Who are the three highest-compensated employees on the Pentagon payroll and why?

This is for gov employees.

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint - The ADA doesn't apply to private, not-for-profit corporations (like the Athletic Associations). Their salaries are funded through ticket sales, merchandising, donations, etc., so their salaries are completely off the government's books (i.e. not from federal funds). I learned far too much about the ADA during my time in the Syracuse program.

LTC Kevin B. - I agree for non-gov orgs, ADA is for the fed gov employees, I do not think any others can violate that law. There has to be a way the Navy and others accept the free labor of the coaches from a civilian organization. Note 3d Bullet: "Accepting voluntary services for the United States, or employing personal services not authorized by law, except in cases of emergency involving the safety of human life or the protection of property. 31 U.S.C. § 1342. " How can the Superintendent of West Point or any of the schools accept the voluntary services of the coach. Thanks for an interesting conversation!

SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint - Well, if the services are paid by the NFP, the coach's services are not voluntary. And, if the coaching is done on behalf of the NFP (since they're paying the salary), it's not on behalf of the US government. That takes the coach and their salary out of the mix. You could then argue that the NFP is doing something on behalf of the service academy, but that depends on the mission of the service academy and any associated funding for that mission. If the service academies aren't funded for athletics, then athletics aren't a part of their mission. So you wouldn't have a "supplementing an appropriation" argument. I suspect this relationship has undergone significant legal review, both on behalf of the athletic associations' and the service academies' perspectives. It is a complicated relationship that has been woven.

LTC Kevin B. - That is the reason I think the coach is an IPA from NFP. Otherwise, how is the coach giving advice or direction to midshipmen? Interesting.

No, GG-15s have a Pay Cap and can't go over for Congressional Pay. I found this for 2016. The raise will result in the GS pay cap (which affects those in the high steps of GS-15 in some localities) rising from $160,300 to $161,900.Dec 28, 2016 http://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/new-year-brings-new-pay-raise-federal-employees/

And this salary is about 3x to 4x the size of the GS-15 salary. :(