Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer expressed her appreciation for those who have fulfilled the agency's promise to go "above and beyond" what the American people expect during her keynote address at OPM's Director's Awards ceremony.

The awards, which recognize OPM employees - both individually and in teams - who have achieved success on agency and governmentwide initiatives, were presented during a ceremony held in OPM's Alan K. Campbell Auditorium. Award recipients were selected following an intensive review and screening process to recognize an elite group of OPM employees for their accomplishments in reaching the agency's strategic and operational goals.

"Thanks to you, OPM has maintained its reputation for excellence as the federal government's human resources office," said Springer. "I am proud of OPM and the outstanding results you have achieved. You are demonstrating to the American people that their tax dollars are achieving results."

The award categories include the Leadership Excellence Award, which recognizes individuals whose specific actions improved OPM's internal human-capital management; the Excellent Rookie of the Year, which recognize high-performing, non-supervisory employees in their first year of federal service; and, the Director's Award for Excellence, which recognizes employees or groups of employees who have achieved remarkable results toward fulfilling OPM's strategic goals.

In addition, those OPM employees having 40 or more years of federal service were recognized.

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM 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.