John Berry, New Director of the Office of Personnel Management

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=03&year=2009&base_name=annals_of_appointments_john_be

ANNALS OF APPOINTMENTS: JOHN BERRY.

Today, in a widely-predicted move, John Berry has been appointed Director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, essentially HR director for the federal government. Berry, most recently director of the National Zoo, has a long resume of management jobs in the executive branch and seems more than qualified for the job of recruiting executive branch appointees and getting them appointed. But he also will be the highest-ranking openly gay official ever. Alyssa Rosenberg reported in January that Berry has been a strong advocate for domestic partner benefits in the past and will likely be a force to provide them throughout the entire federal bureaucracy, a major step forward for the government, which has not yet matched the private sector in acknowledging the need for equal benefits. Under the Bush administration, OPM opposed legislation that would have given federal employees domestic partnership benefits, but when the issue comes up again observers expect OPM to support the change. Berry's bio is after the jump.

-- Tim Fernholz

John Berry, Nominee for Director of the Office of Personnel Management

John began his Federal career as a Legislative Director for U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), a major leader on all issues affecting the Civil Service. John was responsible for overseeing Hoyer's work Federal employees, and was the primary craftsman behind the locality pay reform, among many other issues affecting pay and benefits of employees and retirees.

John began his management career at the Department of Treasury, where he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and acting Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement. Later in the Clinton administration, John was appointed Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, where he focused on employee partnerships, worklife issues for employees and reversing years of decline by achieving one of the largest budgetary increases in the Department's 150 year history.

As Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, John worked with Interior Inspector General, Earl Devaney, to reconcile 20 years of financial records, establish sound management practices, while also conserving over 3 million acres of wildlife habitat through innovative public-private partnerships.

Most recently, John was hired to turn around the National Zoo, which was laboring under continual reports of issues and problems. In its Accreditation approval last year it was noted that "It is good to see the National Zoo worthy of its name again." John has completed a strategic plan, a mangement reorganization, and a 20 year capital master plan. John also recognized a critical weakness in the absence of fire protection at the Zoo and has secured the funding (35 million) to replace the Zoo's water main and install sprinklers throughout the Zoo, while also launching the renovation of the 1930 elephant house and seal and Sea Lion exhibits.