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 Congress repealed the NSPS with the 2010 defense authorization act.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 U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
