Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James today announced the hiring of four new employees who will manage critical human resources operations at the agency, and who will be members of the prestigious Senior Executive Service (SES), the federal government's top cadre of management executives. 

Director James names the following:

Michael Wilkin, Deputy Associate Director for Merit System Compliance;

Francis Esquivel, Assistant Director for Examining and Consulting Services;

William Jackson, Deputy Associate Director for Human Capital Management

Services; and

Timothy Caddigan, Assistant Director for Investigative Services. 

"It is a great pleasure to welcome these fine individuals to Team OPM.  Each of them will serve in critically important leadership roles," James stated.   "It has become increasingly important that America's federal work force fully understand the unique responsibility it shoulders and the complexities of doing the work of the American people.  These individuals embody the spirit of the civil service, and I am confident they will serve with honor and distinction."

The new hires were brought in utilizing OPM's 30-day hiring model for members of the Senior Executive Service.  The hiring model reduces to 30 days, the time from the close of a vacancy announcement to the time an offer is made, in an effort to better compete with the private sector and ensure applicants aren't frustrated by a lengthy hiring process. 

Michael Wilkin, named Deputy Associate Director for Merit System Compliance, rejoined OPM in 1999 as the director of OPM's Oversight Division in Philadelphia. 

In his new role, Mr. Wilkin is charged with ensuring federal agencies adhere to the principles of the Merit System, veterans' preference and steer clear of Prohibited Personnel Practices.  Mr. Wilkin first began his federal service in 1971 as an investigator with the U.S. Civil Service Commission.  He has worked in the civil service at a variety of federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Administration, in the areas of business and financial assistance.  He also served eight years in the United States Army Reserve as an Air Defense Officer.   

Francis Esquivel recently was named OPM's new Assistant Director for Examining and Consulting Services for its Examining Consulting Services Group.  In this position, Mr. Esquivel will manage a $25 million fee-for-service business that includes 128 full-time employees, as well as over 800 intermittent employees in 13 field offices nationwide.  Under his leadership, the group will continue to provide a wide range of services, such as examining, organizational design, human resources consulting, and test administration, to federal agencies government-wide.  Mr. Esquivel, a U.S. Army veteran, has impressive previous federal service, including intelligence and military analyst experience with the United States Army Reserve and the Department of Defense. 

William Jackson, OPM's new Deputy Associate Director for Human Capital Management Services, is a decorated Navy veteran.  In his new role, he will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing a full range of agency-wide human capital management programs and services to ensure that OPM has the human resources needed to support its mission.  Mr. Jackson previously served as the director for the Navy department's human resources service center east, where he was responsible for leading and directing its HR operations.  He also was a principal advisor on equal employment opportunities for the Navy.

James named Timothy Caddigan Assistant Director for Investigative Services in OPM's Center for Federal Investigative Services.  Mr. Caddigan will be responsible for the critical day-to-day functions of OPM's personnel background investigations office.  With the upcoming transfer of the Department of Defense's Investigative Service staff of 1,800, Mr. Caddigan will oversee investigations for over 90 percent of federal government positions, including contractors.  He also will oversee the six private contracting companies that also perform investigations for OPM.  Mr. Caddigan previously was a federal air marshal for the Federal Air Marshal Service, and deputy assistant director of government and public affairs for the U.S. Secret Service.    

"I know hard work is not new to these gentlemen, and I want to assure them how critical their jobs are as we strive to fulfill the components of President George W. Bush's Management Agenda," said James.  "I look forward to the talent and expertise these fine individuals will bring to the table."