Senior Executive Service

The Senior Executive Service is a pay grade in the civil service of the United States federal government, somewhat analogous to the ranks of general or admiral in the U.S. armed forces. Career members of the SES ranks are eligible for the Presidential Rank Awards program.

From the Office of Personnel Management the Senior Executive Service consists of the men and women charged with leading the continuing transformation of government. Members of the Senior Executives Service are represented by the Senior Executives Association.

These leaders possess well-honed executive skills and share a broad perspective of government and a public service commitment which is grounded in the Constitution. The keystone of the Civil Service Reform the SES was designed to be a corps of executives selected for their leadership qualifications.

Members of the serve in the key positions just below the top Presidential appointees. SES members are the major link between these appointees and the rest of the Federal work force. They operate and oversee nearly every government activity in approximately Federal agencies. The Australian Public Service uses the same terminology.