Government Executive - Authors - Jessica Lambertson

President honors top feds

Dawn Lim and Jessica Lambertson — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Each year the president holds up an exclusive group of top senior executives as prime examples of dedication to good government by awarding them the Presidential Rank Award. The 2009 winners represent a wide range of professionals working to save time, money and lives through better health care and financial systems; uncover financial and cyber fraud; advance scientific research on Earth and in space; and shore up the nation's defenses against terrorism, natural disaster and crime.

Executives are nominated by their agency heads and reviewed by boards made up of private citizens before the president's final selection. They are evaluated on leadership qualities and performance results. Distinguished Rank Award recipients receive a payment of 35 percent of their annual salary and Meritorious Rank Award recipients receive 20 percent of pay.

For a full list of the winners, click here.

]]>

Prize Performers

Dawn Lim and Jessica Lambertson — Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Presidential Rank Award winners play critical roles in missions ranging from project management to scientific research and defense.

The following pages contain profiles of the latest Distinguished Award winners, who will be honored at a reception and dinner sponsored by the Senior Executives Association on May 6.

Agriculture

Dennis Gonsalves

Director

Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center

Controlled virus problems in tropical crops while researching how to control pests in Hawaii, including the fruit fly. His work on the transgenic virus- resistant papaya helped control the ring spot virus that nearly killed off the plant in that state.

Steven Mark Kappes

Deputy Administrator

Agricultural Research Service

Mapped the bovine genome and identified specific challenges to beef cattle genetics research. Advanced the study of farm cattle by uncovering ruminant biology and evolution with bovine genome study.

Commerce

Lisa A. Casias

Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Office of the Secretary

Transformed Commerce from a department with poor record-keeping and financial management to one with sound practices, internal controls and systems. Responsible for ensuring federal financial management reforms are effectively implemented governmentwide. Helped Commerce earn consistently clean audit opinions.

Mary M. Glackin

Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Responsible for management of U.S. fisheries and marine sanctuaries, as well as daily delivery of essential environmental information such as weather warnings and forecasts. In previous positions, she established the Office of Program Planning and Integration and led a program to modernize the National Weather Service.

Deborah A. Jefferson

Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer

Office of the Secretary

Designed, developed and implemented human capital management initiatives at the departmental and bureau levels. Responsible for HR and payroll services for six of Commerce's 13 bureaus.

Thomas R. Karl

Director, Climate Data Center; Program Manager, Climate Observation and Monitoring Program

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Authored many climatic atlases and technical reports. Published more than 150 journal articles to increase the scientific community's knowledge of global warming. Member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

Kathleen A. Kelly

Director, Office of Satellite Operations

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Provides expertise in 24-7 satellite operations. Led move into new building without any loss of data. Created a more reliable flow of satellite information to the National Weather Service. Recovered the GOES-12 satellite from a life-threatening problem and restored it to full operations within one week.

Richard W. Spinrad

Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Oversees seven laboratories, 1,200 researchers and a $400 million budget. Led the development of the nation's first Ocean Research Priorities Plan. Previously received the Navy's Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

Maureen E. Wylie

Chief Financial Officer

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Responsible for multibillion-dollar budget and financial operations. Manages a workforce of more than 350 people in 10 locations. Contributes strategic counsel on the agency's programmatic issues.

Defense

William J. Carr

Deputy Undersecretary for Military Personnel Policy

Office of the Secretary

Built the Defense Travel Management Office from the ground up. Now it is a 150-person organization with oversight of $9 billion in commercial travel- related spending. Reopened 2,500 homes on military bases while trimming annual rental outlays by nearly $30 million. Directed a review of $90 billion in military compensation programs.

John A. Casciotti

Associate Deputy General Counsel for Health Affairs

Office of the Secretary

Improved the Military Health System by reforming the medical and disability programs for wounded soldiers. Reduced costs with regulatory and legislative initiatives. Successfully defended programs such as the anthrax vaccine immunization project.

Steven M. Huybrechts

Principal Director, C-3 Space and Spectrum

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration

Oversees the nation's space launch infrastructure. Reduced the cost of a weather satellite program by $2 billion. Transformed the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base from a cataloging function into a command center capable of understanding space events in real time.

J. Alan Liotta

Principal Director

Office of Detainee Affairs

Oversaw development of Defense's international detention activities and held various posts in Asia. Managed national effort to recover unaccounted American service personnel from the Vietnam War, Korean War and World War II.

Alfred J. Rivera

Director, Computing Services Directorate

Defense Information Systems Agency

Leads 2,600 personnel at 13 Defense Enterprise Computing centers around the globe. Provides critical support programs and control systems to Defense combatant commands, services and agencies.

Theresa M. Whelan

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense Domains/ Support of Civil Authorities

Office of Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs

Spent 20 years in the intelligence and policy communities, focusing on African issues. Served as a negotiator during the Kosovo crisis. Currently oversees homeland defense preparedness and operations in land, maritime and air domains.

Air Force

Siva S. Banda

Director, Center of Excellence in Control Science

Air Force Research Laboratory

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Ensures the Air Force maintains innovative flight control solutions to protect national security and maintain U.S. air dominance.

Timothy A. Beyland

Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel

Responsible for comprehensive plans and policies for all stages of military and civilian personnel management. Develops policies for military and civilian end strength management, education and training, and compensation and resource allocation.

Bruce Stuart Lemkin

Deputy Undersecretary, International Affairs

Office of the Undersecretary for International Affairs

Led a 200-person organization and managed an $85 billion Foreign Military Sales portfolio. Established stronger relationships with nations and air forces worldwide. Oversaw a 50 percent expansion of the Military Personnel Exchange Program.

