Washington, D.C. - In preparation for the transfer of the Department of Defense, Defense Security Service (DSS) Personnel Security Investigations program to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), OPM has announced the selection of twelve managers to assume key leadership positions in the new investigations field and support structure.

"I know the addition of these new managers will only strengthen OPM's investigations process," said OPM Acting Director Dan G. Blair. "Their accumulated investigative expertise and management skills will help ensure the transfer of DSS to OPM will happen smoothly."

OPM welcomes Kiral Thompson, Phil Kopman, Barry Shine, and Mark Ruane to serve as chiefs of field operations. Mr. Thompson has over 20 years of experience with DSS serving in a variety of leadership positions and will be based out of Tucson, Arizonia. Mr. Kopman has more than 30 years of experience with both OPM and the private sector in conducting national security background and suitability investigations. He will be based in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Shine joins the OPM team from the Department of Education with more than 25 years of government service. His experience includes more that 10 years as an OPM investigator and supervisor and will be based in Washington, D.C. Mr. Ruane has over 20 years of experience with DSS to include several senior leadership positions in the organization. He will be based in Boston, Massachusetts.

These individuals combine decades of experience in the OPM and DOD investigations programs, as well as diverse backgrounds that will contribute to the development of OPM's new national workload and staff management team.

OPM also welcomes four new individuals to serve as deputy chiefs of field operations. Brenda Rideau will serve as the Deputy to Mr. Thompson, Martin Drexler will serve as the Deputy to Mr. Kopman, Charles Dininger will serve as the Deputy to Mr. Ruane, and Vicki Clancey will serve as the Deputy to Mr. Shine. They join the management team to provide leadership and oversight of over 1,300 field investigators and support staff.

In addition to the field management team, OPM has selected senior level managers for its new operations center at Ft. Meade, Maryland. The Personnel Investigations Center will be managed by Jeffrey Fitzpatrick as Chief of the Quality Assurance Branch, and Jeffrey Flora has been appointed as Chief of the Investigations Support Branch. Mr. Fitzpatrick has more that 20 years of experience in the areas of personnel security and policy with the federal government working for both DOD and the Department of Justice. Mr. Flora also has over 20 years of federal government experience with DOD and DSS in a variety of management positions in the areas of personnel security and policy.

Paula Krietz will serve as the Deputy Chief under Mr. Fitzpatrick and Donna Harris will serve as the Deputy Chief under Mr. Flora.

"This combined team represents a mix of skills, experience, and perspectives, and each member demonstrates the energy and creativity needed to create a fully integrated program," said Blair.

The leadership team is currently at the Center for Federal Investigative Services (CFIS) center in Boyers, Pennsylvania, where it will participate in an extensive orientation and management training session. The session, spanning six weeks, is intended to bring the team up-to-date on current and pending investigations issues and technologies.

Beginning February 20, the transfer will establish OPM as the single source for federal national security background and suitability investigative services for more than 90 percent of the federal government. The consolidation of resources will ensure the continuity of national standards with regard to quality and provide the efficiencies necessary to improve upon the timeliness of investigations.