News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2003

Contact: Brendan LaCivita (202) 606-2863

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Washington, D.C. - The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today will release a study on the Senior Executive Service (SES). The OPM commissioned report, Strengthening Senior Leadership in the U.S. Government, as prepared by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), cites the importance and relevance of the SES to the changing nature of the world and the competitive and demanding job market existing today.

"As we look toward meeting the opportunities that face our nation at home and abroad, the need for a high-quality, diverse, executive workforce is critical," OPM Director Kay Coles James said. "The integrity and security of the Federal government relies on the talents and qualifications of highly skilled management, and we have to ensure the integrity is not compromised."

When it was created in 1978, the goal of the SES was to guarantee that the executive management of the United States government be responsive to the needs of the nation, and to manage in the most efficient way. James commissioned NAPA to conduct a comprehensive study of the SES and surface aspects of the government's executive management policies and programs that need correction. As expected, the NAPA report findings, taken together with other recent efforts like the Volcker Commission, provide a foundation for taking action and recommending appropriate changes. These include the possibility of restructuring the senior executive level of the Federal government to recognize the evolving role of senior technical managers.

"One of the greatest challenges facing the Federal government today is building and maintaining a strong senior leadership corps," James said. The report's findings emphasize the need for strategic succession planning, leadership development, continuous learning, and attention to diversity for the government's executive cadre. OPM is developing programs that address these needs and will be announcing some key initiatives shortly. James further added, "OPM will shortly be announcing important developments on these issues, and I am pleased that OPM has been working to involve Blacks in Government (BIG), African American Federal Executives Association and other organizations in our efforts to target programs to address the issue."

In addition, NAPA findings note that SES compensation and rewards must recognize and reinforce the linkage between senior executive and organizational performance. James noted, "The President is prepared to address the concerns NAPA raises, as he already has with his recent budget proposal to deal with executive pay compression and introduce more performance sensitivity into the way senior executives are paid. Getting reward systems aligned with other strategic human capital management objectives is key to achieving the President's Management Agenda."

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OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public with up-to-date employment information. OPM also 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.

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