The Pentagon has named John James to lead the Congressionally directed effort to return civilians incorporated under the National Security Personnel System back to pre-NSPS personnel systems by 2012. Congress repealed the NSPS with the 2010 defense authorization act. According to the DOD announcement, James, who had been serving as a senior executive with Naval Sea Systems Command, will “oversee the design and implementation of an enterprise-wide performance management system, hiring flexibilities, and a DOD Workforce Incentive Fund.” The announcement also noted that the process would proceed “deliberately and cautiously, without unnecessary delay.”
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