Army

Kwong-Kit Choi

Senior Research Scientist for Physical Sciences Army Research Laboratory

Developed radiation sensors and imagers to aid Army operations, including night vision and missile guidance. Demonstrated the highest quantum efficiency and the broadest spectral band QWIP cameras to date.

Patrick J. Fitzgerald

Auditor General

Headquarters

Manages all audit issues pertaining to the Army and more than 600 employees worldwide. Responsible for audit policy, training, follow-up and coordination with external audit organizations.

Joseph A. Lannon

Director

Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center Led the investment of $200 million in state-of-the-art research and development centers. Manages more than 3,000 employees in 64 laboratories. Through his leadership, the center won 34 Army R&D Achievement Team Awards.

Tracey L. Pinson

Director

Office of Small Business Programs

Office of the Secretary

As the top female in the Army acquisition career field, she's responsible for implementation of federal acquisition programs designed to help small businesses. Manages the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institution program, and develops policies and initiatives to enhance their participation in Army-funded programs. Established implementation strategy for Defense Mentor-Protégé Program.

John L. Shipley

Director, Special Programs (Aviation)

Aviation and Missile Life-Cycle Management Command

Leads development, acquisition and modernization of Army's Special Operations classified and unclassified aviation fleet. Brought unmatched aviation capability to unit, and has contributed significantly to the war against terror.

Larry Stubblefield

Deputy Administrative Assistant to the Secretary Office of the Secretary

Manages several Armywide initiatives and provides information technology services to the Pentagon. Supervises the Military History and Resources Operations Center, which employs 2,300 personnel. Prior to his current position, led the Army Resources and Programs Agency, with an annual budget exceeding $10 billion.

Mark B. Tischler

Senior Research Scientist for Physical Sciences Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center

Led a group of 15 scientists who planned and executed a $4.2 million annual flight control program on unmanned and manned rotorcaft. Helped advance flight control systems through research and collaboration with industry partners.

Navy

Iona E. Evans

Chief Information Officer

Initiated the move of public shipyards into the Voluntary Protection Program, resulting in a significant decrease in injuries and improved safety awareness. Saved more than $300 million in IT expenditures across the five-year planning cycle.

Pasquale Tamburrino Jr.

Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations

Senior civilian responsible for policy, program and resource allocation for worldwide readiness and logistics. Manages a $32 billion budget for a staff of more than 300 employees while also serving as principal adviser for management of civilian executives for the chief of naval operations.

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

Timothy J. Dwyer

Technical Director

Responsible for ensuring health and safety oversight programs targeting the most dangerous facilities and operations. As a captain in the Navy Reserve, he leads 15 units that support the Office of Naval Research in crafting high-tech solutions in the war on terror.

Environmental Protection Agency

Brian J. McLean

Director

Office of Atmospheric Programs

Designed cap-and-trade programs, establishing an efficient market-based approach to reducing emissions. Encouraged collaborative solutions to environmental problems by setting up partnership programs with public organizations and the private sector.

Stephen D. Page

Director

Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards

In previous roles, he oversaw the implementation of the Clean Air Act, which defined EPA's responsibilities for protecting the nation's air quality, and directed urban and rural air quality management programs. Manages annual state grants funds of more than $185 million.

General Services Administration

Gail T. Lovelace

Chief Human Capital Officer; Chief Privacy Officer; Director of Presidential Transition

Oversees all matters related to personnel security clearances at GSA. Promotes workforce flexibilities such as teleworking and alternative work schedules. Implemented information technology to support HR management processes. Provided assistance and counseling to agencies during the 2008 presidential transition.

Health and Human Services

Anna Michelle Snyder

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Streamlined accounting by introducing an integrated system that enabled CMS to achieve its first clean audit opinion. Promoted partnerships between government agencies and private corporations, and encouraged efficient use of technology and health resources, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

Donalda L. Wilder

Area Director, Portland

Indian Health Service

Collaborated with tribal leaders to promote participation in health programs. Managed and negotiated health care contracts. Reorganized the Office of the Director at headquarters to promote more interaction with field operations.

Homeland Security

Keith L. Prewitt

Deputy Director

Secret Service

Spearheaded an interagency working group that allowed intelligence sharing with the FBI during the 2008 presidential campaign. Pushed for accreditation standards improving law enforcement training, and initiated major cyber investigation uncovering fraud schemes worldwide.

Thomas S. Winkowski

Assistant Commissioner, Field Operations

Customs and Border Protection

Developed national and international programs to support the administration's anti-terrorism agenda after September 11, 2001. Responsible for enforcing customs, immigration and agriculture laws at U.S. borders.

Justice

Lee J. Lofthus

Assistant Attorney General for Administration

Pushed to consolidate and modernize the department's financial management system. Issues its public financial statements and manages key financial initiatives. Achieved the rare feat of bringing three clean audits in a year to the agency in former position as chief financial officer. Transformed the human resources department through technology.

Andrew G. Oosterbaan

Chief of Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

Criminal Division

Developed technology to monitor child exploitation and obscenity offenses. Designed an interagency strategy to deal with child prostitution. Led undercover initiatives and drafted legislation targeting sex trafficking.

Clifford J. White III

Director

U.S. Trustee Program

Led agency efforts to implement bankruptcy reform and developed fair means testing policies to weed out fraud. Promoted a balanced approach to addressing violations of the bankruptcy code, targeting debtors as well as creditors and attorneys. Pushed to oust managers engaged in fraud during corporate bankruptcy reorganizations.

