Pentagon officials say that the Office of Personnel Management has given “provisional” certification for DOD’s new senior executive service performance appraisal system. Officials call the OPM approval an “important milestone” in the Pentagon’s effort to “attract, retain, and reward top talent.” The new SES pay cap will rise from $149,200 to $162,100. DOD’s 1,217 SES members can now “lead the way” for the department-wide National Security Personnel System performance-based pay system, said David S.C. Chu, the Pentagon’s top personnel official. How soon remains a question, because DOD’s shift to NSPS has come under fire from unions. (DR 11/21/05)
Numbers Game Squeezes USAF Fighter Force
Dec. 15, 2025
Congress set the legal floor for how many primary mission aircraft the Air Force had to have in its fighter force in 2018, requiring at least 1,145 fighters through Oct. 1, 2026. In each of the past past two legislative cycles, lawmakers agreed to reduce the number. But when the House passed…
