Michael W. Hager Biography

The President has nominated Michael W. Hager, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management and intends to designate Acting, for a four-year term. Mr. Hager currently serves as Assistant Secretary (Human Resources and Management) at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Prior to this, he served as Associate Administrator in the Office of Capital Access at the Small Business Administration. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Capital Officer for Bank One Corporation for fifteen years. Mr. Hager received his bachelor's degree from Bluefield State College.

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary August 1, 2008

Michael W. Hager was sworn in as Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration on November 27, 2007, following his nomination by President George W. Bush and confirmation by the Senate on November 16, 2007.

Mr. Hager serves as principal advisor to the Secretary, his executive staff, and the Department’s human resources managers and practitioners on matters pertaining to human resources; labor-management relations; diversity management and equal employment opportunity; discrimination complaint processing (resolution management); employee health and safety; workers’ compensation; and VA Central Office administration.

Before joining VA, Hager was Associate Administrator in the Office of Capital Access for the Small Business Administration (SBA). He was responsible for the management and oversight of SBA's principal lending, international trade, surety bond, and venture capital programs. Hager managed SBA’s $80 billion loan and investment portfolio which guarantees millions of dollars in small business loans each year. In 2006, he received the Small Business Champion Award from the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders.

Prior to joining the SBA, Hager served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for one of the 25 largest corporations in the world, the Federal Home Loan and Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). Freddie Mac plays a fundamental role in the American housing finance system linking domestic and global capital markets.

Hager is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in corporate America where he worked for a number of complex and large organizations. He served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Russell Corporation in Atlanta, Georgia, and for 15 years as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Bank One Corporation in Columbus, Ohio. During his tenure, Bank One grew from 7,000 to more than 50,000 employees to become a top financial services institution.

A native of Princeton, West Virginia, Hager holds a degree in Business Administration from Bluefield State College and has pursued leadership studies offered by the University of North Carolina and the University of Michigan.

Mr. Hager is married to the former Donna Farley and has two sons, Mitch and Dr. Christopher Hager.

Sources

• Personnel Announcement
• VA Official Biography

ABC News On John McCain TV Ad "Celeb" VIDEO

"Today, McCain unveiled a new ad in eleven states, flashing images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, suggesting Obama is just another vapid celebrity."-- ABC's David Wright

ABC's "World News" July 30, 2008

ABC's David Wright: "And today, McCain comparing Obama to empty celebrities, all sizzle, no substance. John McCain has been trying to raise doubts about his opponent. Today in Colorado, he was at it again."

John McCain: "The bottom line is that Senator Obama's words, for all their eloquence and passion, don't mean all that much."

Wright: "McCain has recently said Obama would rather lose a war to win an election. He's called him 'Dr. No' on energy reforms, and run ads blaming Obama for high gas prices."

McCain Ad: "He's the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?"

Wright: "Today, McCain unveiled a new ad in eleven states, flashing images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, suggesting Obama is just another vapid celebrity."

McCain Ad: "Higher taxes, more foreign oil. That's the real Obama."

Stuart Rothenberg: "Nobody's going to confuse Paris Hilton with Senator Barack Obama. But over time, the attempt to raise questions about his substance, that could very well work."

Tags: Barack Obama and John McCain