Office of Personnel Management
Encyclopedia
The United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is an independent agency of the United States government
that manages the civil service
of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry
.
by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
of 1883. The commission was abolished and replaced by OPM on January 1, 1979 following the passage of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978 .
System. While technically the employees of the agencies they work for, Administrative Law Judge
s (or ALJs) are hired exclusively by the Office of Personnel Management, effectively removing any discretional employment procedures from the other agencies. The Office of Personnel Management uses a rigorous selection process which ranks the top three candidates for each ALJ vacancy, and then makes a selection from those candidates, generally awarding an extreme preference toward any United States veteran who is a candidate.
The OPM is also responsible for a large part of the management of security clearance
s (Federal Investigative Services a/k/a FIS conducts these investigations) for the United States Government. With the exception of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
, which maintains its own system, separate programs for each executive department have gradually been merged into a single, Government-wide clearance system. The OPM is responsible for investigating individuals to give them Secret and Top Secret clearances. SCI
compartments, however, are still managed by the particular agency that uses that compartment.
Independent agencies of the United States government
Independent agencies of the United States federal government are those agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments...
that manages the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
of the federal government. The current Director is John Berry
John Berry (administrator)
Morrell John Berry is an American administrator and director of the United States Office of Personnel Management.Berry was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, to parents who worked for the federal government...
.
History
OPM was originally founded as the United States Civil Service CommissionUnited States Civil Service Commission
The United States Civil Service Commission a three man commission was created by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, which was passed into law on January 16, 1883...
by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of United States is a federal law established in 1883 that stipulated that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit. The act provided selection of government employees competitive exams, rather than ties to politicians or political affiliation...
of 1883. The commission was abolished and replaced by OPM on January 1, 1979 following the passage of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, , reformed the civil service of the United States federal government.The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 abolished the U.S...
and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978 .
Function
According to their website, the mission of the OPM is "recruiting, retaining and honoring a world-class force to serve the American people." OPM is partially responsible for maintaining the appearance of independence and neutrality in the Administrative LawAdministrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
System. While technically the employees of the agencies they work for, Administrative Law Judge
Administrative law judge
An administrative law judge in the United States is an official who presides at an administrative trial-type hearing to resolve a dispute between a government agency and someone affected by a decision of that agency. The ALJ is usually the initial trier of fact and decision maker...
s (or ALJs) are hired exclusively by the Office of Personnel Management, effectively removing any discretional employment procedures from the other agencies. The Office of Personnel Management uses a rigorous selection process which ranks the top three candidates for each ALJ vacancy, and then makes a selection from those candidates, generally awarding an extreme preference toward any United States veteran who is a candidate.
The OPM is also responsible for a large part of the management of security clearance
Security clearance
A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information, i.e., state secrets, or to restricted areas after completion of a thorough background check. The term "security clearance" is also sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal...
s (Federal Investigative Services a/k/a FIS conducts these investigations) for the United States Government. With the exception of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
, which maintains its own system, separate programs for each executive department have gradually been merged into a single, Government-wide clearance system. The OPM is responsible for investigating individuals to give them Secret and Top Secret clearances. SCI
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Sensitive compartmented information is a type of United States classified information concerning or derived from sensitive intelligence sources, methods, or analytical processes. All SCI must be handled within formal access control systems established by the Director of National Intelligence...
compartments, however, are still managed by the particular agency that uses that compartment.
Past directors
- (Acting) Kathie Ann Whipple 2009
- (Acting) Michael Hager 2008–2009
- Linda M. SpringerLinda M. SpringerLinda M. Springer, the eighth Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management , was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in June 2005.As OPM director, Ms...
2005–2008 - Kay Coles JamesKay Coles JamesKay Coles James is the President and Founder of the Gloucester Institute, a leadership training center for young African Americans. She was the director for the United States Office of Personnel Management. She was nominated by George W. Bush in 2001 and left in 2005...
2001–2005 - Constance Newman 1989–1993
- Constance Horner 1985–1989
- (Acting) Loretta Cornelius 1985
- Don Devine 1981–1985
- Alan CampbellAlan CampbellAlan or Allan Campbell may refer to:*Alan Campbell , former Republic of Ireland international footballer*Alan Campbell *Alan Campbell...
1979–1981
See also
- Civil serviceCivil serviceThe term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
- Federal Labor Relations AuthorityFederal Labor Relations AuthorityThe Federal Labor Relations Authority is an independent agency of the United States government that governs labor relations between the federal government and its employees....
- Hatch ActHatch ActHatch Act may refer to:*Hatch Act of 1887, United States federal legislation that created agricultural experiment stations*Hatch Act of 1939, tightened in 1940, United States federal legislation aimed at corrupt political practices, prevented federal civil servants from campaigning...
- Presidential Management Fellows ProgramPresidential Management Fellows ProgramThe Presidential Management Fellows program is a prestigious two year paid government fellowship sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management for recent graduate students who seek a two year fellowship in a United States government agency. Selection begins with the nomination of the student...
- SHPSSHPSSHPS, Inc. is a national, single-source provider of benefits administration services and health improvement programs through the company's SHPS HR Solutions and Carewise Health subsidiaries. The company employs approximately 2,000 people, and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky with multiple...
External links
- Office of Personnel Management
- Office Of Personnel Management Meeting Notices and Rule Changes from The Federal Register *RSS Feed