Guidance for Employing Foreign Citizen Scientists and Engineers at Department of Defense Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories

February, 2013
IDA document: D-4786
FFRDC: Science and Technology Policy Institute
Authors:
Authors
Asha Balakrishnan, Susannah V. Howieson, Elizabeth C. Lee See more authors
Department of Defense (DOD) research and development activities at the Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories (STRLs) require a highly trained and skilled workforce, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This document reflects the legal framework, immigration pathways, and security clearance options for hiring non-citizen scientists and engineers at the DOD STRLs when qualified U.S. citizens are not available to fill these positions. The document is the result of 6 months of discussions with a working group led by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, consisting of stakeholders from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Director of Defense Research and Engineering Laboratory offices, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Office of Management and Budget as well as representatives from personnel, security, and hiring at the STRLs. The purpose of the document is to provide guidance to those interested in hiring foreign scientists and engineers at STRLs about current hiring processes, immigration pathways, and security procedures for these individuals.