Final answer:
Individuals with security clearances are certified to serve in sensitive government positions. These include employees or managers in competitive, excepted, and senior executive services, each subject to different hiring standards and qualifications.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who are certified and selected to serve in sensitive positions or positions of trust are typically those who have undergone a process to receive security clearances. These could include various employees in federal agencies, members of the military, or managers who must handle classified information or make critical decisions that affect national security. The process for obtaining a security clearance involves a thorough background investigation and can vary depending on the level of clearance required.
In the context of the U.S. government, there are competitive service, excepted service, and senior executive service positions. Competitive service positions are filled through a fair process regulated by Congress and the Office of Personnel Management, based on qualifications, work history, and civil service exams. Excepted service positions have their own hiring standards and include roles that require highly specialized skills or are involved in national security, such as at the Central Intelligence Agency. Senior executive service positions are leadership roles for which candidates must demonstrate executive core qualifications, such as leading change and building coalitions.