Federal Drive interviews -- May 21
Monday - 5/21/2012, 9:57am EDT
Today's guests:
Entrepreneurs swarm into Washington, D.C., this week to learn what they can do to grow their business and potentially the economy. Deputy Administrator Marie Johns of the Small Business Administration talks about the three-day conference SBA is hosting in connection with National Small Business Week and that gets started in earnest today.
Federal agencies are on their final leg on the road to reform hiring. Before the end of the year, all federal agencies should have reduced their overall hiring process down to 80 days. Part of this effort has required agencies to take less time making decisions candidates. Recently, the Air Force cut in half the time it would take to make the call from 30 days down to 15. Dr. Todd Fore, executive director of the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, discusses the latest on how the Air Force is improving the federal recruitment and hiring process.
Democratic lawmakers are pressuring the military to diversify its top ranks quickly. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have introduced legislation that would require the Pentagon to develop benchmarks for hiring and promoting women and minorities. The new legislation is based, in part, on recommendations that a military panel made last year. Retired Air Force Gen. Lester Lyles led the Military Leadership Diversity Commission.
Lyles: Diversity bill codifies commission's findings
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Monday morning federal headlines - May 21, 2012
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