, 2006
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE PAY AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS; AGGREGATE LIMITATION ON PAY
http://www.gao.gov/fedrules/135879

3206-AK34: Published: Dec 6, 2004 Effective: Dec 6, 2004 Received: Dec 7, 2004
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE PAY AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS
http://www.gao.gov/fedrules/131966

3206-AK32: Published: Jan 13, 2004 Effective: Jan 1, 2004 Received: Jan 20, 2004
Posthearing Questions from the October 15, 2003, Hearing on "Senior Executive Service: Enhanced Agency Efforts Needed to Improve Diversity as the Senior Corps Turns Over"
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-04-318R


GAO-04-318R: Published: Dec 5, 2003. Publicly Released: Dec 5, 2003.


Senior Executive Service: Enhanced Agency Efforts Needed to Improve Diversity as the Senior Corps Turns Over
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-04-123T


GAO-04-123T: Published: Oct 15, 2003. Publicly Released: Oct 15, 2003.


Senior Executive Service: Enhanced Agency Efforts Needed to Improve Diversity as the Senior Corps Turns Over
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-03-34


GAO-03-34: Published: Jan 17, 2003. Publicly Released: Feb 26, 2003.


Senior Executive Service: Diversity Increased in the Past Decade
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-01-377


GAO-01-377: Published: Mar 16, 2001. Publicly Released: Apr 16, 2001.


EMPLOYMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
http://www.gao.gov/fedrules/116539

3206-AI58: Published: May 25, 2000 Effective: Jun 29, 2000 Received: May 22, 2000

eaglescout68 said:
Hello,
I've been on these forums for a while posting about wanting to go to the Coast a Guard Academy before deciding not to apply. I am currently a Freshmen at Western Illinois University studying emergency management with a minor in Environmental and Occupational safety. After a long time researching various options within the military and outside the military. I've came to the conclusion that the Senior Executive Service may be the best bet for what I want to do with my career. Does anyone have any experience with the Senior Executive Service. If so how would you suggest one plan their career so maybe they can hold that rank of Senior executive one day?
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That is very hard. You got to be a career civil servant like in DOD. And those SESers get shuffled every few years, even if they don't like it

You can search at http://www.defense.gov/releases for Senior Executive Service Announcements

You can see, all are the feds

This was two days ago
http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=17183
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release No: NR-086-15
March 17, 2015
Senior Executive Service Announcements

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and assignments:

Rene' K. Thomas-Rizzo has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service and is assigned as the director, human capital initiatives, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Washington, District of Columbia. Thomas-Rizzo previously served as a program manager, Department of the Navy, Arlington, Virginia.

Eric K. Fanning has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service and has been assigned as the special assistant to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense (chief of staff), immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense, Washington, District of Columbia. Fanning previously served as the under secretary of the Air Force, Department of Defense, Washington, District of Columbia.

Reassignments

Marcia A. Case has been assigned as director, Financial Management Directorate, and chief financial executive, Washington Headquarters Services, Washington, District of Columbia. Case previously served as the associate director for military operations, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), Washington, District of Columbia.


eaglescout68 said:
I was thinking of working in the state or local level and then make the jump to SES.
Click to expand...
 
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