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What is the purpose? What is the goal? What is the outcome sought?   These are the three questions my colleagues at NASA are likely tired of hearing me ask.  They are the same 3 questions asked for over 6 years now when taking on the biggest task or smallest action.  It is a disciplined framework through which I think, act, and operate.  It is a good shorthand that focuses strategies, focuses actions, focuses meetings, focuses communications, and focuses time.  I drink my own

Seal of the Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget As the nation emerged from the Great Depression and World War II President Roosevelt’s New Deal continued to place the federal government in the predominate position of providing the economic support, security support, and social support implemented to carry the country through troubling times.  In the 60’s debates emerged as to whether this was a sustainable role for the federal government, or whe

When I hear the President’s Administration talk about refocusing public administration to focus on “efficiency and effectiveness” I hear an administration that speaks my language.  Efficiency and effectiveness are core principles of public administration that informed me of my practices as a civil servant and continue to guide me today in supporting federal programs. I also recognize influences from past administrations, and it is clear which models the current administration

(*This article was published and released on LinkedIn October 10, 2025) On a   recent story-hour   with some of the original Architects of Inefficiency, a claim was made and perpetuated along the following lines ‘ The reason contract bloat and redundancy exist is in government contacting is OMB’s fault.  It was the acting positions that resulted in ineffective management to control contract proliferation by other agencies and keeping NASA and NIH in check. ’   With any good c