Author Archive

Tom Shoop

Tom Shoop

Editor at Large / tshoop@govexec.com

Tom Shoop is the former executive vice president and editor in chief at Government Executive Media Group, where he oversaw editorial operations at Government Executive, Nextgov, Defense One and Route Fifty. He started as associate editor of Government Executive magazine in 1989; launched the company’s flagship website, GovExec.com, in 1996; and served as editor in chief from 2007 to 2021. He can be reached at tshoop@govexec.com.
Tom Shoop is the former executive vice president and editor in chief at Government Executive Media Group, where he oversaw editorial operations at Government Executive, Nextgov, Defense One and Route Fifty. He started as associate editor of Government Executive magazine in 1989; launched the company’s flagship website, GovExec.com, in 1996; and served as editor in chief from 2007 to 2021. He can be reached at tshoop@govexec.com.
News

Saying goodbye to a giant in government journalism: Charlie Clark, 1953-2023

Clark, a former senior correspondent for GovExec, died Wednesday after a brief illness.

Management

That Time acronymic management fads were all the rage

When an alphabet soup of concepts for organizational improvement swept through government. 

Workforce

Meet the long-shot presidential candidate who wants term limits for federal employees

Vivek Ramaswamy also pledges to eliminate unions, move workers out of Washington and end “pro-lazy” remote work.

Management

That Time the Federal Retirement Wave Never Happened

Almost 25 years after the first dire warnings, we’re still waiting on the tsunami. 

Management

That Time Even Minimum Telework Was Viewed With Wonder and Fear

Back then, it was called “telecommuting,” and managers didn’t know what to make of it. Some still don’t.

Management

That Time NASA Blew Up a Rocket and People Called it a Success (No, They Didn’t)

The “failure is not an option” standard demanded of the space agency has long hampered its efforts.

Oversight

That Time Federal Bank Examiners Were Told to Play Nice

The Trump administration gave overseers a culture-shifting directive: Don’t be mean.

Management

That Time the Federal Government Was Ruled By Czars

How a term for Russian oligarchs came to be applied to American government officials.

Management

What the Midterms Mean for Government

Setting a new course for the ship of state is harder than it looks. 

Management

That Time a Lawyer Invented the Government Shutdown

For nearly 200 years, shutdowns simply didn’t happen, even when Congress didn’t finish spending bills.