John L. Wodatch

Chief

Disability Rights Section

Chief author of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Removed barriers for Americans with disabilities by enforcing laws prohibiting discriminatory practices in workplaces, public transportation and housing.

NASA

John H. Campbell

Director (retired), Wallops Flight Facility

Goddard Space Flight Center

Managed NASA's principal facility for suborbital research programs, directed acquisition and certification efforts of expendable launch vehicles. In his previous job, he was responsible for the development and operation of all Goddard Space Flight Center's spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope.

Debra L. Johnson

Director, Office of Procurement

Johnson Space Center

Manages $5 billion in annual expenditures, including complex contracts involving the International Space Station Program, Space Shuttle Program, and Constellation Program. In previous roles, coordinated business decisions with headquarters and external audit agencies.

Mary Denise Kerwin

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

Key contact between NASA and Capitol Hill. Translates NASA's complex initiatives into comprehensible concepts for Congress, secures NASA's annual $17.5 billion budget and ensures congressional priorities are aligned with those of the agency.

Samuel H. Moseley

Senior Astrophysicist

Goddard Space Flight Center

Leader in the development of thermal detectors for infrared detection and X-ray spectroscopy. Implemented the infrared array camera to detect emission from the earliest generation of galaxies to form in the universe after the Big Bang.

Jonathan Q. Pettus

Chief Information Officer

Oversees NASA's $2 billion IT budget and applications supporting human space flight, scientific and aeronautical programs. In previous positions, he managed IT to support the Marshall Space Flight Center's missions and led a team that integrated NASA's enterprise-level applications.

J. William Sikora

Chief Counsel

John H. Glenn Research Center

Leads the team that provides legal counsel on missions at the John H. Glenn Research Center. Legal adviser to the accident investigation board looking into the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Anthony J. Strazisar

Chief Scientist

John H. Glenn Research Center

On temporary assignment to headquarters, he is responsible for investing nearly $30 million in early-stage exploration for creative, high-risk concepts with the potential to become breakthroughs in aircraft and engine technology.

Michael C. Wholley

General Counsel

Leads team of attorneys in overseeing NASA's legal affairs and ensures agency's compliance with patent, international and employment law. Previously, he served as a fighter pilot, before being selected by Marine Corps to attend law school and become a judge advocate.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Roy P. Zimmerman

Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Spearheaded creation of office to enhance nuclear power plant security after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Led review of emergency preparedness regulations and strengthened partnerships with other federal agencies to address threats to national safety.

State

John R. Byerly

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Transportation Affairs

Engaged in several negotiations of air services agreements and development of civil aviation and maritime policy. Lead negotiator in the 2007 historic Air Transport Agreement that liberalized U.S. aviation relations with 27 European Union countries.

Jonathan B. Schwartz

Deputy Legal Adviser

Counsels the secretary, national security adviser and president on efforts to promote peace agreements between Israel and its neighbors. Forged diplomatic ties with Libya. Supervised offices within the agency's legal bureau, including African and Middle Eastern Affairs.

Transportation

Theodore P. Alves

Deputy Inspector General (retired)

Supervised audits and investigations of federal transportation agencies. Oversaw HR, procurement and accounting activities. In his previous position at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he directed financial management operations and IT audits.

Treasury

Richard Ervin Byrd Jr.

Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division

Internal Revenue Service

Led a program that examined tax returns and resolved millions of cases involving underreporting. Orchestrated outreach effort to assist Americans filing tax returns to receive 2008 stimulus payments. Delivered successful 2008 filing season despite budget shortfalls.

John R. Swales III

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Retail Securities

Bureau of the Public Debt

Merged programs to save the department more than $1 million annually. Pioneered technology to protect billions of dollars in investor accounts. Guided an error-free accounting operation, achieving 15 consecutive years of timely and accurate interest payments.

Veterans Affairs

Elizabeth J. Freeman

Director

Palo Alto Health Care System

Manages 5,000 employees and volunteers with an annual budget of more than $700 million. Procured $350 million in construction funds in two years for major projects. Under her leadership, VA Palo Alto has achieved the highest employee satisfaction scores in VHA's last four surveys and became the only VHA Center of Excellence in Women's Health Care in 2008.

Glen W. Grippen

Network Director

Rocky Mountain Network

Limited large, expensive hospitals and pushed for accessible, local hospitals with same-day surgery centers. Developed communication networks for telemedicine applications. Connected Native American veterans on reservations to telemedical services in 2007.

Alan S. Perry

Director

Roseburg Healthcare System

Directed three VA federal medical stations in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike. Led a politically charged panel review of a hospital restructuring. Served as lead liaison and interim director of VA operations in the Philippines.

James M. Sullivan

Deputy Director

Office of Asset Enterprise

Management

Primary business adviser to secretary on capital asset portfolio management. Implemented an interdepartmental Green Building Council for environmentally friendly and sustainable construction. Created a business case model that used electronic databases to evaluate capital asset proposals.

]]>

Former NSA executive accused of leaking classified information

Jessica Lambertson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The indictment alleges that Thomas A. Drake, a high-ranking NSA employee from 2001 through 2008, served as a source in 2006 and 2007 for newspaper articles about the intelligence agency. The indictment claims that some of the information he disclosed was classified. It does not name the newspaper, but The Washington Post has reported that it was The Baltimore Sun.

