State Personnel Director Kelly Hardwick was recently honored by the National Association of State Personnel Executives (NASPE) with the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Leadership Award. This award recognizes individuals for exceptional leadership in state personnel management.  Hardwick was appointed state personnel director in March 2017. Under his leadership, MSPB has made significant improvements to Mississippi’s personnel system including the first major review and overhaul of Mississippi’s classification and compensation system since 1981 (Project SEC2), a complete rewrite of the MSPB Policy and Procedures Manual and State Employee Handbook, and an overhaul of the state employee Performance Management System.

NASPE was established in 1977 to enhance communication and exchange of information among state government personnel executives across the country. NASPE provides educational resources for its members and a forum to share best practices in state human resource management through meetings, publications, surveys, and online discussion forums.  NASPE is an affiliate organization of The Council of State Governments.