New postmaster sworn in

Megan J. Brennan was ceremonially sworn in as the nation's 74th postmaster general March 6 in a low-key event that stressed her family's love for the United States Postal Service, but gave no clue as to her plans to get Congressional help for the financially troubled agency.

Brennan, the nation's first female postal chief, had been on the job since Feb. 1 when the USPS held its traditional public ceremony to mark the beginning of her reign at postal headquarters.

In her remarks, Brennan repeated her earlier call for innovative use of new technologies to move the mail.

"The Postal Service is part of the fabric of our shared history and culture," she said. "We're an indispensable part of the American economy and the everyday lives of the public."

But, she added, "The story of the Postal Service is really about change."

And, "as the first woman postmaster general, I’m representative of the many changes in the composition of our workforce," she said.

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Brennan praised her two predecessors, John E. "Jack" Potter and Patrick Donahoe, saying both had been ideal mentors for a Postal Service career that began as letter carrier in Lancaster, Pa., 29 years ago.

"Both Pat and Jack epitomize that role of mentor and leader," she said.

Her strongest praise, however, came for her family, which she said had stood by her throughout her career. She offered special thanks to her father, a postal worker for 43 years, who urged her to take an exam for her first postal job.

New technologies are offering new opportunities for the Postal Service, Brennan said.

"They will enable the Postal Service to revitalize how we engage the American public and fulfill our public service mission."

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