News Release

OPM Director Kay Coles James Addresses Department of Defense Worldwide Human Resources Conference

James highlights Merit System Principles and Veterans Preference

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James today addressed the Department of Defense (DOD) Worldwide Human Resources Conference and recognized the need for broad personnel reform within the context of civil service principles dating to the era of Theodore Roosevelt.

James built the case for major civil service reform, particularly DOD's call for more flexibility in hiring and discussed the need to honor civil service principles and prohibited personnel practices. "Just as committed as we are to DOD's needs for hiring flexibility within the context of the Merit System principles, OPM is committed to preserving and protecting those principles of the federal civil service -- those principles of the government's personnel operation that have protected the people who have helped protect our country through world wars, global conflicts and economic trends for more than 100 years," James stated.

James focused on veterans as a resource to the nation stating, "These men and women stood in line to pick up a weapon. They stood in line to go to battle. The least their country can do for them is put them ahead of the line when applying for a federal job."

Commenting on the DOD's need for human capital flexibility, James stated that "President Bush wants federal agencies to ensure that flexibility and accountability go hand-in-hand at the agency and component level, but not at the expense of tried and true personnel principles."

The four-day DOD conference gave federal hiring managers an opportunity to discuss current hiring trends and crises in the federal government; how to address those crises; and how to best implement components of the President's Management Agenda (PMA). As part of the PMA, OPM determines the progress scores for the Federal Government's Strategic Management of Human Capital initiative.

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