John Berry Begins Work at OPM

Office of Personnel Management staffers hoping to beat the boss to work will have to get up super-early.

John Berry began his duties as OPM director on Monday with a 6:30 a.m. swearing-in ceremony, followed by two hours of grip and grin with employees as they arrived at OPM headquarters. Staffers say it's the first time a new director has devoted so much time to greeting the rank-and-file on day one.

Berry is the first agency head to begin his new job with all of his senior staff in place. Among others, OPM General Counsel Elaine Kaplan started last month as did Tania A. Shand, the new director of congressional relations.

A veteran of the Treasury and Interior departments and a former legislative director for Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Berry most recently served as director of the National Zoo.

Stonewall Democrats note: John Berry is the highest-ranking openly gay official in the Obama Administration.

Photo by the Office of Personnel Management

story by Ed O'Keefe