Remarks of OPM Director Katherine Archuleta
FAPAC Civilian Award Dinner
May 7, 2015
As prepared for delivery
Good evening. Hello Federal Asian Pacific American Council! Thank you, Sharon. As a former President of FAPAC, Sharon is a true champion for this organization. And as Deputy Director of OPM's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Sharon works so hard to help me promote, advocate for, and mentor Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Federal workforce.
I am so happy to be here this evening to be part of your awards dinner and to help celebrate Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.
Your theme: "Many Cultures, One Voice: Promote Inclusion and Equality" is perfect. I want to talk to you tonight about what we are doing at OPM to fulfill that goal.
But first I want to recognize a few people who work hard each and every day to help build a Federal workforce that looks like the American people we serve and who have been so supportive of FAPAC. Thank you, Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, director of USDA's National Institute for Food and Agriculture and Edward Avalos, Undersecretary of USDA. And I want to thank all of FAPAC's leadership for once again putting on such a successful training program.
Congratulations on your 30th anniversary! For three decades, FAPAC has worked to foster career advancement and strive for greater opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Federal workforce. I applaud your effort and pledge to continue to work with you to achieve that goal.
I also want to congratulate all of the nominees and winners who are being recognized this evening for their outstanding achievement -- for their hard work, their leadership, and their promotion of FAPAC's values.
I also want to thank you for the work you do each and every day for the American people. I hope you are having a great Public Service Recognition Week. Monday night I threw out the first pitch at the Nationals game where Federal employees were recognized by our home town team. All over the country, events are going on, appreciation is being expressed, and special recognition ceremonies are being held in honor of the Federal workforce.
The President has joined in with his own proclamation recognizing PSRW and honoring the Federal workforce. In his proclamation the President recognized that "Public service is a calling which has meant so much to so many. It embodies our sense of shared values and reflects our drive to serve a cause beyond our own -- to give back to our nation, leave our mark, and nudge history forward. There is no greater opportunity to help more people or to make a bigger difference." I couldn't agree more.
As I said, I want to talk to you tonight about what OPM is doing to help broaden the diversity of the Federal workforce and help agencies provide the training, the mentoring, and the education to help employees grow and develop in their careers.
Your training workshop is a perfect example of the kind of partnerships OPM is building. Throughout this week, you have provided inspirational speakers. You have had sessions on everything from mentorship, leadership skills, executive coaching, and leadership to diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement. This conference has been a model for other groups like yours to follow.
From the day I was sworn in as Director of the Office of Personnel Management more than 18 months ago, one of my highest priorities and biggest challenges has been to increase the diversity of the Federal workforce.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up about 6 percent of Federal employees. The percentage of AAPI's in the Senior Executive Service has gone from 2.4 percent in September of 2008 to 3.4 percent in September of 2014. That's progress. But I know we need to do better. And we will do better.
If there are barriers that prevent a group from contributing their labor to the Federal workforce, then we all are missing out. It means those of us in leadership cannot be successful. During this month, I'll not only be participating in an AAPI program at OPM, I'll be in San Francisco next week where I'll be meeting with the Organization of Chinese Americans.
As I have traveled around the country as Director, I have gotten great insights from meeting with Federal employees, with groups like OCA, AAGEN, and with students and leaders from colleges and universities.
And let me be clear. This is not about numbers. This is about our absolute need to draw on the wisdom, the experience, and the talent from people from every community in this great country. It's about making sure that we have the broadest representation possible at every decision-making table, particularly at the highest levels of leadership.
To help accomplish this, OPM is working with agencies across government to eliminate any barriers to attracting and bringing on board the diverse talent they need – at all levels.
In March, OPM unveiled a comprehensive human capital strategy that I believe will put us on the right path to accomplishing this goal. We call this strategy REDI – R_E_D_I, which stands for Recruitment, Engagement, Diversity, and Inclusion.
This strategy is helping us fulfill the President's goal of modernizing and transforming the way the Federal government recruits, hires, engages, and develops a skilled and diverse workforce. Much of what is included in REDI are elements that your conference touched on today. We've created a government-wide mentoring hub. This spring our new coaching network graduated its first class of coaches who will help employees get support and guidance from colleagues who have been through some of the same challenges that they have. We're piloting a GovConnect program that allows employees to think out of the box and share their knowledge and skills to solve complex problems. We're enhancing our use of social media to help us attract and recruit a more diverse workforce, as well as to honor and recognize the incredible work you do every day.
Through the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, Federal employees have told us they want more training, more development, and more education. Last fall, OPM issued a report on education in the Federal workforce. In that report, we found that a large proportion of our employees take advantage of more training and educational opportunities in an effort to better serve the American people.
At OPM we've listened. Over the past two years, we have signed agreements with colleges and universities that are now offering discounted tuition to Federal employees and their families. So far we're partnering with University of Maryland University College and Champlain College in Vermont. And more agreements are on the way.
We also want to help our aspiring leaders and new SES members experience the broad variety of leadership roles in the Federal government. This year we welcomed the eighth group of leaders into the President's Management Council's Interagency Rotations Program in D.C. And through our network of Federal Executive Boards, we launched the second rotation program in the field.
I know that because of the commitment of the people in this room, our workforce will continue to grow and to better draw on the talents of people from every community across our great country.
Last weekend I had the privilege of addressing graduates from Miami Dade College at its commencement. I had some advice for them that I think would apply to all of us in Federal service.
I urged them to follow their passions, to bring a sense of purpose to whatever they do. I also encouraged them to push themselves and to take risks. I urge you to do the same.
Your participation in this week of training and collaboration is an indication of your commitment, your talent, and your dedication to Federal service. I know you will succeed.
As you celebrate your 30th year, you can be proud of the leadership role you have taken in supporting, mentoring, and advocating for Federal Asian Pacific Americans. And I am proud of the partnership we have forged. I pledge to you to continue our work together.
And wherever you work in the Federal Government, work together with your colleagues – look out for each other. Mentor each other. If we all do that, then together, nothing will be impossible.
Thank you.