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New OPM Director Jeff Pon to Address Agency Priorities to Advance, Better Equip the Federal Workforce at NARFE’s FEDcon18

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 12, 2018) – Dr. Jeff Pon, director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), will recognize the important work of federal government employees and address workforce changes proposed by the Trump administration at FEDcon18, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association’s (NARFE) premier training event for the federal community, on Monday, August 27, in a keynote address to nearly 1,000 current and retired federal employees.

An advocate for transforming government to keep pace with next-generation technology and human capital demands, Pon is committed to advancing the public’s understanding of the honorable, positive work of civil servants. In addresses to OPM staff and government employee organizations, he has pledged to help make the federal workforce more successful by implementing “systems, policies and technology that ensure federal employees can perform their jobs better.” One such area of importance to Pon is the processing of retirement claims, which he believes will take less time as agencies become “more efficient and responsive.”

“As OPM plays a critical role in addressing workforce concerns and issuing guidance that directly affects current and retired federal employees, we look forward to Director Pon sharing his enthusiasm and vision for leading a more mobile workforce and improving OPM services to employees, agencies and retirees throughout the federal government,” said NARFE President Richard G. Thissen.

Nominated in September, Pon was confirmed last month to serve as the agency head.

Throughout his federal career, Pon served in leadership roles to transform federal government operations. Pon’s career in federal service began more than 25 years ago as a White House intern in the Office of Public Liaison under the George H.W. Bush administration in 1991. Returning to federal government in 2003, Pon served as deputy director for eGovernment at OPM, where he jointly led the implementation of ePayroll, USAJobs, eTraining, Enterprise Human Resource Integration, eClearance, and also the HR Line of Business – six initiatives that transformed federal human resources functions and saved taxpayers an estimated $2.6 billion.

Pon later transitioned to the Department of Energy where he served as the agency’s chief human capital officer. More recently, Pon worked in the private sector, serving as the chief human resources and strategy officer at the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Prior to joining SHRM in 2012, Pon was the president and COO of Futures Inc., a talent management software company working to advance its mission to help find the right jobs for returning military, veterans and their families. Pon was also a principal in the Human Capital practice at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

Pon earned his doctorate in Industrial Organizational Psychology and master’s degree from the California School of Professional Psychology and completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology and Human Factors from the University of Southern California.

“NARFE has a long and productive history of working with past OPM directors and their staff,” continues Thissen. “We are excited to continue this strong relationship with Director Pon and are eager to work alongside OPM to showcase and advance the hard work of our nation’s federal community.”

FEDcon18 is NARFE’s premier training event for the entire federal community, consisting of educational sessions and workshops on advocacy, federal benefits, financial planning, and professional and personal development tailored specifically to the needs and interests of both current and retired federal employees. FEDcon18 takes place August 26-28 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront in Jacksonville, Florida.

Media can attend FEDcon18 for FREE but must preregister by contacting NARFE’s Deputy Director of Public Relations  Jill Talley at jtalley@narfe.org or 571-483-1291.

 

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The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), one of America’s oldest and largest associations, was founded in 1921 with the mission of protecting the earned rights and benefits of America’s active and retired federal workers. The largest federal employee/retiree organization, NARFE represents the interests of 5 million current and future federal annuitants, spouses and survivors.