Also included in the indictment are specific references to hundreds of e-mails exchanged containing classified information. "As alleged, this defendant used a secret, nongovernment e-mail account to transmit classified and unclassified information that he was not authorized to possess or disclose," Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer said. "As if those allegations are not serious enough, he also allegedly later shredded documents and lied about his conduct to federal agents in order to obstruct their investigation."

Drake was trained on handling confidential information within the NSA and signed documents acknowledging procedures for approval before disclosing information, according to the indictment. Drake was never authorized to declassify, copy or print classified information, the Justice Department said.

The indictment contains five counts of willfully retaining classified documents, one count of obstruction of justice and four counts of making false statements to FBI agents investigating the case. If found guilty, Drake could face up to 10 years in prison for keeping classified documents, 20 years for obstruction of justice and five years for making false statements. The counts each carry a fine of up to $250,000.

"Our national security demands that the sort of conduct alleged here -- violating the government's trust by illegally retaining and disclosing classified information -- be prosecuted, and prosecuted vigorously," Breuer said.

]]>

Oversight committee OKs telework and TSP bills

Jessica Lambertson — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The panel passed the 2009 Telework Improvements Act (H.R. 1722) by a voice vote, after debating three amendments aimed at strengthening oversight. The measure would codify a governmentwide telework policy Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry announced last year, guaranteeing eligible federal employees the right to work off-site for at least 20 percent of every two-week period. It also would require every agency to designate a telework managing officer and it would provide training on the alternative work arrangement for employees and supervisors.

"This act seeks to improve access to telework governmentwide," said Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. "Despite the fact that the federal government is seeking ways to improve its business, telework continues to be underutilized by federal agencies."

The legislation received bipartisan support, though Republican lawmakers urged clear oversight and strong management of the program. "There are some potential and demonstrated bad effects of telework," said Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., ranking member of the committee. "Millions of records, classified or unclassified, have been lost as a result of telework. That is unacceptable."

The committee approved an amendment offered by Chairman Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., that would require OPM to develop guidelines to assess agency compliance with telework regulations. Further, it asks OPM to oversee agency plans for staying up and running during emergencies. "This builds on the government's current telework capability, and it requires OPM to issue governmentwide regulations for telework and provide agencies with advice and necessary training to make sure telework is utilized to the maximum capability," Towns said.

The panel also cleared an amendment by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., that would mandate a database to help OPM determine the validity and success of telework programs. And it approved a provision by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, which would allow agencies to decide whether a current employee could take on the role of telework supervisor. "We certainly have agencies that are rather large that will require a full-time person to execute this," Chaffetz said. "We also have agencies that are rather small. This amendment will allow agencies some flexibility to determine need."

The committee also passed by voice vote a bill (H.R. 4865) that would allow federal employees to add the cash value of leftover annual leave to their Thrift Savings Plan accounts, so long as it didn't put them over annual contribution limits of $16,500 for employees younger than 50 and $22,000 for those who are 50 or older.

The measure drew bipartisan support and prompted little debate, though the panel did approve an amendment by Connolly to change the effective date to one year after enactment. That language was aimed at ensuring the TSP board has enough time for implementation.

"We need to make sure we have time to put in place adequate processing," Connolly said. "There is an allowance [in the amendment] that if they can do it faster than a year, they can do it that way as well."

The National Federation of Federal Employees praised the committee for supporting "a much needed boon to federal employees' retirement accounts, which took such a big hit in recent years." NFFE National President William Dougan thanked Lynch and Chaffetz for reaching across party lines to sponsor the measure.

"These are good government bills," Towns said. "They save taxpayers money while reducing waste and increasing workforce flexibility."

]]>

First Lady praises Pentagon employees

Jessica Lambertson — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

First Lady Michelle Obama on Friday vowed to support service members and their families through better pay, benefits and education during a speech to Defense Department employees at the Pentagon.

"We are making sure you have what you need to get the job done," Obama said, broadly discussing the administration's efforts to improve pay, benefits, housing, education and medical care for service members and their families. In particular, the First Lady mentioned the extension of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act to federal employees caring for family members injured during military service as well as an initiative to renovate or replace more than half of Defense's schools.

Mrs. Obama, who has made the well-being of military families one of her signature issues, honored military and civilian employees on Friday during her first visit to the Pentagon. Much of her speech highlighted the efforts of the "true heroes" -- the spouses and children of Defense workers. She praised the commitment of the department's personnel.

"Our country has never asked so much, for so long, of our all-volunteer force. But the beauty is you never complain," she said, then joking, "at least not out loud."

About 20 civilian Pentagon employees, with more than 800 years of public service combined, joined Mrs. Obama onstage during the speech. "You are the force behind the force. You all may not always get the glory, but our troops cannot do their job without you."

Employees greeted the First Lady warmly. "You're so sweet. And there's so many of you," she said, when she stepped up to the microphone. After her remarks, she greeted many attendees individually.

]]>

Interagency task force to oversee long-term Haiti support and rebuilding

Jessica Lambertson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Haiti Task Team, announced late last week, will replace the initial Response Management Team and includes military service members, and representatives of the Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and State departments. Paul Weisenfeld of USAID will lead the group.

Two months after the magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit, there are more than 900 expert civilians on the ground in Haiti, according to Chris Milligan, deputy to the Office of the U.S. Response Coordinator for USAID. The task force will help ensure projects are assigned according to agencies' specialties to take full advantage of resources. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be best-suited to focus on debris management. "This has led to a better capacity of assets," Milligan said.

