Wm. Edward Flynn Named Senior Policy Advisor at OPM

Washington, D.C. -- Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, today announced that Ed Flynn will serve as her senior policy advisor. Flynn most recently has served as OPM's Associate Director for Retirement and Insurance. He succeeds Steven R. Cohen, who retired earlier this month..

"As the OPM Director, I have developed a deep respect for Ed's overall professionalism, his knowledge of OPM and its varied customers, and of his superb instincts on the business challenges facing this agency," said James. "I value his 29 years of service as a civil servant and will continue to seek his expertise and knowledge as OPM becomes a more citizen-centered and results-oriented agency."

As senior policy advisor, Flynn will work with James on a number of initiatives, including compensation reform and strategies to recruit top people into career and senior executive positions throughout government.

During his tenure as Associate Director, Flynn oversaw major customer-service enhancements in the Retirement and Insurance Service, a fact independently confirmed by a recent American Customer Satisfaction Index survey. For example, a national, toll-free telephone number for the retirement and insurance operation in Washington, D.C., was established, letting retirees or their families get information or communicate changes to retirement records. In addition, a Retirement Information Center was opened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Flynn's leadership also made patient safety and mental health parity standard features of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The FEHB Program covers approximately nine million individuals. Flynn also implemented premium conversion, which allows federal employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay their health premiums. Flynn's tenure also is marked by the successful creation of a long-term care insurance product that will be offered to federal employees and other eligible individuals later this year.

Frank Titus, Assistant Director for Long Term Care, has been selected by James to serve as the acting Associate Director for the Retirement and Insurance Service.

William E. Flynn, III	Steven R. Cohen

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.