Bush picks Hager to lead OPM

HR executive Michael Hager would replace Linda Springer as head of the Office of Personnel Management.

Hager received his bachelor’s degree from Bluefield State College in Bluefield, W.Va.

President Bush has nominated Michael Hager, a human resources federal executive, to lead the Office of Personnel Management, White House officials have announced.

Hager would replace Linda Springer, who said she is leaving OPM Aug. 13 and will join Ernst & Young’s government and public sector consulting group.

The Senate must approve Hager’s nomination, announced Aug. 1, The nomination was referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, the committee's Web site said. The Senate is out of session until Sept. 7.


The Senate approved Hager previously for his current position, which is assistant secretary for human resources and administration at the Veterans Affairs Department. He has held that post since November 2007.


He is the VA’s principal adviser on department human resources, labor-management relations, diversity management and VA central office administration. Before joining the VA, Hager managed the Small Business Administration’s principal lending, international trade and venture capital programs.


He also was senior vice president for human resources at the Federal Home Loan and Mortgage Corp.; before that, Hager served in executive human resources positions at Russell Corp., in Atlanta, and Bank One Corp., in Columbus, Ohio, according to his biography.