Celebrating Substance, Stylishly

Tomorrow night, a throng of celebrities and media personalities will gather in Washington for the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. It's brings all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood premier to Washington.

Last night, I was privileged to attend what might be called the anti-WHCA dinner: the Senior Executives Association Professional Development League's Presidential Distinguished Rank Awards banquet. It honors the annual distinguished rank award winners. And it is a triumph of substance over celebrity.

Rather than craning their necks to see Donald Trump or Courteney Cox, guests are treated to stories about senior federal executives whose accomplishments are beyond impressive: Producing and delivering 9,000 mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles for troops within two years, building the most powerful superconducting magnetic system used in the open ocean, and piloting the space shuttle, to name just a few.

But it's not that the event isn't stylish. It's a black-tie affair that unfolds in one of the classiest venues in Washington, if not the world: the State Department's Diplomatic Reception Rooms.

The point is that the focus is on the incredibly important work being led by these executives throughout the federal government. And right about now, it's more important than ever to honor that work. As Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told the award-winning executives at the dinner: "I wish every American could be here tonight. ... They would find out America has not lost it. America still has it, and that's in large part due to the service you provide."