Senior Ranks at DHS Face Scrutiny for Lack of Diversity

In March 2007, the department's headquarters staff was one of the least diverse offices, with only one African American and one Hispanic among 46 members of the career SES, the report said.

The lack of diversity in the department's career executive corps, the report said, suggests "that relatively few members of minority groups and women rise into the DHS career SES leadership ranks."

African Americans are 14.5 percent of Homeland Security employees but 6.5 percent of the career SES at the department. Asians make up 4.2 percent of the department but 1.8 percent of the career executives. Hispanics make up 16.4 percent of the workforce but only 5.4 percent of the career executives, the report said.

Hispanics, though, are one group where the department is not under-represented. The percentage of Hispanics employed by Homeland Security is more than double the government-wide rate.

The department, created by Congress to help defend the nation against terrorism, celebrates its fifth anniversary this month. As part of an effort to improve management practices, Knocke said the department in fiscal 2007 drafted its first "corporate diversity strategy."

The strategy includes participation in job fairs that focus on minority students and partnerships with the Urban League's Black Executive Exchange Program and the National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives.

This year, officials will launch an intern program in Mississippi, Louisiana and nearby states that will work with high school and college students to ready them for careers in the department.

The department also has an effort underway to recruit more employees with disabilities and veterans with disabilities, Knocke said. Between February 2004 and October 2007, the number of employees with disabilities increased from 50 to 191 at the department's headquarters.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.