Nomination for Director of Office of Personnel Management
With George Nesterczuk’s withdrawal of his name from consideration as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), President Trump has announced his intent to submit a new nominee.
Jeff Tien Han Pon of Virginia will now be the nominee as OPM Director.
Dr. Pon most recently served as the Chief Human Resources and Strategy Officer for the non-profit professional membership organization, the Society for Human Resource Management. He has also served as the Chief Operating Officer for Futures Inc. Futures is an that assists transitioning military personnel explore careers, find jobs, and transition to civilian jobs.
Dr. Pon previously served as a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. in the consulting service areas of Human Resources, IT, and Change Management. He was also the Department of Energy’s Chief Human Capital Officer. As a previous Deputy Director of eGovernment at OPM, he was heavily involved in the human resources Shared Service Centers, Payroll Modernization, and the roll-out of USAJobs.
He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, and holds a Ph. D. and Masters of Science degree from the California School of Professional Psychology.
Nomination as Chair of the Federal Labor Relations Authority
Colleen Duffy Kiko of North Dakota has been nominated by President Trump to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for a term of five years beginning July 30, 2017. Upon her confirmation, she will become the FLRA Chair.
Ms. Kiko was born and raised in North Dakota. She currently serves as a Judge of the Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board in the Department of Labor.
Ms. Kiko has a long history with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). She worked under the Assistant Secretary for Labor Management Relations in the Department of Labor. She moved to the FLRA in 1979 when her duties as a Compliance Officer were moved to the FLRA as a result of the Civil Service Reform Act. She initially worked in the FLRA’s Washington Regional Office investigating unfair labor practices. She later moved into more senior positions within FLRA headquarters.
In 2005, she returned to serve as the General Counsel of the FLRA. Ms. Kiko has served in the Justice Department in various capacities, as an associate counsel to the House Judiciary Committee, and in the private practice of law. She holds a J.D. from Antonin Scalia Law School and a B.S. degree from North Dakota State University. Ms. Kiko lives in Virginia with her husband, Phil. They have four children and four grandchildren.
For a more personal description of the work ethic, background and insight into why Colleen Kiko has been successful in her career, check out her profile in Sometimes Nice “Guys” Finish First.
Nomination as Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority
James Thomas Abbott of Virginia has been nominated by President Trump to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for the remainder of a five-year term expiring July 1, 2020.
Mr. Abbott has served as Chief Counsel to the Federal Labor Relations Authority since 2007. He is currently working with Acting Chairman Patrick Pizzella and previously worked with FLRA Chairman Dale Cabaniss and Member Thomas Beck.
Prior to his appointment to the Authority, Mr. Abbott served as Deputy General Counsel for the Congressional Office of Compliance, from 2004 to 2007. Earlier in his career, Mr. Abbott served as the Senior Associate District Counsel for Personnel and Ethics at the Defense Contract Management Agency; Chief Counsel at Corpus Christi Army Depot, U.S. Army Materiel Command; and Senior Labor Counsel at the HQ Depot Systems Command, U.S. Army Materiel Command.
Mr. Abbott received his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia, and was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Malone University.
