Baltimore, MD. - Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) continued her emphasis on the vital importance of veterans in the federal workforce at the 2004 Federal Workforce Conference, a recent three day seminar at the Baltimore Convention Center.  She introduced the Honorable Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs as the keynote luncheon speaker.

"The Bush Administration remains committed to ensuring that Veterans' Preference in the Federal hiring process is protected, as well as to actively reaching out to veterans," James stated.  "Our commitment to all veterans, including those who are disabled, is solid.  The Federal government has a duty actively recruit veterans, as a small but important repayment for their dedicated service, and because veterans are a tested, reliable and patriotic asset to the Federal workforce." 

Principi touted the importance of the Federal workforce and the benefits of hiring veterans for the important work performed by the Federal government on a daily basis.  "If your agency is not aggressively recruiting veterans, you are overlooking a resource rich in the possibilities for improving your outcomes for the American people," stated Secretary Principi.  "Government is not an institution. Government is people. People who come to work every day in federal offices large and small, urban and rural, all across America, to meet our neighbors' needs...to achieve something worthwhile...to make a difference in the lives of millions of our fellow Americans who look to us for security, for direction, for hope, for answers, and for help."

The conference included several "tracks" or categories to convey the many Federal workforce HR principles championed by Director James for the more than 2000 participants.  Those tracks included "Strategic Alignment," "Workforce Planning and Deployment," "Leadership and Knowledge Management," "Talent, Results-Oriented Performance Culture and Accountability."  Some of the workshops included "Workforce Planning: nuts and bolts," "Top 10 Insurance Frequently Asked Questions," "Retirement Readiness Index," and "Aligning Human Capital with the Agency Mission."

Each participant had the opportunity to choose from more than 143 workshops at any given time slot and attendance was at overflow capacity for many.