Department of Defense
DIRECTIVE
NUMBER 1403.03
October 25, 2007
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: The Career Lifecycle Management of the Senior Executive Service Leaders Within
the Department of Defense
References: (a) Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum, “DoD Directives Review
– Phase II,” July 13, 2005
(b) DoD Directive 5124.02, “Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness (USD(P&R)),” October 17, 2006
(c) DoD Directive 1403.1, “The Senior Executive Service and Equivalent-Level
Positions and Personnel,” October 18, 1982
(d) Sections 3131-3134, 3393, 3395, and 4314 of title 5, United States Code
(e) through (h), see Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE
This Directive:
1.1. In accordance with the guidance in Reference (a) and the authority in Reference (b),
augments Reference (c) and implements Reference (d) to prescribe policy and assign
responsibilities for the lifecycle management of the DoD Senior Executive Service (SES).
1.2. Establishes an overarching policy governing the lifecycle management of SES positions
within the Department of Defense as authorized by Reference (b).
1.3. Establishes the DoD Executive Advisory Board (DEAB) to advise the Department of
Defense on the lifecycle management of the SES.
1.4. Establishes a corps of key SES positions that require an enterprise perspective, hereafter
referred to as “enterprise positions.”
2. APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE
2.1. This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military
Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commands,
the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the
