Scientist and Engineer Career Patterns for Air Force Civilians and Officers

Technology will play a critical role in shaping tomorrow's military environment and preparing now to meet the uncertain challenges facing the nation's air and space forces. To achieve this end, the Air Force must employ "the best" and "the brightest" technically competent science and engineering workforce. These experts, military and civilian, are indispensable both for conducting relevant and mission essential in-house research and development as well as managing these and contracted technical activities.To acquire, motivate, and retain these experts, the Air Force must recognize both the differences and uniqueness of their individual needs and essential to adequately compensate them, whether direct or indirect. Dual-track career paths further enhance technological competency by addressing these concerns. In addition, sharing leadership between military officers / civilians is an essential consideration. To affect this, officers and civilians must be equally qualified, technically and managerially. Finally, through reengineered and proactive career management, the Air Force can place "the right" person, military or civilian, in "the right" job at "the right" time in the person's career, and thus achieving what is "best" both for the individual and for the Air Force.