GSA's Self to retire in July

Charlie Self, the man many believe is responsible for bringing the concept of seat management to government, announced today he is retiring after 34 years of government service.

Self, the deputy commissioner for the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service, will leave July 31.

Self has worked at GSA since 1985 and has been the deputy commissioner for three years. He plans to take some time off to play golf in Ireland and do some other traveling before looking for part-time work in the private sector.

"It is about time to retire," he said. "I'm looking for some balance in my life. I'm tired of working 10- to 12-hour days. My wife quit this summer, too, and we want to travel more."

"There are a lot of opportunities out there for me," Self said. "I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do. After spending all these years in government moving up the ladder, I feel like there are many things I could do."

Self said his passion has been working to make government function more like private industry. He said he is most proud of his work to offer agencies the use of governmentwide acquisition contracts and in helping to establish the Federal Acquisition Services for Technology program for small businesses. And of course there is seat management, which was Self's focus for many years.

"Though it didn't get where we wanted it to, there would be no NMCI if not for seat management," Self said. "Seat also set the stage for performance-based contracting."