Public Service Motivation, Military Veterans, and the Civil Service: A Qualitative Research Study

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorRohr, Derek
dc.date.accessioned2025-11-02T22:45:46Z
dc.date.available2025-11-02T22:45:46Z
dc.date.issued2025-10
dc.description.abstractThis qualitative case study explored the reflections of normative, affective, and rational motivational constructs in the accounts of veterans’ service and work. The identified problem was the lack of consideration for Public Service Motivation (PSM) during the federal hiring process despite recruitment challenges, values-driven talent engagement, and an oncoming retirement crisis. The research question evaluated how veterans’ internal orientations connected to work in public service and the fit challenges that they experienced. Theoretically guided by Perry and Wise’s PSM with supplemental support from identity theoretical frameworks, twenty honorably discharged veterans currently employed or seeking federal employment were recruited from an online veterans’ community and given semi-structured interviews remotely. NVivo was used for thematic development, focusing on veterans’ motivations for work, identity, and organizational fit experiences. Results showed a strong identification with PSM constructs, particularly in the areas of duty, mission-continuity, and compassion, with most participants seeing the civil service as an extension of military service. Fit challenges in onboarding, bureaucratic ambiguity, and culture misalignment. Veterans reported mismatches in leadership expectations and communication styles with agency peers. Findings supported that veterans are motivated and mission-oriented talent, but their transition into civil service was reliant on management recognizing their identity, leadership experience, and motivation. Recommendations included veteran-specific onboarding and transition programs, PSM-conscious recruitment messaging, structured mentorship programs, and military cultural-competency training for civilian supervisors. Suggestions for future research included longitudinal and quantitative analysis of veteran experiences, specifically from those underrepresented in the military community.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11803/4958
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.institutionNational University (NU)
dc.subjectPublic Service Motivation
dc.subjectMilitary Veterans
dc.subjectHuman Resource Management
dc.subjectMilitary Learners & Veteran Transition
dc.titlePublic Service Motivation, Military Veterans, and the Civil Service: A Qualitative Research Study
dc.typeDissertation
thesis.degree.disciplinePublic Administration
thesis.degree.grantorNational University (NU)
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Public Administration
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
derek rohr dissertation manuscript nu inst repository.pdf
Size:
947.5 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
NU Masters and Dissertations (Open Access)