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National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency 

INSTRUCTION 

NUMBER 1400.10 

8 May 2014 

Administrative Update 04 November 2015 

 HD

SUBJECT: Establishing and Staffing Senior Executive Positions 

References: See Enclosure 1. 

1. PURPOSE. This Instruction establishes policy and assigns responsibilities regarding

the establishment and staffing of senior executive positions. 

2. APPLICABILITY. This Instruction applies to members of the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency (NGA) Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (DISES), 

NGA Defense Intelligence Senior Level (DISL), other Government agency (OGA) Senior 

Intelligence Service (SIS) employees permanently assigned to NGA, applicants for NGA 

senior executive positions, and other civilian and military executives who supervise 

senior executives. 

3. DEFINITIONS. See Glossary.

4. POLICY. It is NGA policy to:

a. Ensure the use of senior executive positions supports assigned programs and

missions effectively. 

b. Recruit and employ a quality and diverse workforce with the competencies

needed to meet mission requirements. The DISES system is designed to develop and 

sustain executive leadership to support NGA’s mission. DISL positions are established 

to provide the levels of functional and technical expertise by individuals who are 

recognized leaders and authorities in a specialized field or functional area (References 

(d) and (e)).

c. Fill senior executive level positions by permanent appointment or non-permanent

appointment in accordance with Sections 1601-1614 of Title 10 United States Code 

(USC) (Reference (a)). Selection and appointment and assignment of individuals to 

senior executive level positions are based on personal qualifications, such as job 

experiences and competencies. 
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d. Establish advisory boards and panels as necessary to provide recommendations

on senior executive level management matters.

e. Initial appointments to a senior executive position require a one-year trial period. 

Executive trial periods may be served concurrently with the two-year Defense Civilian 

Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) trial period. Appointment from a DISES to a 

DISL position will require a new one-year DISL trial period; appointment from a DISL to 

DISES position will require a new one-year DISES trial period (References (d) and (e)).

5. RESPONSIBILITIES. See Enclosure 2.

6. PROCEDURES. See Manual that accompanies this Instruction (Reference (f)).

7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Instruction is effective on the date of signature.

Enclosures

1. References

2. Responsibilities

Glossary
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ENCLOSURE 1

REFERENCES

(a) Title 10 USC, Sections 1601-1614, “Civilian Intelligence Personnel: General 

Authority to Establish Excepted Positions, Appoint Personnel and Fix Rates of Pay”

(b) Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 5145.04, “Defense Legal Services Agency

(DLSA),” 16 April 2012

(c) DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1442.02, “Personnel Actions Involving Civilian Attorneys,” 

30 September 2010

(d) DoD 1400.25-M, Interim Subchapter 1002, “Defense Intelligence Senior Executive 

Service (DISES),” May 2005

(e) DoD 1400.25-M, Interim Subchapter 1003, “Defense Intelligence Senior Level 

(DISL) Program,” May 2005

(f) NGA Manual (NGAM) 1400.10, “Establishing and Staffing Senior Executive

Positions,” 17 April 2014
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ENCLOSURE 2

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Director, NGA (D/NGA) or Deputy Director, NGA (DD/NGA).

a. Manages, administers, and makes final decisions regarding NGA senior executive 

positions (References (d), (e), and (f)).

b. Establishes and assigns advisory board members (i.e., Executive Resources 

Board (ERB)).

c. Reviews candidates referred by the ERB, conducts further inquiry as deemed 

necessary, makes the final selection, sets the initial pay, and approves the tier level.

d. Conducts periodic review of senior executive utilization and requirements and 

submits requests for additional positions to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense

for Intelligence for review and approval. 

e. Coordinates with the DoD General Counsel (acting in the capacity of Director, 

DLSA) concerning senior executive attorney positions (Reference (b)).

2. Director, DLSA.

a. Approves the establishment, abolishment, or change of duties of senior executive 

attorney positions and effecting appointments to those positions. 

b. Approves all removals of NGA senior executive attorneys during the 1-year

probationary period required of all attorneys. 

c. Certifies the satisfactory completion of the probationary period for NGA senior 

executive attorney positions (Reference (c)).

3. Executive Resources Board. Reviews and validates candidate leadership, technical,

and functional qualifications and concurs or non-concurs with Qualification Review 

Board (QRB) candidate recommendations.

4. Qualifications Review Board. Performs preliminary qualifications screening and 

ranking of candidates for subsequent review by the ERB and D/NGA.

5. Human Development (HD).

a. Develops policy and procedures and provides guidance regarding the 

establishment and staffing of senior executive positions.
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b. Administers the processes related to the establishment and staffing of senior 

executive positions.

c. Coordinates all public notices regarding appointments or changes of assignments 

for senior executives.

6. Supervisors of senior executive positions.

a. Determine the duties, responsibilities, and technical qualifications for senior 

executive positions.

b. Certify these duties and technical qualifications by signing the NGA Executive 

Position Definition Form (NGA form 1434-9 or 1434-10).

c. Establish QRBs to review the qualifications of candidates for senior executive 

positions.
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GLOSSARY

Defense 

Intelligence 

Senior Executive 

Service (DISES)

positions

Managerial, supervisory, and policy positions that are equivalent 

to Senior Executive Service positions and are established

consistent with section 1606 of Title 10 USC (Reference (a)).

Defense 

Intelligence 

Senior Level 

(DISL) positions

A functional/technical expert who is a recognized leader and 

authority in a specialized field or functional area but exercises 

no more than minimal supervisory responsibilities (performed 

less than 25 percent of the time). DISL positions are established 

consistent with 1607 of Title 10 USC (See Reference (a)).

Executive 

Resources

Board (ERB)

Board responsible for reviewing Qualifications Review Board

recommendations and making recommendations to D/NGA and 

DD/NGA regarding selection and initial pay level for senior 

executive positions as well as management of the senior 

executive personnel system.

Probationary

Period

One-year trial period required of senior executive attorney 

positions (Reference (c)).

Qualifications 

Review Board 

(QRB)

Board established by an immediate supervisor of a senior 

executive position to review the qualifications of candidates for 

senior executive positions.

DISES Trial 

Period

A period of one year following initial appointment to a DISES 

position during which the supervisor and senior management 

evaluate the DISES member’s job performance and conduct. 

The DISES trial period is separate from the two-year DCIPS trial 

period, which is served concurrently (Reference (d)).

DISL Trial Period A period of one year following initial appointment to a DISL 

position during which the supervisor and senior management 

evaluate the DISL member’s job performance and conduct. The 

DISL trial period is separate from the two-year DCIPS trial 

period, which is served concurrently (Reference (e)).