The Department of Personnel develops and maintains a personnel system that recruits, trains, and
strives to retain an efficient, qualified work force for public service in State government (Code 1957, Art.
41, secs. 9-101 through 9-106).

Origins of the Department date to 1920 when the Merit System was established for employees of State
government. In that year, the office of State Employment Commissioner was created to administer the
Merit System (Chapter 41, Acts of 1920). The Commissioner in 1922 was renamed Commissioner of
State Employment and Registration and became head of the Department of State Employment and
Registration (Chapter 29, Acts of 1922). The Commissioner of State Employment and Registration also
chaired the State Employees' Standard Salary Board, formed in 1941 (Chapter 395, Acts of 1941). In
1953, the Commissioner became the State Commissioner of Personnel (Chapter 310, Acts of 1953). The
State Commissioner of Personnel became responsible for the State Incentive Awards Board in 1958
(Chapter 65, Acts of 1958). The Department of Personnel superseded the Commissioner in 1970.
Although the State Employees Standard Salary Board and the State Incentive Awards Board were
abolished in 1970, their main functions were assigned to the Department of Personnel (Chapter 98, Acts
ofl970).

Directed by the Secretary of Personnel, the Department is organized under three Assistant Secretaries
responsible for Compensation and Employee Selection, Employee Services, and Administration (Code
1957, Art. 41, secs. 9-101 through 9-106; Art. 64A, secs. 1-63).

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of Personnel heads the Department. The Secretary establishes guidelines and procedures for the orderly and efficient admin- istration of the Department. The Secretary carries out the Governor's policies with respect to personnel and advises the Governor on all matters assigned to the Department. ASSISTANT SECRETARY, COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE SELECTION Sara Miller, Assistant Secretary 225-4751 The Assistant Secretary of Compensation and Employee Selection is responsible for two Divi- sions: Recruitment and Examination; and Salary Administration and Position Classification.

RECRUITMENT AND EXAMINATTON DIVISION Nelson L. Sutton III, Director 300 W Preston St. Baltimore, MD 21201 225-4846 public information: 225-4847 The Recruitment and Examination Division re- cruits, tests, and certifies candidates as eligible for employment in Merit System positions within State government. Information about Maryland State employment opportunities and applications may be obtained by calling the Division. Personnel special- ists also are available for employment counseling at Division offices. Merit System vacancies are advertised in the newspapers and in bulletins sent to State agencies. Applicants submit a completed MS100 application form which is evaluated by the Division. For some positions, candidates are rated based on the appli- cation and notified of their rating. For other posi- tions, applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job description are notified