Angela Bailey is the Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Homeland Security. Ms. Bailey has dedicated close to 38 years to public service, with almost 32 of those years in human resources. Ms. Bailey was appointed as the Department of Homeland Security’s Chief Human Capital Officer (CHCO) in January 2016. She is responsible for the Department’s human capital program, which includes human resources policy, systems, and programs for strategic workforce planning, recruitment and hiring, pay and leave, performance management, employee development, executive resources, labor relations, work/life and safety and health. She also serves on the United States Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees.
Prior to her appointment at the Department of Homeland Security in 2016, Ms. Bailey served as the Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from November 2013 to January 2016. In this role, she provided overall organization management to improve OPM’s performance, measurement, analysis, mission and goals through strategic and performance planning, and regular progress assessment. Additionally, she managed OPM’s human, financial, acquisition and information technology to achieve OPM’s program results efficiently.
Other roles at OPM included serving as Deputy Associate Director for Recruitment and Hiring and Associate Director for Employee Services, including as the agency’s CHCO. In that role, she was responsible for the design, development and implementation of government-wide human resources policy, systems, and programs for strategic workforce planning, recruitment and hiring, pay and leave, performance management, employee development, executive resources, labor relations, and work/life. Ms. Bailey led OPM’s implementation of the President’s Veterans Employment Initiative, which resulted in 20-year highs in terms of the percentage of new federal employees who are veterans. As the CHCO for OPM, she oversaw the agency’s internal human resources office. Ms. Bailey also spearheaded OPM’s flagship initiative on hiring reform, and the Pathways Programs for students and recent graduates, including the Presidential Management Fellows Program.
Ms. Bailey began her career with the Social Security Administration and later worked for the Department of Defense. She has served in multiple roles, including Budget Analyst, Labor Relations Officer, and as the Director of Human Resources for the Defense Contract Management Agency.
Ms. Bailey has a master’s degree in Leadership from Bellevue University and participated in Harvard University’s Kennedy School National Preparedness Leadership Initiative for Executives in 2012. She is also a 2017 Meritorious Presidential Rank Award recipient.
Here is a recent Interview with Ms. Bailey:
- How did you get involved in public service?
I applied for a Federal job in 1981, right out of high school to help pay for college. My dream was to be a criminal prosecuting attorney. I went to work for the Social Security Administration…I was a GS-2, Clerk-Typist!
- Which of the Academy's 12 Grand Challenges resonates most with you?
Connecting Individuals to Meaningful Work and Build Resilient Communities. I do HR for a living and have been involved in numerous reform hiring/public service efforts, and to be honest, I’d like to do something of a stretch as a Fellow. Both of these grand challenges are an excellent way for me to hopefully give back to the public sector in a new and meaningful way.
- Reflecting on your career thus far, is there a highlight, a greatest accomplishment or a funny story you'd like to share?
I had no intention of making a career out of the Federal government. I was really only interested in finishing my degree and becoming an attorney. Here I am almost 40 years later, and I wouldn’t trade my career path for anything else. I’m quite happy I made the choices I did along the way…I’ve worked with and for incredible, dedicated, passionate public servants and could not be more proud of all that they have accomplished over the years.
- What advice would you give someone wanting to start a career in public service?
Embark on a career that you are passionate about and will allow you to give back to society as a whole. There’s a great big world out there, with many wonderful opportunities. Don’t think they all are in Washington, DC!
- What was the best trip you've ever taken?
My trip to Europe (England, Wales, Ireland (South and North). Incredible scenery, history and culture.
- What was the last book you read or one that you would recommend?
The Code of the Exceptional Mind, by Vishen Lakhiani, Founder, Mindvalley.
- Do you have a favorite podcast, journal, newspaper, or other kind of media?
I enjoy many of the programs on Mindvalley and MasterClass. I find listening and watching to ideas that are outside of my realm of knowledge really stretches me, not to mention entertain me and give me a 1000 more ideas I want to try and implement. ��
- What do you work toward in your free time?
Inner peace!