As the transition to longer-term reconstruction gets under way, agencies are preparing for the rainy season. Changing weather poses new threats to health and means more stable shelter is needed. Workers are aiming to complete health care and shelter provisions by April 15. "What we do down here is to make sure there is a link between relief and reconstruction," Milligan said.

The relief effort already has accomplished a lot, Milligan said. "The six U.S.-based search-and-rescue teams led the most successful search and rescue to date, saving 136 lives," he said. In some cases, conditions in Haiti are better than before the earthquake, according to Milligan. More Haitians have access to clean water, hospitals have expanded surgical capabilities and sanitation has improved.

One of the greatest concerns now is the estimated 600,000 Haitians who left Port-au-Price. Many are living with host families in rural Haiti, so USAID is working to distribute food and medical supplies outside the capital city.

Milligan praised all the agencies involved in Haiti relief, and noted a joint effort of this scale was unprecedented. He added that investments in disaster situation relief training and preparation at USAID have paid off.

He also made note of the Haitian staff members who were aiding in the U.S. effort. "The Haitians who work through USAID and the embassy have had enormous challenges, but they come in every day and help us all work together to address our needs," he said.

]]>

Agencies move ahead to create labor partnership councils

Jessica Lambertson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

executive order on Tuesday by establishing the NCUA/NTEU Partnership Council.

The executive order called for agencies to create forums for labor-management collaboration and also re-established a national partnership council. A number of federal agencies are working out agreements with unions, but NTEU and NCUA are moving at a faster pace. The pact was made ahead of the March 9 deadline for submitting proposals to the national council.

"We were asked to create a partnership from NCUA leadership," NTEU President Colleen Kelley said. "It was going to happen with or without an executive order."

NCUA Chairwoman Debbie Matz helped spearhead the project and approached NTEU. "I had been involved in partnerships before, and I wanted to facilitate one with NTEU," she said. "We feel including employees in the decision-making process is just something good to do."

Tuesday's agreement marks the beginning of a long-term commitment. The partnership council will have six NTEU members and six NCUA management officials. The team will help improve workplace conditions by addressing challenges, managing conflicts, and creating a cooperative relationship between NTEU and NCUA. "These individuals will attend monthly meetings, and will be together from the onset of the council," Matz said. "They are going through training together."

The council also will help facilitate discussion between rank-and-file employees and leadership. "Front-line employees have a lot of good ideas about agencies," Kelley said. "We are committed to including these ideas."

The executive order did not grant unions additional bargaining power, but Kelley noted that creating an open dialogue was her main concern. "It will be a slow start, and it will take a lot of discussion among the NTEU and NCUA [staffs]," she said. "It's not just about bargaining; it's about what everyone wants to talk about."

Kelley said the NTEU/NCUA agreement was the first in a number of similar programs NTEU is facilitating. "This is definitely a work in progress," she noted. "You can't just flip on a light switch and expect immediate changes. We felt this decision was good for NCUA as well as employees. Now we are working with 30 other organizations to help facilitate similar arrangements."

Each relationship will be unique, according to Kelley. "We realize that there is not one template that will work in every agency," she said.

]]>

Web site helps nuclear security agency employees find role models

Jessica Lambertson — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

"We want to create passion, recruit, retain and stimulate the next generation through a continually renewable, active learning environment," said Michael Kane, associate administrator for management and administration at NNSA.

The Web-based program allows registrants to create profiles and find colleagues nationwide who could help them grow professionally. Participants have access to events posted on the site and special teaching and learning resources; they also can use the site to communicate with other members. Weekly newsletters announce upcoming events, help propel conversations, and offer ways to break down problems.

NNSA decided to use an online format because it is cheaper and more effective, according to Kane. "We have the technology, we need to use it," he said.

The program isn't just for higher level employees. NNSA is hoping to tap into the technological savvy of younger staffers and help prepare the workforce for an anticipated wave of retirements.

Kane said he is optimistic about the level of participation in the program. As of Friday, 85 employees had enrolled as mentors, including 17 members of the Senior Executive Service. Employees seeking mentors will begin signing up next week.

Other agencies have implemented similar programs, said Tim McManus, vice president of outreach for the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. He added that he sees promise in NNSA's plan. "One of the things that this does more than the other programs is that this is a much more structured arrangement," McManus said. "In addition to matching a mentor and mentee, the Web-based function allows them to schedule appointments. It facilitates the entire process."

McManus acknowledged it will be a while before the success of the NNSA program can be determined, and it is all dependent upon how fully the plans are carried out.

Sue Webster, president of Federally Employed Women, an organization focused on the advancement of women in government, said many federal mentoring programs concentrate on helping executives advance to the next level, which sometimes can exclude lower grade employees. The NNSA system, if it is inclusive, will be a great opportunity, she said.

]]>

Errors result in improper billing for victims of military sexual trauma

Jessica Lambertson — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Some veterans receiving treatment for military sexual trauma were billed incorrectly for services in fiscal 2009, according to a new report from the inspector general of the Veterans Affairs Department.

The IG discovered a lag time between when a patient received treatment and when the proper information was entered into the automated system, as well as manual edits to designations that caused incorrect co-payment charges. The lack of systematic reporting for MST services also contributed to the erroneous billing and limited data available for the study. As a result, VA recommended the "implementation of a method specifically designated to track MST-related care at all VHA medical facilities so that MST treatment data are readily accessible across the VA system."

Military sexual trauma includes sexual harassment and assault that occur during military service; victims can suffer from negative physical and mental health effects for years. VA provides free counseling and treatment for veterans who've experienced MST on active duty.

