Missle Defense Agency

U.S Department of Defense

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People

Senior Executive Service and Senior Professionals

About MDA Executives (Civilian Personnel)

Senior Executive Service (SES) members and Scientific and Professionals (STs), with their military counterparts, General/Flag Officers peers, collaborate at the helm of MDA while leading major projects. Some example projects include engineering, testing, senior scientists, and acquisition. For more information on the MDA senior leader collaboration, please refer to our Organizational Chart.

The MDA’s SES spans a range of professions, all leading the agency towards accomplishing our mission goals. Our SES employees are truly dedicated to public service.

Career fields for MDA SES/ST:

Locations:
Acquisition Washington, D.C.
Engineering Washington, D.C.; Huntsville, Ala.
International Affairs Washington, D.C.
Legal Counsel Washington, D.C.
Program Management: Aegis BMD; Advanced Technology Dahlgren, Va.
Research and Development Colorado Springs, Colo.
Security/Intelligence Operations Washington, D.C.
Test and Evaluation Huntsville, Ala.


Learn more about Executive Personnel positions:

Senior Executive Service (SES)
General Information
Qualifications

The SES includes executive and managerial positions that are the major link between top Presidential appointees and the rest of the Federal work force.

SES members direct the work of an organizational unit, which includes the responsibility to:

  • assess policy, program, and project feasibility;
  • determine program goals and develop implementation plans;
  • design an organizational structure to promote effective work accomplishment; and
  • set effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, and management/internal control standards.

Scientific and Professional (ST)
General Information

STs perform high-level research and development in the physical, biological, medical, or engineering sciences, or a closely-related field.

Research and development positions are characterized by the following features:

  • systematic investigation of theory, experimentation, or simulation of experiments
  • application of the scientific method, including problem exploration and definition, planning of the approach and sequence of steps, execution of experiments or studies, interpretations of findings, and documentation or reporting of findings;
  • exercise of creativity and critical judgment, variation in which may materially affect the nature of the end product; and
  • significant honors from major organizations for his/her accomplishments and contributions; and is sought as an advisor and consultant on scientific and technological problems that extend beyond his/her specialty .

Senior Level (SL)
General Information

Each SL position has its own particular set of qualification requirements, which excludes supervisory responsibilities. Examples include a high level special assistant, senior attorney, or policy advisor in a highly-specialized field who is not a manager or supervisor.