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OPA News Release: [03/21/2002]
Contact Name: Kate
Whitman
Department of Labor and Office of Personnel Management Announce
Partnership to Advance Asian Pacific Americans in Federal Government
DOL and OPM to Host Career Advancement Summit In May, 2002
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and
Director Kay Coles James of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management announced
today, a partnership to identify and increase the number of qualified Asian
Pacific Americans (APA) for leadership and management positions in the federal
government. One result of this joint initiative will be the APA Federal Career
Advancement Summit to kick off May APA Heritage Month celebrations.
“I am committed to helping Asian Pacific Americans advance in the
federal government by equipping them with the necessary training, skills and
resources. I feel a deep commitment to help Asian Pacific Americans access the
opportunities to serve their country in the senior levels of our government. I
am delighted to work with OPM to create a workforce that reflects the diversity
and richness of our nation,” Chao said.
This unique partnership will work to overcome two of the challenges
faced by the federal workforce: a major human capital shortage as the baby
boomer generation retires over the next five years; and an insufficient number
of APA’s in the workforce—currently, only 2.1 percent of APA’s
serve in the senior executive levels.
“This partnership between DOL and OPM is a clear demonstration of
the Bush Administration’s strong commitment to involving all groups in
this country in the federal government,” Director James stated. “We
can and must do more to apply the outstanding talent found in the Asian Pacific
American community to the realm of public service. At OPM, we are working to
encourage the best and the brightest to join the federal government and provide
them with the necessary tools that will allow them to excel.”
Secretary Chao is the first Asian American woman to serve in the
Cabinet. President George W. Bush has appointed a historic number of 16
Americans of Asian Pacific descent to serve him in cabinet or sub-cabinet
positions.
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