SEA Through the YearsA Timeline of Leadership, Advocacy, and Action
1978Civil Service Reform Act Passed Congress launches the most significant restructuring of the federal workforce in decades, laying the groundwork for a new executive corps focused on leadership, accountability, and results. 1979The Senior Executive Service Is Created Senior leaders under the GS 16, 17, and 18 system are invited to join the new SES. Participation is voluntary. Nearly 95 percent choose to convert, believing in the promise of performance-based leadership and modernization. June 30, 1979SES Conversion Deadline All executives who choose to enter the SES must do so by this date, committing to a new leadership framework for federal service. July 1, 1980The Promise Begins to Fracture After the first year of SES, performance bonuses are paid. Shortly after, Congress sharply limits the number of bonuses agencies may award, undercutting key commitments made to executives. 1980Pay Compression and Executive Frustration SES pay flattens across ES 3 through ES 6 levels. Promised differentiation disappears. Confidence in the system erodes. 1980Seven Executives Take Action Ted Kern and six fellow SES leaders meet to confront the lack of solutions. They are told plainly that executives must organize and advocate for themselves. 1980SEA Is Founded The Senior Executives Association is established as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization to represent and protect the interests of career federal executives. 1980Rapid Growth and Momentum Jerry Shaw becomes SEA’s first full-time president. Membership grows to 600 executives in just four months. TodaySEA Continues the Mission Governed by a 15-member Board of Directors elected by the membership, SEA represents career executives across government. The Association engages Congress, partners with aligned organizations, and takes action when necessary to defend the integrity, effectiveness, and independence of the federal executive corps. The Through LineFrom the beginning, SEA has existed for one reason: Career executives stepping forward to lead, advocate, and protect public service leadership for the good of the nation. |
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