SOURCE: www.opm.gov
Report addresses emergency response plans and recruiting initiatives for Federal veterinarians
Washington, DC -This week, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo to the Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council introducing the Strategic Workforce Plan for the Federal Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) Workforce for fiscal year 2011.
“VMOs play a crucial role in the Federal government,” said OPM Director John Berry. “The Federal government is currently facing a shortage of veterinarians. Veterinarians are vital to ensuring the security and safety of our nation’s food supply as well as our ability to respond to possible catastrophic or emergency events. That is why it is crucial to always have a full staff of experienced and qualified VMOs.”
The Strategic Workforce Plan for the VMO Workforce will be implemented from 2011 through 2015. The plan establishes three goals for the VMO Talent Management Advisory Council (TMAC) and VMO agencies:
1) Enhancing efforts to identify the veterinary workforce needed during catastrophic or emergency events;
2) Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the Federal veterinary workforce;
3) Improving recruiting and retention results for the Federal veterinary workforce.
At the beginning of each fiscal year, any TMAC recommended changes will be made to OPM’s plan and it will be redistributed to the VMO agencies.