Senior Foresight Trainer
Eric Popiel is a nationally recognized leader in foresight and strategic finance, known for pioneering the application of futures methodologies to complex organizational and financial challenges across the federal government. With a career spanning executive management, policy innovation, and coalition building, Eric has established himself as one of the foremost experts in long-term planning and financial foresight within federal agencies.
Eric previously served as Group Manager for the Future of Work at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where he led a team implementing foresight practices both within OPM and across the federal government. He advised senior leaders on emerging trends, innovative approaches, and future-focused strategies to solve multifaceted problems. Eric’s expertise was sought by large agencies and executive councils, where he facilitated the adoption of foresight methodologies to address their most pressing challenges.
A hallmark of Eric’s impact is his leadership of a groundbreaking foresight project for the Chief Financial Officers Council (CFOC). He designed and managed a comprehensive initiative focused on the future of the federal financial management workforce, guiding CFOs from all 24 CFO Act agencies through scenario planning, trend analysis, and uncertainty mapping. The resulting Financial Management Workforce Strategic Plan, authored by Eric, now informs long-term planning for the entire federal financial management community and directly led to the creation of a Career Planning and Training Tool for over 140,000 financial professionals. This effort was recognized with the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC) Workforce Innovation Award, and its recommendations are being implemented by an executive steering committee chartered by the Office of Management and Budget.
Earlier, as Program Manager for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Evergreen Strategic Foresight Initiative, Eric led long-term scenario planning impacting not only Coast Guard operations but also broader Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and OPM strategies. His work informed financial and human capital planning, risk management, and innovation programs, and his methodologies have been adopted by the DHS Chief Human Capital Officer and the CFO Council.
Eric holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, providing a strong foundation in strategic analysis and risk assessment. He is also a certified foresight professional, having earned a Professional Certificate in Foresight from the University of Houston-one of the world’s leading programs in the field. In addition, Eric is a LUMA Institute Certified Instructor, further underscoring his expertise in facilitation and human-centered design.
