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HISTORIAN

Department of Defense
Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint History and Research Office, Office of the Director, Joint Staff (DJS)

Summary

This position is part of the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The incumbent will be responsible for managing, advising and assisting the executive director, Joint History and Research Office, the Director, Joint Staff, and the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) in the all aspects of the joint force history programs, as well as the documenting the political-military activities of the Joint Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/19/2026 to 03/01/2026
Salary
$121,785 to - $187,093 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational - As determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - The position requires frequent travel within and outside of the United States.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
JCS-26-12886529-MP
Control number
858242000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Federal employee means current and former permanent competitive service employees and special authorities (Interchange Agreement agency employees) may apply. Veterans eligibilities include 30% Disabled Vet or more, Individuals with Disabilities means Schedule A, and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) candidates are eligible to apply. Eligible EO 12721 and Military Spouse Preference (MSP) eligible under competitive and non-competitive appointment may apply.

Duties

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As a HISTORIAN at the GS-0170-13/14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Assists supporting the Joint History and Research Offices writing and collection program related to current military operations.
  • Assists setting and adjusting historical policies as they pertain to Joint History to accommodate changes in information requirements, federal declassification and disclosure policies, and interest and emphases within the academic community.
  • Plans, prepares for, conducts, and archives historical interviews with the most senior level officials in the Department of War to include the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and senior members of the Office of the Secretary of War.
  • Directly responsible for all aspects of historical staff support, to include the backgrounds of current policy issues.
  • Receive assignments from the Deputy Executive Director/Chief Historian to write complex histories, to prepare special historical studies, write short-suspense information papers, and provide staff assistance on historical matter.
  • High level of versatility and advanced skills in performing writing, research, and interviewing to document the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Joint Staff, combatant commands, and sub-unified commands in the development and implementation of national security policy.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: May Be Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Not Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is SITUATIONAL telework eligible
  • Drug Testing Designated Position: Yes
  • Employee must obtain/maintain a Special Sensitive (Top Secret/SCI) security clearance.
  • Work is principally sedentary, but may on occasion involve lilting boxes containing large numbers of documents.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-13, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the 12 grade level in the Federal service:

  • Supporting and advising the activities of history offices for senior civilian leaders and senior military officers, and subordinate joint task forces
  • Advanced researching and writing skills for historical studies and book-length written products
  • Understanding of current military operations and structure of combatant commands
  • Conducting interviews and oral presentations of history with military or civilian leadership to document current joint and national policy issues Knowledge of the nature of Joint Chiefs of Staff, other government agencies, and countries to analyze facts, pose informed research questions and extract historical information.

You may qualify at the GS-14, if you fulfill the following qualifications:
  • Advising and participating in activities of a history office directly supporting senior civilian leaders and senior military officers, and subordinate joint task forces;
  • Coordinating and liaising between internal and external history programs
  • Advising on making policy, managerial, and technical decisions for all aspects of the production of the official histories
  • Planning, researching, and writing of information papers, short historical studies and book-length written products covering subjects such as operational and institutional histories
  • Understanding of current military operations and structure of combatant commands
  • Conducting interviews and oral presentations of history with military or civilian leadership to document current joint and national policy issues Knowledge of the nature of Joint Chiefs of Staff, other government agencies, and countries to analyze facts, pose informed research questions and extract historical information.

In addition to meeting qualifications, your application package must reflect the applicable experience to meet the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0170 series.
  • Degree: history; or related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, OR
  • Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in history, or a major in a related field that included at least 18 semester hours in history, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/history-series-0170/

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

*NOTE: Failure to provide transcripts will result in you being rated ineligible for this position.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims.

All materials must be submitted by the closing date of theannouncement.

GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Foreign education may be qualifying if a private organization specializing in interpreting foreign education programs has deemed the foreign education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program or a U.S. accredited college or university has given full credit for the foreign courses.

Unofficial transcripts from U.S. Department of Education accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions listing your name, the name of the school, the date and degree awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned are acceptable for the application process. If selected, official transcripts are required before a firm job offer is made. A photocopy of your degree/diploma is not acceptable.

When relying on foreign education, submit transcripts and a copy of the equivalency evaluation results letter with a course-by-course listing. Documents must be in English or include an English translation. The hiring employer for this position does not evaluate degrees from foreign colleges or universities. For further information, visit: Foreign Education

Additional information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements:
Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A
Special Hiring Authority for Veterans
Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses
Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/)

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.
NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information.

For more information, please visit

https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Re-employed Annuitant: This position Does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

Competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Communications Security Management
  • Customer Service
  • Decisiveness
  • Historical Research Methodology
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Problem Solving
  • Project Management
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Reasoning
  • Self-Management
  • Teamwork


Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility. If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the (PPP DoD MRNG) eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation.

Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility. If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

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