Page 11 - FCW, August 15, 2016

$400 million has been pledged to support National Science Foundation
research on 5G networks
Management advice for the next administration
In a new report, the National Academy of Public Administration offers recom- mendations on effective approaches to workforce recruitment and retention for the next presidential administra- tion. They include empowering the government’s C-suite, appointing a strong Office of Personnel Management director, hiring officials with change management experience, holding fed- eral executives accountable and using feedback from federal employees.
Additionally, the recommendations encourage innovation on the part of the executive branch to sustain the momentum of the previous administra- tion in building a robust cybersecurity workforce.
With a high volume of positions for an incoming president to fill on a compressed timeline, NAPA President Dan Blair said early preparation and
cooperation between the exiting and entering administrations are essential to a successful transition.
He cited the 2008 transition as exemplary due to the efforts of the exiting George W. Bush and the enter- ing Barack Obama. So far, Blair said, Obama has shown a similar commit- ment to preparing his successor.
“I think we’re off to a good start,” Blair said. “What’s interesting about this time is the efforts to transition have started earlier than they have in the past.”
He said the notion that candidates should not start preparing to take office before the election because it would be seen as presumptuous is outdated and even detrimental. An attitude shift has occurred because “the stakes are so high,” he said. “You just can’t begin this the day after the election.”
In addition to the burden on the incoming president, prospective appointees face “quite a process,” Blair said. “It’s not for the faint of heart.” He noted that candidates must stand up to the scrutiny of background checks, Senate confirmation hearings and financial inquiries.
When it comes to the practical implementation of workforce reten- tion and recruitment for the two pre- sumptive candidates, Blair cautioned against investing too much in what is said on the campaign trail.
“You have to separate the cam- paign from actually governing,” he said. “There are a lot of promises made and things said during the cam- paign that don’t necessarily equate to” what would happen if that candidate is elected.
— Chase Gunter
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