The Civil Defense Acquisition Workforce: Enhancing Recruitment Through Hiring Flexibilities

Abstract

Policymakers and defense acquisition experts have asserted that improved recruitment for the defense acquisition workforce is a necessary component for comprehensive acquisition reform. To help rebuild the workforce and enhance recruitment, the Department of Defense (DOD) has used several hiring flexibilities authorized by Congress, the President, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in recent years. Hiring flexibilities are a suite of tools that are intended to simplify, and sometimes accelerate, the hiring process. The impact of hiring flexibilities on recruitment and workforce quality, however, remains unclear.