Mr. Eric Popiel

Eric Popiel is a Strategic Foresight Analyst at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and co-manager of OPM’s Strategic Workforce Foresight Team (SWFT). He is responsible for the long-term futures program that informs federal workforce policy for OPM and assists 24 CFO Act agencies in Strategic Human Capital Management. Previously, he flew Coast Guard missions and instructed pilots in both the HU-25 Falcon Jet and the HC-144 Ocean Sentry. Following his aviation tours, he was assigned to the Emerging Policy Staff under the Deputy Commandant for Operations at Coast Guard Headquarters, where he managed the Coast Guard's Strategic Foresight Initiative for 5 years, utilizing various foresight techniques and methods to leverage opportunities, identify emerging threats, and recognize potential blind spots across all 11 statutory missions. He holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Joint Professional Military Education Level 1 certification, and a Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.