Lieutenant, GS-6 battle for vacant office

That's a bit of a fallacy. Typically, it's equivalent, but it entirely depends on the series and functional area. As an E-3 3C051, Communication/Computer Systems Operations Journeyman, I was still doing equivalent work to the 2210 series (I was the Base Computer Security Manager and Information Security Manager, similar PDs to a GS-12/13 IT Specialist(ISO)). Granted, the billet was for an E-6 with 7-level rating, but it that still a far cry below the "military rank equivalency" of GS-12. Not to mention that in the 2210 series, most GS-12s and below are non-supervisory positions... and I dare you to find a similar officer billet that isn't a rater. Why do we rate that GS grade level? Because of the technical nature of our positions. If we weren't paid at that grade level, there's no way that the Federal Government would be able to keep personnel in the computer field at all. Same with a number of other technical fields.

Now, was this particular GS-6 in a technical field? Probably not. But he was certainly doing more work than that LT.

Is that a new photo in your profile?

SPC (Join to see) - Yes it is. I just had my DA Photo done on Tuesday.