The Selective Service System is an independent federal agency that has been a distinguished part of America’s history for over a century, spanning eras of conflict and peacetime.
We are part of America’s National Defense Strategy, fostering deterrence through innovation, advancing diversity in leadership, and supporting the Department of Defense’s priority to maintain a formidable end-strength that provides America’s all-volunteer force with the overmatch necessary to deter, compete and win in the future.
The Selective Service System is continually modernizing its capabilities; prioritizing three areas that help advance the execution of our mission — Readiness, Registration, and Management Excellence.
READINESS: As a Readiness organization, we deliver on the promise of a national strategic capability to the Nation. We remain ready for immediate mobilization and transition to full operations in support of a national draft lottery if directed to do so by the President and Congress.
REGISTRATION: High registration rates across the nation serve as the foundation of fairness and equity for full operations, better ensuring that a national draft lottery has the highest level of participation possible.
MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE: By upholding high standards of Management Excellence, we are able to consistently provide the full spectrum of functional and programmatic support to Agency operations.
Registration Compliance (CY 2021)
Men, ages, 18 to 25, are required to register with Selective Service.
According to 2021 data:
View Registration Compliance Data by State
Agency Budget (FY 2023)
$31,700,000 enacted
The legislation under which this agency operates is the Military Selective Service Act, 50 U.S.C. 3801 et seq. (formerly 50 U.S.C. App 451 et seq.). “The Selective Service system shall be maintained as an active standby organization… .”
Mr. Joel C. Spangenberg, an appointee of the Biden-Harris Administration and member of the Senior Executive Service, became Deputy Director of the Selective Service System in August 2022. As an agency executive, he will serve in the capacity as acting Director, overseeing National Headquarters staff, the Data Management Center, and three regional headquarters throughout the United States consisting of civil servants, reservists from six services, and over 10,000 volunteers.
Previously, he served in senior career roles as the first Executive Director of Operations at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Deputy Associate Administrator for External Affairs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, and Associate Director of Governmental Affairs at Naval Reactors
Deputy Director
Craig T. Brown, Acting
Chief of Staff
Saif M. Kahn
General Counsel
Daniel A. Lauretano, Sr.
Associate Director, Operations
Thomas J. Kenney, Acting
Associate Director, Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
Micheal A. Migliara
Associate Director, Information Technology & Chief Information Officer
Scott W. Jones
Associate Director, Support Services / Chief Financial Officer
Alexander Rud
Manager, Data Management Center
Nicole F. Harris
Region I
Thomas J. Kenney
Region II
Carlos M. Perez
Region III
Steven L. Kett
The Selective Service System’s structure consists of the National Headquarters, Data Management Center, and three Region Headquarters, with 124 full-time employees authorized.
Also part of Selective Service is a field structure of military Reservists and civilian volunteer board members. Each state, the four U.S. territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands), District of Columbia, and New York City also have a state director. Selective Service’s Reservists, board members, and state directors are the agency’s standby components. They serve part-time for the agency, remaining trained and ready to be called into service in the event of a draft.