Hawaii Democrat Daniel Akaka, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for an investigation into the billing practice after a veteran complained about erroneous charges at the Austin Outpatient Clinic in the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. The Austin OPC treated 250 veterans for MST in calendar year 2008; 86 rendered services flagged as related to MST were billed.

The IG also recommended requiring staff to review all MST services before adding co-payment charges. Adding system checks, such as a confirmation screen or requiring supervisory acceptance for manual changes can prevent future mistakes by facility staff.

A health care provider must designate treatment for MST but a diagnosis of trauma is not always immediately evident, leading to another possible cause for improper billing, the report said. The IG recommended incorporating a billing delay to avoid this type of error in the future.

The director of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System generally agreed with the IG's findings. VA canceled all erroneous charges at the Austin clinic and educated the facility's staff on proper billing procedures. VA is implementing more programs to improve the reporting of MST treatment departmentwide.

]]>

Civilian agencies help fuel growth in translation contracts

Jessica Lambertson — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Government contracts for translation services are on the rise, and the increase is not due solely to defense and security needs, according to a new report from an independent market research firm.

Federal spending on language contracts skyrocketed from nearly $14.9 million in 1990 to more than $1 billion in 2009, Common Sense Advisory found in the report.

The data showed expected growth in language services contracts following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and the start of the Iraq war in 2003. But spending took another leap more recently, more than doubling from $453.7 million in 2007 to almost $1.1 billion in 2008, and hovering near that mark in 2009.

A large part of the recent increase was in Defense Department contracts. The Army, for instance, went from spending $260 million on language contracts in 2007 to $834 million in 2008.

Defense agencies were not alone, however.

Domestic communication has become a key issue. Widespread enforcement of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs, means agencies are relying more on language contracts to translate documents and serve as interpreters, according to Common Sense Advisory. "We're starting to see more litigation and the Justice Department investigating more complaints on this issue," said Nataly Kelly, senior analyst for the research firm.

Larger immigrant populations also create a civilian need for language services. The Homeland Security Department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau, Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration have increased spending on such services significantly since 2007. ICE's spending on language contracts grew $5.6 million from 2007 to 2008, for instance, rising from $19.5 million to $25.1 million

The General Services Administration, which offers language services contracts on its schedules, has noticed similar trends. The Pentagon still accounts for the largest part of government spending for language contracts, but civilian agencies might be contributing to recent upticks, according to Tammy Lindsley, business management specialist at GSA. "Defense Department contracts for language services were ramped up when we entered [the Iraq] war, but they have leveled off," she said.

Translation services contracts often are more cost-effective than establishing in-house language programs, according to Kelly. Language contractors can develop fluency in a specific language and maintain it as their core competency, which is much easier than trying to draw from a limited pool of federal employees or attract new hires, she said. GSA also reports that subcontracting has become more frequent, and the use of freelance language service providers is on the rise. Small companies and even individuals are obtaining federal contracts, though the trend is toward bigger agreements.

In 1990, agencies issued just three language contracts worth more than $100,000, the Common Sense Advisory report indicated. By 2009, that had increased to 379. "This may be a growing acknowledgement that communication is necessary to interact with anyone -- be it for defense, diplomacy or foreign policy," Kelly said. "Language services are essential to ensure communication is seamless."

According to Kelly, increases in spending on language contracts could help offset costs in other areas. She used the example of 911 calls. "If a 911 dispatcher can't understand the caller, a lot of times, they just dispatch a police officer to the scene," she said. "A good percentage of those calls are misdials, hang-ups, and non-emergency calls. This is a huge waste of time and resources." With language services, a dispatcher could patch in a translator to handle the call rather than sending police to the scene.

Common Sense Advisory predicted spending on language service contracts will continue to grow during the Obama administration. Despite the ballooning deficit and spending crunch, President Obama's programs for foreign trade, diplomacy and domestic multiculturalism urge the federal government to continue to use translation and interpretation services, the research group noted.

]]>

Program Cuts, Agency-by-Agency

Jessica Lambertson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

President Obama's $3.8 trillion fiscal 2011 budget estimates saving more than $20 billion through the termination, reduction and savings generated by 126 federal programs. Defense, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs are among the departments that will receive budget boosts under Obama's plan; others, such as the Interior Department, will see cuts to several programs.

Based on the budget proposal, we've put together a list of the proposed discretionary and mandatory terminations and reductions, categorized by agency. This compilation does include programs and other areas where the administration has estimated savings for 2011 and beyond; we've listed only areas that are targeted specifically for elimination or reduction in 2011 or beyond, where appropriate.

For a more detailed look at potential savings and the rationale for including programs and other initiatives on this list, read the "Terminations, Reductions and Savings" volume of the fiscal 2011 budget. Unless otherwise indicated, the figures represent the decrease in funding from 2010 to 2011.

