News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2002 |
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Contact: Chad
Cowan
(202) 606-2824
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Dan Blair Confirmed by the Senate as Deputy
Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management
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Washington, D.C. -- The United States
Senate, by unanimous voice vote, has confirmed Dan G. Blair to be Deputy
Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Blair, who served as Senior Counsel to Senator
Fred Thompson (R-TN) on the United
States Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, was nominated by President
George Bush on December 20, 2001. As Deputy Director of OPM, Blair will advise
OPM Director Kay Coles James on human resources issues for the nation's 1.8
million federal employees.
Upon hearing the news of the Senate's vote on Blair, Director James voiced
her strong enthusiasm for Blair's confirmation. "Dan is a superb choice for
this position," she said. "I have a great deal of respect for his expertise
and knowledge of both the Congressional process and of civil service issues
in general - expertise that will make him a valuable part of our team. He has
a wealth of experience and passion for the important opportunities facing the
nation today."
"I am ready to begin the important work that lies ahead," said Blair. "Now
more than ever it is important that we focus on creating a nimble, efficient,
well functioning government. To accomplish this, it will take a commitment to
excellence and a willingness to work hard. Director James is committed to improving
government by bringing in the best and the brightest into our government and
I am ready to help her achieve this."
Mr. Blair, no stranger to reforming the way government agencies work, served
as a senior staff member on both House and Senate committees charged with civil
service oversight. As Senior Counsel for the Senate Governmental Affairs committee,
Mr. Blair helped develop a long term
care insurance program for federal employees and the uniformed services
and reforms for the Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program and life
insurance programs.
Prior to joining the Committee on Governmental Affairs, Mr. Blair served as
Staff Director for the House of Representatives
Subcommittee on the Postal Service. In this
position, he directed the development of comprehensive postal reform legislation.
Born and raised in Joplin, Missouri,
Mr. Blair received a Bachelors
of Journalism and his Juris Doctorate
from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
He and his wife, Michele, reside in Washington,
D.C.
END
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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United States Office of Personnel Management
Theodore Roosevelt Building
1900 E Street, NW, Room 5347
Washington, DC 20415-1400
Phone: (202) 606-2402
FAX: (202) 606-2264
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