Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer kicked-off the 2007 Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program Job Fair on Wednesday by addressing the nearly 600 finalists from around the nation on the importance of serving their country in the Federal civil service.

"The Federal government expects to lose half of its most experienced and talented leaders as its workforce reaches retirement age in the next decade," Director Springer said. "We need a new generation of talented individuals to step into the breach and continue to provide the American people with exceptional public service. You are that new generation."

Through Friday, April 6, PMF finalists will have the opportunity to interview with a variety of Federal agencies with needs which vary across a broad spectrum of educational and professional backgrounds. More than 3,000 agency representatives, hiring officials, and agency PMF coordinators will be on hand to ensure finalists have the opportunity to learn about positions within the Federal government best suited to them and the needs of the agency.

The PMF Program and its predecessor, the Presidential Management Intern (PMI) Program, have been in existence since 1977, attracting graduate, law, and doctoral-level students to the Federal service, as well as providing opportunities to apply knowledge acquired from graduate study. PMF assignments may involve public policy and administration, domestic or international issues, information technology, human resources, engineering, health and medical sciences, law, financial management, and many other fields in support of public service programs.

The PMF is open to graduate students in the final year of their program. Thousands of applications are received and screened annually. More than 6,000 PMF alumni are currently working at all levels and branches of government in the United States.

For more information on the PMF program, including rules and application instructions, visit www.pmf.opm.gov.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.