Science and Technology Leadership in American Government Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments (1992) / Chapter Skim
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1. INTRODUCTION
1. INTRODUCTION
Pages 19-30
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From page 19... ...
As scientific and technological knowledge continues to expand at a rapid rate, the government needs ever greater capacity to formulate, carry out, and monitor S&T policies and programs and their effects. The need for highly competent and dedicated scientists, engineers, and other experts in top policy and program management positions in the federal government has never been greater.
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From page 20... ...
The nation needs exceptionally able scientists and engineers in these executive positions-to weigh the advice of technical specialists and to make key decisions on what should be done, lead the resulting pro-grams, and evaluate the results. The government's capacity to perform these science and technology functions would be seriously affected by increasing difficulties in recruiting highly qualified personnel with the scientific and engineering training and experience needed in the top science and technology positions in the executive branch.
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From page 21... ...
This in turn would impair the flow of communication and cooperation between the government and the private sector that is essential for American technological excellence. We are now at the point where either these laws and regulations must be substantially changed to permit and encourage the best scientists and engineers to serve in the federal government, or we must adopt a different system- e.g., a very highly paid and well-educated elite corps of such officials who spend their entire careers in government service.
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From page 22... ...
. Some of He top jobs in the federal government that call for scientific and technical expertise and experience are leadership positions in mission agencies Hat conduct-or apply R&D or both, or support R&D in the private sector through grants and contracts.
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From page 23... ...
Another set of key federal S&T positions includes He head, top deputy, or commissioner positions in agencies with regulatory missions that rely heavily on S&T. Examples include the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
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From page 24... ...
The other half moved to their current position from within government, most from within the same department or agency. However, very few have spent all or even most of their careers in the federal government.
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From page 25... ...
As is characteristic of presidentially appointed jobs in the United States generally, many of these positions are held by "in-and-outers," highly qualified individuals who come into the federal government for a few years from successful careers outside the federal government in business, academia, and the nonprofit sector- to apply their expertise and experience to the government's work, and then leave.3 Most have already served in the federal government at some point. PROBLEMS Since most of the government's R&D work is carried out in the academic and industrial sectors or involves regulating high-technology businesses, this in-and-out system of executive leadership has helped make it possible for the government to apply up-to-date S&T expertise to policymaking and program management.
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From page 26... ...
Although these factors may affect all potential candidates for presidential appointments to some degree, they can have a differential impact on the government's ability to attract researchers from academia and industry and managers with technical backgrounds from industry. Government service does not usually further the careers of practicing scientists and engineers or help the career prospects of corporate executives.
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From page 27... ...
, He Director of He National Institutes of Heady (~8 months) , and He Commissioner of He Food arid Drug Administration (12 months)
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From page 28... ...
Turnover is particularly high in certain areas; the CEG study cited the Environmental Protection Agency, parts of the Energy Department, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, and the Food and Drug Administration. The Defense Department has had four Under Secretaries for Acquisition since the position was created in 1987.
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From page 29... ...
Staffing an administration is one of the most important responsibilities of a President. The abilities and energy of the President's appointees in top positions in the executive branch are key determinants of policymaking and policy execution.
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