HISTORIAN
Air Force Civilian Career Training
Posted: March 27, 2026 (0 days ago)
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Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command
Department of the Air Force
Location
Salary
$89,508 - $116,362
per year
Type
Full-Time
More Science & Research jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves working as a historian for the Air Force Reserve Command, where you'll research, document, and analyze the history of military operations, programs, and installations to support decision-making and preserve records.
It's ideal for someone with a strong background in history who enjoys conducting interviews, digging into archives, and applying historical insights to modern military contexts.
Good fits include detail-oriented researchers passionate about military heritage and able to handle complex, evolving environments.
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.
The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Staff Historian at a Major Command Direct Reporting Unit, Field Operating Agency, Numbered Air Force, multi-faceted Air Force installation or similar self-contained organization that services rapidly evolving high-tech and/or administrative units and tenants that include joint and allied military agencies.
Experience requirements are described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions.
Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.
BASIC REQUIREMENT OR INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT: 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.
Evaluation of Graduate Education Graduate study in the social sciences or humanities may also be credited when such study included training in historical research methodology; or the thesis approached the subject from an historical viewpoint and used professional historical research methodology and techniques in its preparation.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: 1 year equivalent to at least next lower grade level.
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems.
Examples of specialized experience includes includes knowledge of professional historical principles, projects, concepts, research techniques and sources, and methodology.
Knowledge of history programs and current operations, policies, programs, and activities, especially as they apply to a large complex installation or center and its mission.
Knowledge of history program policies and practices to perform organizational research, research planning and support, research projects, research design, and military research.
Knowledge of effective techniques required to conduct oral history interviews and research. Note: You must submit a copy of official transcripts.
NOTE: Due to the use of 120-day rosters, this period of experience may be completed within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement.
FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.
One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: 1.
Professional knowledge of historical principles, concepts, research techniques and sources, and methodology. 2.
Broad knowledge of Air Force and/or command history programs and current operations, policies, programs, and activities, especially as they apply to a large complex installation or center and its mission.
3. Knowledge of military heraldry program policies and practices to perform organizational research, research planning and support, research projects, research design, and military research. 4.
Skill and ability in effective techniques required to conduct oral history interviews and research. 5.
Skill and ability to plan detailed and complex studies; anticipate and solve problems; and to collect, organize, and interrelate large amounts of diversely formatted data drawn from a wide variety of sources.
6. Ability to critically evaluate sources of information and establish validity of historical facts. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.
You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.
VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).
Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:
Manages the history program and provides professional history policy and guidance to all supported units, and tenants under service agreement.
Work typically involves critical analysis of large, complex, major projects and is characterized by the need for substantial problem analysis. Conducts research and writes installation/center history.
Creates special studies and other historical products. Serves as authoritative advisor, responds to queries, and conducts outreach.
Presents lectures, participates in seminars, and conducts staff visits.
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