AGENCY POSITIONS, GRADES GS-16, GS-17, AND GS-18

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04718A000500060025-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2003
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: July 31, 1952
• Content Type: MF

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CONFIDENT??!
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
JUL 31 1952
SUBJECT : Agency Positions, Grades GS-16, GS-17, and GS-18
1. PROBLEM. Standardization of Agency administration of supergrades.
a. The original program establishing supergrades under the
Classification Act of 19+9 and the Defense Production Act of
1950 provided for 400 and 250 such positions, respectively,
within the Government and required Presidential approval on
GS-18 positions and Civil Service Commission approval on
GS-16 and GS-17 positions.
b. The Comptroller General ruled that this Agency could establish
supergrade positions, regardless of the over-all Government
25X9 numerical limitations. The first group of F] such positions was
at
25X9
25X9
established in December 11149.
c. As of 18 July 1952, supergrade positions have been established
in CIA, exclusive o ositions which this Agency provides for
the Psychological Strategy Board. On the face of it, this number
appears proportionately excessive, and the Bureau of the Budget
has informally cautioned this Agency against overgrading.
d. The proportion of authorized su ergrade positions to approved
positions in the Agency is ercent. The proportion of super-
grade employees to total on- u y strength of the Agency is 25X9
percent. The proportion of authorized supergrade position
authorized ceiling is percent. Eleven other Government
agencies exceed this p rtion, as shown in Tab A. The distri-
bution of supergrades in CIA and the present status of incumbency
are shown in Tab B.
e. Examination by title of supergrade positions elsewhere in the
Government shows that CIA generally follows a uniform pattern,
as shown in the sample comparisons in Tab C.
sought by industry.
f. Two of the factors contributing to the number of supergrades
required in CIA are the relatively few statutory positions (5)
and the Agency need for highly specialized talents competitively
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g. The original program establishing supergrades in the Government
provided for very rigid and careful control of allocation and
administration of the positions. In the period of over two years
since it was established, the total of supergrades has increased
only 214 positions throughout the entire Government, exclusive of
CIA.
h. In contrast, the establishment of supergrades in CIA is relatively
simple and easy, and most positions have been established arbitrar-
ily, with little or no review or justification as required elsewhere
in Government. This coupled with the fact that no over-all Agency
ceiling has been established for supergrades has resulted in the
growth from i such positions since December 1949.
3. DISCUSSION,
a. This Agency should bring its supergrade administrative practices
under more rigid and restrictive control for three reasons:
(1)
To comply with the spirit of the ,Agency's commitment to
adhere as much as possible to standard Civil Service
procedures.
(2) The continued increase of such positions, which will occur
in the absence of restrictions, will strengthen the criticism
of the Bureau of the Budget and may perhaps bring Congressional
criticism.
(3) As a matter of equity, it is only appropriate that supergrades
be established and administered in a manner comparable to that
of the lower-graded positions in the Agency.
b. It having been determined that a fairly high number of supergrades
are necessary for the accomplishment of the Agency's mission, every
effort should be made to protect our continued authority to admin-
ister them internally.
4+. CONCLUSIONS.
a. The present number of positions now classified at the supergrade
level, while relatively large, could be justified.
b. The present system tends toward the creation of more and more
supergrade positions, which, if not more rigidly controlled, may
lead to abuse.
c. The Agency's procedures for the establishment of supergrade positions
do not meet the strict standards required of other Government agencies.
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d. Documentation of these positions is inadequate and would not
meet Civil Service requirements.
e. The total number of supergrades should not exceed one percent
of the approved ceiling for the entire Agency.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS.
a. That a Board consisting of the Assistant Director (Personnel), the
Comptroller, and designated representatives of the three Deputy
Directors be appointed to insure that adopted requirements and
standards are met and to review the justification for the estab-
lishment or reclassification of any position at supergrade level;
b. that the Classification and Wage Division of the Personnel Office
subject all supergrades to the same procedures applied to standard-
graded positions, including documentation by functional statements,
charts, directives, and position descriptions, in conformity with
Civil Service requirements;
c. that the Board and the Classification and Wage Division review
all present supergrade positions and make recommendations for
corrective action, including downgrading where appropriate;
25X1A
d. that all actions involving supergrades shall be presented to the
Board through the Deputy Director concerned;
i 7 9-
that the initial establi ent or any subs i action involving
a position classified at GS-18 be approved by the Director
air1 upon recommendation by the Board;
-Dixe"er-( "wria
f. that an over-all Agency ceiling of" be established for super-
grade positions (this is just under one percent of the present
approved ceiling);
g. that any requests for establishment of a supergrade position
above this ceiling be approved only by the Director.
25X1)
K. WHIT E.
Acting Deputy Director
3 Att (Administration)
Att 1 - Tab A ~.~L^G
Att 2 - Tab B APPROVED DIBAPPROV D
Att 3 - Tab C
CONFIDENTIAL.
51
WALTER B. SMITH
Director
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TRANSMITTASLIP
11 August 1952
(Date)
TO:
Deputy Director (.Administration)
BUILDING
ROOM NO.
Administration
717
REMARKS:
The attached staff study on Supergrades
was, as you will note, approved by the
Director. A copy has been given to
AD-P with instructions to implerlnnt.
They are in the process of preparing
the necessary Notices, etc. You will
mte that General Szxjth says "How about
getting more statutory positiorrr". I
have not discussed this with him and
don't know specifically what he has in
mind. As you know the only statutory
positions we have are the Director,
You will
Deputy Director and 3 in ?
(Over)
Over)
FROM:
Asst. Deputy Director, Admin.
BUILDINSG OUth I
ROQM9 NO . I
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E
F
FORM No-
SEP 1946 36-0
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also note that t.e Director now must
sign ary pers tion involvirg a
supergradel I-
6
STATINTL
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