WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) – An enhanced Air Force Materiel Command policy for selecting applicants for leadership positions was implemented earlier this year for Air Force Life Cycle Management Center positions.
“This change was about creating opportunities for all our personnel and ensuring the most qualified candidates are selected for our key leadership and supervisory positions,” said Sherri Artuso, AFLCMC Personnel Director. “This change bolstered our existing and enduring commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) where everyone is provided the opportunity to succeed.”
The policy update was a result of a Diversity and Inclusion Guidance memorandum issued by Gen. Arnold W. Bunch, Jr., AFMC commander, earlier this year which outlined major command initiatives concerning DEIA.
Some key changes include the use of hiring and interview panels when filling most supervisory and NH-04 and equivalent level positions, ensuring panels are diverse as defined by AFI 36-7001, and the opportunity for candidates to seek and be offered feedback for positions to which they applied but were not selected.
“At the heart of these efforts, is our goal to increase transparency in our hiring and selection process and to ensure we are supporting the growth and development of our workforce through feedback interview panel members can provide,” said Jennifer Bauer, AFLCMC Personnel Programs Chief. “Recognizing and developing talent across the workforce is vital to our mission success which is why this enhanced policy is so important to AFLCMC.”
Among the changes, the grade and composition of the hiring panels will be based on the grade level of the position being selected. There are also requirements to consider the whole person, which includes both information the panel is able to gather through reviewing resumes and also the interview process.
The full policy memo is located on the AFLCMC DP SharePoint site at https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/22005/acqdemo/default.aspx under the Staffing menu. Click “AFMC Selection Policy” to access the document. Here you can read the full policy, to include limited exceptions to the hiring and interview requirement.
“Foundationally, AFLCMC’s hiring and recruitment strategy remains unchanged…it is still our intent to ensure qualified candidates are afforded the opportunity to be selected for leadership positions across AFLCMC. This enhanced policy simply reaffirms the importance of rigor throughout the hiring process so we can align talent to the right positions at the right time to support AFLCMC mission needs,” Artuso said. “As always, our DP functional stands ready to support AFLCMC hiring officials as they navigate this policy.”