(in millions of dollars)

Agriculture (13)

Agricultural Research Service Buildings and Facilities: 147
Capital Improvement and Maintenance Program: 100
Commodity Payments to Wealthy Farmers: 2,263 (from 2011-2020)
Commodity Storage Payments: 2
Community Facilities Grants: 15
Economic Action Program: 5
Health Care Services Grant Program: 3
High-Energy Cost Grants: 18
Market Access Program: 366 (from 2011-2020)
Multifamily Housing Revitalization Demonstration Program: 27
Public Broadcasting Grants: 5
Resource Conservation and Development Program: 51
Watershed and Flood Prevention Program: 30

Broadcasting Board of Governors (1)

Voice of America: 3

Commerce (3)

Emergency Steel Guaranteed Loan Program: 43
Grants to Manufacturers of Worsted Wool: 25 (from 2011-2020)
Public Telecommunications Facilities Grants: 20

Corps of Engineers (2)

Low-Priority Corps Construction Projects: 214
Water and Wastewater Treatment: 129

Defense (8)

C-17 Transport Aircraft Production: 2,500
Command Ship Replacement (LLC-R): 0**
EP-X Manned Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Aircraft: 12
Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle: 50
Joint Strike Fighter Alternate Engine: 465
Navy CG(X) Cruiser: 46
Net-Enabled Command Capability: 9
Third-Generation Infrared Surveillance Program (3GIRS): 73

Education (10)

Entitlements for Financial Intermediaries Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program: 43,294 (from 2011-2020)
ESEA Consolidations (combine 38 K-12 programs into 11 new programs): -568**
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program: 64
Rehabilitation Act Program Consolidations: -7**
Small Department of Education Programs (5 terminations): 59
Tech Prep Consolidation: 0**

Election Assistance Commission (1)

Election Reform Grants: 75

Energy (16)

Coal Tax Preferences (4 terminations): 2,283 (from 2011-2020)
LANSCE Refurbishment: 20
Oil and Gas Company Tax Preferences (8 terminations): 36,536 (from 2011-2020)
Oil and Gas Research and Development Program: 200
Unconventional Fossil Technology Program: 20
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository: 197

Environmental Protection Agency (5)

EPA Homeland Security Activities: 35
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: 175
Local Government Climate Change Grants: 10
Targeted Airshed Grants: 20
Targeted Water Infrastructure Grants: 157

Federal Communications Commission (1)

Telecommunications Development Fund: 63 (from 2011-2020)

Health and Human Services (6)

Anthrax Vaccine Research: 3
Children and Families Services Job Demonstration Program: 3
Health Resources and Services Administration (3 terminations): 383
Rural Community Facilities: 10

Homeland Security (2)

Emergency Operations Center Grant Program: 60
Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: 12

Housing and Urban Development (5)

Brownfields Economic Development Initiative: 18
Fair Housing Activities Program: 11
Home Investment Partnerships Program: 175
New Construction of Housing for the Elderly and Disabled (2 reductions): 761

Independent (3)

Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation: 1
Commission of Fine Arts: 5
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation: 1

Interior (10)

Alaska Conveyance: 13
Abandoned Mine Lands Payments to Certified States: 1,241 (from 2011-2020)
Challenge Cost Share Grants: 19
Hazardous Fuels Reduction: 44
Information Technology Efficiencies: 20
National Heritage Areas: 9
North American Wetlands Conservation Grants: 5
Save America's Treasures and Preserve America (NPS): 30
Strategic Sourcing: 30
Travel and Relocation Reform: 12

Justice (2)

Light-Duty Sedans Added to the FBI's Fleet: 4
Right-Size Component Personnel Travel Budgets: 20

Labor (3)

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Current Employment Statistics: 2
Bureau of Labor Statistics - International Labor Comparison Program: 2
Bureau of Labor Statistics - National Compensation Survey (Includes Locality Pay Surveys Component): 8

NASA (1)

Constellation Systems Program: 3,466

National Science Foundation (1)

WATERS Network: 4

Transportation (2)

Rail Line Relocation Grants: 34
Surface Transportation Priorities: 293

Treasury (4)

Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit: 760 (from 2011-2020)
Bureau of Public Debt: 6
Financial Management Service: 9
Terrorism Risk Insurance Program: 249 (from 2011-2020)

Veterans Affairs (1)

Uniform Criteria for Special Monthly Pension: 181

** Some program changes cause zero or negative savings because of consolidations and reallocation of resources.

]]>

Some nonsecurity agencies see slight budget boosts

Jessica Lambertson — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

President Obama's $3.8 trillion fiscal 2011 budget proposal, released on Monday, would hold discretionary funding for most nonsecurity agencies steady at best. But there are some exceptions to the rule. The Education Department, for instance, would see its discretionary budget authority increase $2.9 billion, or 6.2 percent, from an estimated $46.8 billion in fiscal 2010 to $49.7 billion in fiscal 2011.

Click here to view the fiscal 2011 budget documents.

Discretionary budget authority (billions of dollars)
Departments	2009 Actual	2010 Estimate	2011 Estimate
Agriculture	24	26.9	25.8
Commerce	9.4	13.9	8.9
Defense (DoD -- Excluding Overseas Contingency Operations)	513.2	530.8	548.9
Education	46.2	46.8	49.7
Energy	26	26.4	28.4
Health and Human Services	77.2	82	81.3
Homeland Security	42.1	39.4	43.6
Housing and Urban Development	40	43.6	41.6
Interior	11.3	12.2	12
Justice	26	27.5	24.1
Labor	12.9	14.3	14
State and Other International Programs	48.9	55.2	56.8
Transportation	70.5	76	77.6
Treasury	12.6	13.6	13.9
Veterans Affairs	47.6	53.1	57

Major Agencies
Corps of Engineers	5.3	5.4	4.9
Enviornmental Protection Agency	7.6	10.3	10
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	17.8	18.7	19
National Science Foundation	6.5	6.9	7.4
Small Business Administration	0.62	0.82	0.99
Social Security Administration	10.4	11.4	12.3
Corporation for National and Community Service	0.89	1.2	1.4

]]>

Report says size of FCC staff decreased steadily during past decade

Jessica Lambertson — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The number of employees working at the Federal Communications Commission declined steadily between fiscal 2003 and 2008, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

GAO found that an inability to offer competitive salaries and a lack of workforce planning have made it difficult for FCC to effectively recruit and retain talented employees. In particular, the commission has been hit hard by the departure of engineering staff and economists: FCC lost 10 percent and 14 percent, respectively, of those employees during the five-year period GAO studied.

