# Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL) Personnel Demonstration Project Program
**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:*
• *Air Force Research Laboratory:* Ms. Rosalyn Jones-Byrd, 937-656-9747, *[email protected].*
• *Joint Warfare Analysis Center:* Ms. Amy Balmaz, 540-653-8598, *[email protected].*
*Department of the Army:*
• *Transformation and Training Command:* Ms. Marlowe Richmond, 512-726-4397, *[email protected].*
• *Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences:* Dr. Scott Shadrick, 254-288-3800, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center:* Ms. Pota Kripotos, 973-724-9165, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory:* Mr. Christopher Tahaney, 410-278-9069, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center:* Mr. Justin Page, 256-755-1698, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center:* Ms. Patricia L. Knuckey, 520-672-4117, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center:* Mr. Gregory Peck, 520-674-6820, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center:* Mr. Adam Crafard, 571-644-4274, *[email protected].*
• *Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center:* Ms. Sarah Palmer, 508-206-2329, *[email protected].*
• *Communications Electronics Life Cycle Management Command Software Engineering Center:* Ms. Nerissa Williams, 520-671-1726, *[email protected].*
• *Engineer Research and Development Center:* Dr. Lucy Priddy, 601-634-2282, *[email protected].*
• *Medical Research and Development Command:* Ms. Linda Krout, 301-619-7276, *[email protected].*
• *Technical Center, Space and Missile Defense Command:* Dr. Chad Marshall, 256-955-5697, *[email protected].*
*Department of the Navy:*
• *Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division and Aircraft Division:* Mr. Dustin Kirby, 858-978-1381, *[email protected].*
• *Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center:* Ms. Kelly Mitchell, 564-667-6721, *[email protected].*
• *Naval Information Warfare Centers:*
○ *Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic:* Ms. Alissa Lopez, 843-218-3871, *[email protected].*
○ *Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific:* Ms. Sharmeka Speights, 619-553-6282, *[email protected].*
• *Naval Medical Research Center:* Dr. Jill Phan, 301-319-7645, *[email protected].*
• *Naval Research Laboratory:* Ms. Annemarie Slattery, 771-216-7577, *[email protected].*
• *Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers:* Ms. Emily Grauwiler, 301-312-1185, *[email protected].*
• *Office of Naval Research:* Mr. Damien Raphael, 703-696-0383, *[email protected].*
*Marine Corps:*
• *Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity:* Ms. Lissa Henriksen. 760-587-6893, *[email protected].*
*Defense Health Agency:*
• *Defense Health Agency Research and Development:* Ms. Linda Krout, 301-619-7276, *[email protected].*
*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, *[email protected].*
**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:*
• Air Force Research Laboratory
• Joint Warfare Analysis Center
• Transformation and Training Command
• Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation and Missile Center
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Center
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center
• Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center
• Communications Electronics Life Cycle Management Command Software Engineering Center
• Engineer Research and Development Center
• Medical Research and Development Command
• Technical Center, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
• Naval Air Warfare Center
• Naval Facilities Engineering Command Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center
• Naval Information Warfare Centers, Atlantic and Pacific
• Naval Medical Research Center
• Naval Research Laboratory
• Naval Sea Systems Command Warfare Centers
• Office of Naval Research
• Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity
• Defense Health Agency Research and Development
**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**
| 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. |
| STRL | 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. |
| 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.