Patricia Pointer

Treasury
Patricia Pointer
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources,
Chief Human Capital Officer

Patricia Pointer recently bought a home on Solomons Island in Southern Maryland, where she grew up. "I am picking up a one-and-a-half to two-hour commute one way," the Treasury Department's chief human capital officer wrote in an e-mail. "But it is worth it, as that's where my heart is."

In Washington, where commuting is taken very seriously, Pointer's sacrifice is not a small one. Neither is her commitment to her job at Treasury. "This is my third agency, and the HR professionals here at Treasury are second to none. Incredibly hard-working, smart and capable," she says.

Pointer's federal career began in 1989 as a personnel management intern at the Navy, serving in various technical and human resources management jobs. Before coming to Treasury in September 2003, she was manager of human resources planning, programs and evaluation for the Federal Aviation Administration's assistant administrator for regions and center operations.

She says one of her greatest challenges when she first arrived at Treasury was a downsized staff, due to buyouts and employees moving to the Homeland Security Department. "Rebuilding the organization, both in terms of numbers and morale, was a major priority for me for the first several months."

Pointer also says the Treasury Department "faced financial challenges, so filling key positions also was difficult for a period of time." Treasury always needs economists, lawyers and financial analysts, but often competes with the private sector for top talent. During 2004, Treasury managed to move from a red to yellow rating in the human capital component of the President's Management Agenda. And the department implemented a new pay-for-performance system for executives last year.