Lacey to run DOD personnel system

National Security Personnel System Web site

Defense Department officials today announced the first program executive officer for the National Security Personnel System. Mary Lacey takes over control of the new system, which includes pay-for-performance incentives and more flexible hiring and firing standards for managers.

As the head of the NSPS Program Executive Office, Lacey will report directly to Navy Secretary Gordon England, who was asked by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to provide guidance and oversight as the program's senior executive.

"Mary Lacey will lead the comprehensive policy and program management office that will complete the design, planning, assessment and implementation of NSPS," England said in a statement released today. "She will be working with our partners at [the Office of Personnel Management] to lead broad collaboration within an open process -- one that provides opportunities for employee, manager, and union input and dialog."

Following a strategic review of the NSPS in March, DOD created the PEO-NSPS to design and implement the new civilian personnel system. The creation of the office was one of several recommendations approved by Rumsfeld in mid-April.

The PEO-NSPS organization will include a variety of subject matter experts from all of the services and from other major DOD agencies. Within the staff, teams will work on human resources, labor relations, training, appeals, pay-for-performance and a number of other key elements of NSPS.

Lacey is serving as the technical director of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. She began her civil service career during college and has been a full-time DOD civilian employee since 1978.

During her career she has led several large field organizations with both technical and industrial workforces. In her current assignment, she is responsible for a business base of more than $4 billion, with more than 16,000 employees, according to DOD officials.

"I think this will be an incredibly important and challenging assignment," Lacey said. "NSPS will truly impact everybody