Governor of the United States Postal Service - Definition and Overview

Governor of the United States Postal Service is a position comparable to director of a private corporation, except in service of the American postal system. Of the Board's 11 members, nine are appointed by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The nine presidentially appointed Governors choose the Postmaster General, who also serves as a member of the Board. These 10, in turn, choose a Deputy Postmaster General, who becomes the 11th member of the Board. The Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General serve at the pleasure of the Governors.

Each Governor is appointed to a nine-year term or to the remainder of an unexpired term created by the death or resignation of a sitting Governor. Terms of the Governors are staggered to expire each year on December 8. A Governor whose term has expired may continue to sit on the Board for up to one year until a successor has been appointed. No more than five of the nine Governors may be of the same political party.

The Board generally meets once a month. Each January, the Governors elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. Three standing committees--Audit and Finance, Capital Projects, and Strategic Planning--meet regularly during the year to consider matters within their area of responsibility and refer items to the full Board for consideration.

The current Governors of the USPS are:

• Presidentially appointed
  • S. David Fineman, Chairman
  • John F. Walsh, Vice Chairman
  • LeGree S. Daniels
  • Alan C. Kessler
  • James C. Miller III
  • Robert F. Rider
  • three current vacancies
• Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General
  • John E. "Jack" Potter
  • John Nolan