Washington, D.C.  --  Linda M. Springer, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), today named individuals to fill five key positions within the agency.

Springer selected Tricia Hollis as Chief of Staff and Director of External Affairs; Robert J. Batson, III to be Executive Director and Senior Counselor; Susan Bryant to be Director of the Office of Communications and Public Liaison; Susan Marshall as Director of the Office of Congressional Relations; and, Nancy Kichak as Associate Director for Strategic Human Resources Policy.

Springer stated: "These five individuals are well-qualified and understand the importance of the mission of the Office of Personnel Management. They have a proven track record of accomplishments and will contribute much to the success of our agency.

Tricia Hollis has served as Acting Chief of Staff to Director Springer, as well as to the Deputy Director Dan Blair. Hollis joined OPM in early 2004 as Special Assistant to the Deputy Director. During the transition between Directors, she served as Chief of Staff to the Acting Director, closely working with all OPM staff to assist Blair in all aspects of the management of the agency. Prior to her service at OPM, Hollis was Assistant Director for Congressional Programs for the Stennis Center for Public Service in Washington, DC. She has also worked on Capital Hill, for the news media, in association government relations, in state government and for a Presidential campaign.

Robert Batson most recently served as Counselor to the Controller, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Executive Office of the President.  At OMB, he worked directly for the Controller, providing counsel and guidance on federal financial management and reporting issues. Before joining the Administration, Batson served as a Federal Affairs Representative for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and on the staff of former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson. Batson is a licensed attorney in the State of Tennessee and the District of Columbia.

Prior to being named Director of Communications, Susan Bryant was OPM's Deputy Director of Communications. As such, she was fully integrated in the daily management of the office, serving as a spokesperson for the agency and providing analysis and advice to the Director on issues impacting the agency. Before coming to OPM, Bryant owned a consulting business where she conducted survey research, designed management analysis and directed communication strategies. She served as Chief of Staff to former Congressman George M. O'Brien.

Susan G. Marshall comes to OPM from the General Services Administration (GSA) where she served as Senior Policy Advisor to the Administrator and Associate Administrator, Office of Performance and Improvement. A key role in her position was to conduct outreach to Congress and the White House on critical GSA issues. Prior to joining GSA in June 2001, Marshall was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs and previously served as a Procurement Specialist on the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.

Nancy Kichak has been serving as Acting Associate Director for the Human Resources Policy Division since June 2005. Prior to being named Associate Director, Kichak held the position of Deputy Associate Director for the Center for Workforce Planning and Policy Analysis and Chief Actuary. Kichak was named the Director of the Office of Actuaries at OPM in November 1987. In 2003, Kichak was awarded the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive for sustained extraordinary accomplishment in the management of Government programs.