[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 20 (Monday, May 21, 2007)]
[Pages 650-652]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
<R04>
Executive Order 13434--National Security Professional Development
May 17, 2007
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to enhance the
national security, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. In order to enhance the national security of the
United States, including preventing, protecting against, responding to,
and recovering from natural and manmade disasters, such as acts of
terrorism, it is the policy of the United States to promote the
education, training, and experience of current and future professionals
in national security positions (security professionals) in executive
departments and agencies (agencies).
Sec. 2. National Strategy for Professional Development. Not later
than 60 days after the date of this order, the Assistant to the
President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHS/CT), in
coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security
Affairs (APNSA), shall submit to the President for approval a National
Strategy for the Development of Security Professionals (National
Strategy). The National Strategy shall set forth a framework that will
provide to security professionals access to integrated education,
training, and professional experience opportunities for the purpose of
enhancing their mission-related knowledge, skills, and experience and
thereby improve their capability to safeguard the security of the
Nation. Such opportunities shall be provided across organizations,
levels of government, and incident management disciplines, as
appropriate.
Sec. 3. Executive Steering Committee. (a) There is established the
Security Professional Development Executive Steering Committee (Steering
Committee), which shall facilitate the implementation of the National
Strategy. Not later than 120 days after the approval of the National
Strategy by the President, the Steering Committee shall submit to the
APHS/CT and the APNSA an implementation plan (plan) for the National
Strategy, and annually thereafter shall submit to the APHS/CT and the
APNSA a status report on the implementation of the plan and any
recommendations for changes to the National Strategy.
(b) The Steering Committee shall consist exclusively of the
following members (or their designees who shall be full-time officers or
employees of the members' respective agencies):
(i) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, who
shall serve as Chair;
(ii) the Secretary of State;
(iii) the Secretary of the Treasury;
(iv) the Secretary of Defense;
(v) the Attorney General;
(vi) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(vii) the Secretary of Labor;
(viii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(ix) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
(x) the Secretary of Transportation;
(xi) the Secretary of Energy;
(xii) the Secretary of Education;
(xiii) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(xiv) the Director of National Intelligence;
(xv) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and
(xvi) such other officers of the United States as the Chair of
the Steering Committee may designate from time to time.
(c) The Steering Committee shall coordinate, to the maximum extent
practicable, national security professional development programs and
guidance issued by the heads of agencies in order to ensure an
integrated approach to such programs.
(d) The Chair of the Steering Committee shall convene and preside at
the meetings of the Steering Committee, set its agenda, coordinate its
work, and, as appropriate to deal with particular subject matters,
establish subcommittees of the Steering Committee that shall consist
exclusively of members of the Steering Committee (or their designees
under subsection (b) of this section), and such other full-time or
permanent part-time officers or employees of the Federal Government as
the Chair may designate.
Sec. 4. Responsibilities. The head of each agency with national
security functions shall:
[[Page 651]]
(a) identify and enhance existing national security professional
development programs and infrastructure, and establish new programs as
necessary, in order to fulfill their respective missions to educate,
train, and employ security professionals consistent with the National
Strategy and, to the maximum extent practicable, the plan and related
guidance from the Steering Committee; and
(b) cooperate with the Steering Committee and provide such
information, support, and assistance as the Chair of the Steering
Committee may request from time to time.
Sec. 5. Additional Responsibilities. (a) Except for employees
excluded by law, and subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this
section, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, after
consultation with the Steering Committee, shall:
(i) consistent with applicable merit-based hiring and
advancement principles, lead the establishment of a national
security professional development program in accordance with
the National Strategy and the plan that provides for
interagency and intergovernmental assignments and fellowship
opportunities and provides for professional development
guidelines for career advancement; and
(ii) issue to agencies rules and guidance or apply existing rules
and guidance relating to the establishment of national
security professional development programs to implement the
National Strategy and the plan;
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall issue rules or guidance on
professional development programs for Department of Defense military
personnel, including interagency and intergovernmental assignments and
fellowship opportunities, to implement the National Strategy and the
plan, as appropriate, and shall coordinate such programs, to the maximum
extent practicable, with the Steering Committee;
(c) The Secretary of State shall issue rules or guidance on national
security professional development programs for the Foreign Service,
including interagency and intergovernmental exchanges and fellowship
opportunities, to implement the National Strategy and the plan, as
appropriate, and shall coordinate such programs, to the maximum extent
practicable, with the Steering Committee;
(d) The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the
heads of agencies of which elements of the intelligence community are a
part, shall issue rules or guidance on national security professional
development programs for the intelligence community, including
interagency and intergovernmental assignments and fellowship
opportunities, to implement the National Strategy and the plan, as
appropriate, and shall coordinate such programs, to the maximum extent
practicable, with the Steering Committee; and
(e) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a program to
provide to Federal, State, local, and tribal government officials
education in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans and
authorities, and training in crisis decision-making skills, consistent
with applicable presidential guidance.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. This order:
(a) shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and
authorities of agencies, or heads of agencies, vested by law, and
subject to the availability of appropriations;
(b) shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect the
authorities of any agency, instrumentality, officer, or employee of the
United States under applicable law, including the functions of the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget,
administrative, or legislative proposals, or the functions assigned by
the President to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and
(c) is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or
privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity,
by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies,
instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other
person.
George W. Bush
The White House,
May 17, 2007.
[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 21,
2007]
[[Page 652]]
Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on
May 22.