[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]

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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:

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    (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]

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Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
May 22.