Who approves a waiver for a subjective upgrade or downgrade?

The approval of a waiver for a subjective upgrade or downgrade is the responsibility of the first General Officer or Senior Executive Service (SES) person in the chain of command for non-General Officer level commands. This process is in place to ensure that there is a higher level of oversight and accountability in decisions that could significantly impact personnel classifications.

This authority typically reflects the need for consistent evaluation standards across the military or organizational structure, as subjective upgrades or downgrades can have long-term implications for service members' careers. The higher-ranking officer or SES has the experience and perspective necessary to assess the rationale behind such requests effectively, ensuring that decisions are made fairly and in alignment with organizational goals and standards.

In this context, the responsibilities of the department head, unit commander, or performance review board do not encompass this specific authority for waivers, as their roles involve different aspects of personnel management and evaluation procedures that don't extend to subjective classification changes.