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Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Personnel Demonstration Project Program

This notice amends STRL Personnel Demonstration Project Federal Register Notices (FRNs) by changing the waiver citations for probationary periods.

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Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary

AGENCY:

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)), Department of Defense (DoD).

ACTION:

Notice of amendment; STRL Personnel Demonstration Project probationary and trial period waivers.

SUMMARY:

This notice amends STRL Personnel Demonstration Project Federal Register Notices (FRNs) by changing the waiver citations for probationary periods.

DATES:

Implementation of this authority will begin no earlier than April 21, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Department of the Air Force:

Department of the Army:

Department of the Navy:

  • Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division and Aircraft Division: Mr. Dustin Kirby, 858-978-1381, . ( printed page 21281)
  • Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center: Ms. Kelly Mitchell, 564-667-6721, .
  • Naval Information Warfare Centers:

○ Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic: Ms. Alissa Lopez, 843-218-3871, .

○ Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific: Ms. Sharmeka Speights, 619-553-6282, .

Marine Corps:

Defense Health Agency:

DoD:

  • Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Development: Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Science and Technology Foundations, 571-372-6372, .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

As authorized by 10 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4121, the Secretary of Defense, through the USD(R&E), conducts personnel demonstration projects at DoD laboratories designated as STRLs.

The 24 current STRLs are:

1. Background

Most STRLs established extended probationary and trial periods for employees participating in personnel demonstration projects in their implementing FRNs. These FRNs waived applicable provisions of 5 CFR part 315, subpart H to allow for probationary and trial periods greater than one year and to permit termination during the extended probationary or trial period without using the adverse action procedures described in 5 U.S.C. chapter 75. Executive Order (E.O.) 14284 repealed Civil Service Rule 2.4 and established Civil Service Rule 11 (90 FR 17729). On June 24, 2025, the Office of Personnel Management published its final rule rescinding subpart H of 5 CFR part 315 and making conforming amendments (90 FR 26727). Administrative changes to STRL FRNs to waive the applicable provisions of 5 CFR part 11 are now necessary to continue using the extended probationary and trial periods described in STRL FRNs implementing personnel demonstration projects.

2. Personnel System Changes

Employees hired prior to June 24, 2025, and after the effective date of this notice are subject to the extended probationary or trial periods authorized in applicable STRL FRNs and associated implementing regulations.

3. Required Waivers to Laws and Regulations

Appendix A—Waivers to the Title 5, U.S.C.
Title 5, United States Code Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations
Chapter 75, Adverse Actions, sections 7501(1), 7511(a)(1)(A)(ii), (a)(1)(B) and (a)(1)(C)(ii)—Waived to the extent necessary to apply adverse action procedures only to those not serving a probationary or trial period as described in STRL FRNs Part 11 Probationary and Trial Periods, parts 11.2, 11.3 and 11.4—Waived to the extent necessary to apply probationary and trial period requirements described in STRL FRNs. Part 752, sections 752.201(b) and 752.401(c)-Waived to the extent necessary to apply adverse action procedures only to those not serving a probationary or trial period as described in STRL FRNs.

Appendix B—Authorized STRLs and Federal Register Notices
STRL Federal Register notice
Air Force Research Laboratory 61 FR 60400 amended by 75 FR 53076.
Joint Warfare Analysis Center 85 FR 29414.
Transformation and Training Command 89 FR 13548.
Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences 85 FR 76038.
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Armaments Center 76 FR 3744.
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Army Research Laboratory 63 FR 10680.
( printed page 21282)
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Aviation and Missile Center 62 FR 34876 amended by 65 FR 53142 (AVRDEC and AMRDEC merged).
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Chemical Biological Center 74 FR 68936.
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Command, Control, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center 66 FR 54872.
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Ground Vehicle Systems Center 76 FR 12508.
Combat Capabilities Development Command-Soldier Center 74 FR 68448.
Communications Electronics Life Cycle Management Command Software Engineering Center Not yet published.
Engineer Research and Development Center 63 FR 14580 amended by 65 FR 32135.
Medical Research and Development Command 63 FR 10440.
Technical Center, US Army Space and Missile Defense Command 85 FR 3339.
Naval Air Systems Command Warfare Centers 76 FR 8530.
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center 86 FR 14084.
Naval Medical Research Center Not yet published.
Naval Research Laboratory 64 FR 33970.
Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers 62 FR 64050.
Office of Naval Research 75 FR 77380.
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare System Center Atlantic and Pacific 76 FR 1924.
Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity Not yet published.
Defense Health Agency Research and Development Not yet published.

Dated: April 16, 2026.

Aaron T. Siegel,

Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.

[FR Doc. 2026-07695 Filed 4-20-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P

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Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 21280

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“Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Personnel Demonstration Project Program,” thefederalregister.org (April 21, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-07695/science-and-technology-reinvention-laboratory-strl-personnel-demonstration-project-program.