Ellen E. Tunstall
Ellen E. Tunstall returned to the Department of Defense in July 2003 as the Director of Workforce Issues and International Programs where she is responsible for the oversight and approval of Department-wide human resource policies and programs that affect over 700,000 employees worldwide. She also serves as the Principal Deputy to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Civilian Personnel Policy.
Previously, Ms. Tunstall was a Deputy Associate Director at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management where she led OPM's Center for Talent and Capacity Policy. The Center was instrumental in efforts to modernize Federal employment policy and improve hiring. It supported OPM's advocacy for the Department of Homeland Security, as well as provisions of the Administration's Managerial Flexibility Act, which are now available for use throughout the Government. These new and expanded flexibilities include category rating, direct hire, early retirement, and separation incentives.
While with OPM, she also served as the Chief of the Insurance Planning and Evaluation Division in the Office of Insurance Programs where she was responsible for operation of two of the largest employer-sponsored benefit programs in the Nation -- the Federal Employee's Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employee's Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Programs. Both are recognized throughout the industry as model programs. Ms. Tunstall's positive efforts to improve consumer information about health care and patient safety were recognized by the OPM Director as well as officials of other agencies.
Ms. Tunstall went to OPM in 1996 with over 25 years of human resources experience primarily with the Departments of Defense and Air Force at various locations in the United States and overseas. From 1993 until 1996, she was Chief of DoD's Civilian Assistance and Re-Employment, or CARE, Division. Under her leadership, the Division was a finalist for the prestigious Innovations in American Government Award sponsored by the Ford Foundation and Harvard University . The $10,000 award highlighted the management of DoD programs to humanely downsize the civilian work force.
Ms. Tunstall has received numerous citations and awards, including the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, and the Department of Defense Civilian Career Service Award as well as special recognition from the Secretary of Defense for contributions to the Department. She three times received the OPM Director's Award for Excellence.
Ms. Tunstall has a Bachelor's degree from James Madison University and a Master of Science in Business Management from Troy State University . She is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, a past President of the Federal Section of the International Personnel Management Association and currently chairs the Human Resources Advisory Council for the USDA Graduate School .
Ms. Tunstall lives in Arlington and Marshall, Virginia.
