The Postmaster General oversees postal policies and corporate decisions for the United States Postal Service, which became an independent government agency in the 1970s. The position was created in 1775 and has evolved from a sinecure to an active and demanding role. The current Postmaster General’s experience and qualifications are available through the USPS.
The Postmaster General is the chief executive of the United States Postal Service. As the head of one of the largest employers in the United States, the Postmaster General oversees postal policies, reforms, and corporate decisions. The postmaster general’s role has evolved over the centuries since this position was created, from a sinecure given to pro-political people to an extremely active and demanding position. Information about the current Postmaster General’s experience and qualifications is always available through the United States Postal Service.
This position was formally created in 1775, although a similar position predates the formation of the United States itself. The first general postmaster was Benjamin Franklin, who served 15 months as head of the nascent postal system. By 1829, the postmaster general had become a member of the presidential cabinet and was among other things last in line for succession to the presidency. These early postal generals were typically loyal members of the presidential campaign who were rewarded for their service with a job believed to be relatively comfortable.
In the 1970s, the Post Office underwent a major reconstruction and the Postmaster General was purged from the Presidential Cabinet while the Post Office became an independent government agency. The restructuring of the Post Office was designed to make it a safer and more useful agency by creating a new system of command of a board of directors, although the Postmaster General is still the head of the organization. Today, the United States Postal Service is run much like a corporation, with the goal of offering new products on an ongoing basis and keeping the Post Office profitable.
As chief executive officer, the postmaster general oversees the day-to-day operations of the postal service and sits on the board of directors. The board also elects another member to serve as assistant postmaster general and chief operating officer. The post-1970 Post Office structure is designed to separate the Post Office from its sometimes sordid and poorly governed past.
As a public figure, the Postmaster General makes periodic statements on postal reforms, new services and changes in postal policy. The postmaster general is also held accountable for failures of the postal system, just as a CEO would be in a normal company.
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