FCC began started hiring more engineers and economists in fiscal 2007, but for mostly entry-level jobs. Employees with skills in engineering and economics are increasingly important as new technologies and growing economic issues "challenge existing regulatory structures," according to the report. GAO found that FCC has many managers in engineering and economics who will be eligible for retirement by 2011.

Overall, the perception of expertise within the commission among FCC staff was significantly lower than at other federal agencies, GAO said, citing an Office of Personnel Management survey.

FCC staff opinions of "motivation, engagement and views of senior leadership" also were dismal.

FCC has launched initiatives to improve staff motivation and to recruit new talent, but it does not track the effectiveness of such strategies, the report said. Without workforce planning, GAO said it will be difficult for FCC to develop a long-term strategy to hire and retain experienced staff.

Ironically, FCC, which is responsible for regulating communication, has trouble with its own internal communications, according to GAO. There are no written policies to manage collaboration among FCC offices, which can cause confusion and inefficiency, the report said.

GAO recommended that FCC develop performance targets and evaluations for recruiting and use more flexible strategies to increase its workforce. The report also suggested FCC provide clear guidance on internal communication.

FCC generally agreed with report findings, and said it will incorporate GAO's recommendations on workforce planning. But FCC Managing Director Steven VanRoekel, disagreed with GAO's conclusion regarding the loss of expertise as a result of more retirements. "While agreeing that it is critical that the agency maintain needed expertise for effective decision making, I disagree that the commission has difficulty recruiting top candidates," he said. "As [FCC] Chairman [Julius] Genachowski told Congress recently, revitalizing and retooling the FCC will be a marathon, not a sprint."

The commission said it also has taken steps to improve internal communication, including creating an online forum for employees.

]]>

Withdrawal of TSA nominee raises concern about agency workforce

Jessica Lambertson — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The lack of permanent leadership at the Transportation Security Administration is delaying action on several agency personnel issues, union leaders and other observers said on Wednesday.

"TSA has a number of issues that continue to contribute to its high attrition rate and low workforce morale," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, in a statement. "Many of these issues, such as insufficient training, low pay, inconsistencies in workplace policies and injury rates, will only be successfully addressed with a permanent administrator."

Kelley's comments were in response to Erroll Southers' decision on Wednesday to withdraw his nomination as TSA chief, despite bipartisan support from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Southers' nomination attracted controversy over the law enforcement veteran's admission that he improperly accessed FBI data 20 years ago on his estranged wife's then-boyfriend. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., also expressed concern that Southers would support the right of TSA screeners to bargain collectively, which DeMint and others believe could jeopardize aviation security. Current law allows agency employees to unionize, but the unions do not have the power to create collective bargaining contracts with TSA managers.

John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said obtaining collective bargaining rights for TSA workers is still an attainable goal despite the political controversy the issue has sparked. "We think the administration can move forward providing rights to [Transportation Security officers], to providing them a voice at work before the confirmation of a new administration head. We think it's legally OK, and, given the circumstances, necessary."

Southers' withdrawal is another blow to the Obama administration's record of filling key agency vacancies, according to the nonprofit group Partnership for Public Service. By the end of 2009, the administration had filled 59 percent of its important posts.

"We're a year into the Obama administration, and we have a critical leadership position that remains unfilled," said Max Stier, president and chief executive officer of the Partnership. "In the context of the attempted Christmas Day bombing and many other threats, this is a job that should have been filled a long time ago." Stier said the absence of permanent leadership means that TSA employees lack crucial management while the American public lacks an assurance of safety. "This is not a good story for anybody," he said.

]]>

State Department employees are accounted for after quake

Jessica Lambertson — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

State Department personnel working in the U.S. embassy in Haiti during Tuesday's devastating earthquake have been located and nonessential employees are being evacuated.

Almost all the 172 employees working in the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, 10 miles from where the 7.0 earthquake hit, were accounted for by Wednesday morning; of them, eight are injured and four are seriously wounded, according to Cheryl Mills, counselor and chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mills spoke during a press conference on the federal government's response to the disaster. The U.S. Coast Guard was evacuating about 80 spouses, children and nonessential personnel.

At the time the disaster struck, there were fewer than 20 U.S. military members stationed in Haiti; as of Wednesday midafternoon, some of them had not been located, according to reports. The U.S. embassy sustained limited damage and is serving as a point of contact and support for victims and their families. There are 45,000 U.S. citizens living and working in Haiti.

President Obama, who named U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Rajiv Shah to lead the government's relief effort, on Wednesday pledged a "swift, coordinated and aggressive" response. Obama is sending an initial unit of 2,000 Marines to assist the country, while the Air Force is providing air traffic control and the Coast Guard, part of the Homeland Security Department, is performing reconnaissance missions and evacuations along with the Defense Department. USAID, rather than the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is leading the government's response because the earthquake occurred outside the United States.

State has established a toll-free hotline (888-407-4747) for people to connect with family members in Haiti. Multiple Web sites, including the Center for International Disaster Information, MercyCorps, and the American Red Cross, are accepting donations to help with relief programs and aid funding in Haiti.

]]>