FedSec - Opening Plenary Address + Opening Plenary Panel

Ernie DuBester Related Seminars and Products

Chairman

Federal Labor Relations Authority

Ernest DuBester was designated Chairman by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on January 21, 2021. Chairman DuBester was initially appointed and renominated by President Barack Obama, renominated again by President Donald Trump, and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to all three terms, Chairman DuBester has served as an FLRA Member since August 2009. He also served as FLRA Chairman from January to November of 2013 and for a second time in January of 2017. Chairman DuBester was previously nominated by President William J. Clinton and served as Chairman and Member of the National Mediation Board (NMB) from 1993 to 2001.  Subsequently, he served as a staff mediator with the NMB. Chairman DuBester has over 45 years of experience in labor-management relations. He began his career at the National Labor Relations Board, serving as counsel to former Chairman and Member John Fanning. He also served as a Union attorney with the firm of Highsaw & Mahoney, and as legislative counsel to the AFL-CIO. He previously taught collective bargaining and arbitration at the Catholic University of America School of Law. In addition, Chairman DuBester served as Professor and Director of the Dispute Resolution Program at George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School). During his time at the Law School, he also worked as an arbitrator and mediator of labor and employment matters, including many federal-sector cases. Chairman DuBester received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, his law degree from the Catholic University of America School of Law, where he was Recent Developments Editor of the Law Review, and his Masters of Law in Labor Law from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Todd Dickey Related Seminars and Products

Assistant Professor, Public Administration & International Affairs

Syracuse University

Todd Dickey is an assistant professor of public administration and international affairs at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. His research and teaching interests are in the fields of public sector human resource management, labor and employment relations, and workplace conflict management.  His current research explores organizational systems for addressing workplace conflict as well as innovation and change in federal sector civil service institutions and labor relations.  Prior to graduate school, Dickey worked for several years at the Federal Trade Commission.  He holds a Ph.D. in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University, a Master of Arts in political science from Syracuse University, and an A.B. from Vassar College.

Everett Kelley Related Seminars and Products

National President

American Federation of Government Employees

Everett Kelley is the National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, which is the largest union representing federal and D.C. government employees. He assumed the presidency in February 2020. Everett Kelley has been a member of AFGE since 1981. He worked at the Anniston Army Depot, which he recently retired from after 30 years. Prior to his election as National Vice President, he served as President of Local 1945 from 2002 to 2011. As President of Local 1945, he was responsible for five bargaining units with over 4,500 bargaining unit employees. Under his leadership, the union membership in his Local went from 1,200 in 2002 to well over 2,600 in 2010. As District 5 National Vice President, he was focused on taking the lead in protecting and advancing AFGE member interests. Under his administration the District 5 membership grew from 38,000 to over 51,000 in seven years. A native of Goodwater, Alabama, Kelley moved his family to Sylacauga, Alabama, where he graduated from Sylacauga High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and served our country for 3 years. After his military career, Kelley focused on education. He completed an AA at Central Alabama Community College, he then matriculated to Selma University and earned a Bachelor of Theology and Master of Theology at Rushing Springs School of Theology. Upon graduation, Everett honored his learning experience by serving as professor at Birmingham Estonian Bible college and Rushing Spring School of Theology. Everett continued his education and obtained a Doctorate degree in 2016. Kelley is a board member of Habitat for Humanity Alabama local chapter and served as board member of the Economic Development Council of Calhoun County Alabama, East Alabama Planning Commission, Association of United States Army. He served as the senior pastor of St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in Lincoln, Alabama for 31 and a half years before retiring in February 2019 and being appointed Pastor Emeritus. 

Robert Shriver Related Seminars and Products

Managing Director, Civil Service Strong and Good Government Initiatives

Democracy Forward

Rob Shriver is the Managing Director of the Civil Service Strong initiative at Democracy Forward and the former Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). During his career, he has focused on supporting and advocating for the federal workforce. 

In his current role, he heads the Civil Service Strong initiative, a coalition that works to protect career civil servants and opposes attempts to politicize the federal workforce. As part of his work at Democracy Forward, he helped launch a new fellowship program aimed at rebuilding expertise within the federal government.

In September 2025, Shriver was elected to the National Academy of Public Administration's 2025 class of Academy Fellows. 

Previously he had two tours of duty at the OPM as Acting Director from 2024-2025 and Deputy Director from 2022-2024

Rob graduated from The George Washington University Law School with his J.D.

Michael Oswalt Related Seminars and Products

Interim Director - Institute for Law and the Workplace

Chicago-Kent College of Law