Federal Daily - May 6, 2008

GAO Announces Efforts to Improve Employee Diversity, Inclusion

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will launch a new inclusion program to convene an agency-wide discussion of race, implement formal diversity training and expand its efforts to recruit minority employees. GAO announced the new effort last week following the release of a report by the Ivy Planning Group, an independent consulting firm in Rockville, Md., which found a disparity between the average performance ratings of black and white analysts across all job bands. GAO requested the study after monitoring analysts’ performance ratings for several years and determining that the data showed differences between the average ratings of the two racial groups. GAO also will begin to reassess how it evaluates performance and will include a full systematic and inclusive review of the performance appraisal system, said Acting Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, head of GAO. “I am determined to work with all GAO employees to ensure GAO is always a fair and equitable place to work,” Dodaro said. To see more, go to: www.gao.gov/press/pressrel-ivygroup2008apr30.pdf.

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CBP Recruiting Drive Targets Tech School Graduates

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are targeting graduates of the nation’s top 100 technical schools as part of the agency’s recruiting drive to fill CBP entry-level slots in mission- and operational-support. CBP on May 1 announced it was sending letters to the schools, encouraging new graduates to consider a position in the federal civil service. CBP is looking to fill 2,200 job vacancies that have a technical emphasis. Job titles for the slots include chemist, budget analyst, automotive mechanic, investigative program specialist and management/program analyst. Positions are located around the country, CBP said, and include the full range of federal benefits—including health and life insurance and retirement. In addition, CBP said it may offer some candidates the added incentive of a student loan repayment. All positions require U.S. citizenship and the successful completion of a full background investigation, CBP noted. “We wanted to reach out now because many talented students are graduating, with no idea of the career opportunities that await them at CBP,” said Robert Hosenfeld, CBP’s assistant commissioner for human resources management. To see more, go to: www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/05012008.xml.

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Bibb Named Acting GSA Head

David L. Bibb, a 36-year General Services Administration (GSA) veteran, has been named the acting head of GSA, replacing Lurita Doan, who abruptly resigned last week. Bibb, GSA deputy administrator since 2003, took over April 30 as acting head of the government’s contracting and building agency. Bibb previously served as acting administrator from November 2005 until May 2006, and has served in a number of executive level positions with GSA. To see more, go to: www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?
contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=11164&noc=T.

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