General Inquiries
For general inquiries about PSRW, please call us at (202) 775-9111 or email psrw@ourpublicservice.org.
Media Inquiries
If you are member of the media and would like more information about the PSRW, please call the Partnership for Public Service at (202) 775-9111 and ask to speak to our Media Relations Director or click here to submit your inquiry online.
Sponsorship Inquiries
For more information about sponsorship opportunities for PSRW, contact Maureen Atkins at (202) 775-9111 or matkins@ourpublicservice.org.
Profiles of Service
The men and women working day in and day out to serve our nation often do so with little notice or fan-fare. Below are examples of our public servants and some of the remarkable work that they do each and every day.
State and Local Government Leaders
These profiles, provided by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, show outstanding government workers at the state and local levels.
Ken Pulskamp
City Manager, Santa Clarita, Calif.
Best known for:
1) Creating an award-winning mentoring program for all city employees that has increased internal promotions.
2) Overseeing recovery efforts 11 times during his career after natural disasters. Although each event caused tens of millions of dollars of damage, he led rebuilding processes that improved the cities' infrastructure.
3) As head of the League of California Cities' City Manager Department during the 2010 Bell, CA, scandal, promoting the positive contributions and transparency of local governments.
Public service career: Pulskamp began his career in 1978 as an intern with the city of Fresno, and later became a management analyst. In 1982, he became deputy city manager of the city, and later served as assistant city manager for Bakersfield and Santa Clarita. He was appointed city manager of Santa Clarita in 2002.
Biggest challenge: Prioritizing competing demands and melding them into a reasoned budget. The job is made tougher by California's uncertain finances and the fact that Pulskamp has to present his budget, which depends partly on state funds, to the city council before the state finalizes its budget.
Greatest reward: "I gain a lot of satisfaction from building communities and leaving a legacy for future generations. It's really rewarding for me to be in a profession that allows me think about how services and capital improvement projects will affect the community where I live decades or even centuries from now."
Why public service: Pulskamp says that public service pretty much chose him. He, like many others, was influenced by JFK's "ask not" speech; public service was an opportunity to give back and have an impact on his community.
Mary Sassi
Executive Director of Strategic Operations, Sarasota County, Fl.
Best known for: Working as a change agent to drive the organization's culture in new directions, performance accountability, and continuous improvement.
Government service: In 2001, Sassi-Furtado became a grant evaluator for Charleston County, SC, which led her to go to grad school, where she saw she could make a career of public service. After grad school, she did a one-year ICMA fellowship with Sarasota County, then was hired as a budget/management analyst. She moved to her current position in 2007, in which she coordinates strategic planning, measures program effectiveness, and manages change.
Biggest challenge: Because Sarasota County emphasizes improvement, employees keep a continuous flow of suggestions coming. Mary and her team act as organizational detectives, investigating problems, diagnosing solutions, and then homing in on the items that could have biggest impact. Mary has to manage relationships within constantly shifting priorities, keeping everyone engaged even if their project isn't the organization's top priority.
Greatest reward: Personally: Having the intellectual freedom to grow, explore, and find new challenges to tackle. Professionally: Seeing that citizens have pride in the community even in tough times.
Why public service: "I couldn't imagine doing anything else. I'm easily bored – the variety drew me in. The ability to work at the system level is what attracted me and it feels like a good fit. I can't think of more important work than building strong communities."
Matt Smith
State Actuary, Washington State Office of the State Actuary (OSA)
Best known for: His communication skills and ability to break down complex information into laymen's terms.
Public service career: Smith started his career as an actuarial assistant with the Washington Office of the State Actuary (OSA). He eventually went to work as a consultant in the private sector, where he stayed for five-and-a-half years. He was appointed state actuary in November 2002.
Biggest challenge: Effectively communicating actuarial information, especially in the area of pensions. Legislative and elected officials have many competing priorities and don't have the ability or time to develop expertise in complicated areas such as pensions, so they rely on outside experts. It puts the responsibility to provide accurate, objective, and understandable information squarely on the shoulders of the OSA.
Greatest reward: Professionally: Seeing his office and employees succeed. Personally: Contributing to the health and soundness of pension systems that help provide financial security for hundreds of thousands of people in the state of Washington.
Why public service? "I didn't realize it when I started in public service but serving people is one of my highest motivations. Recently, we had an assessment done of our entire office, and one of the things I found is that my strongest occupational motivation is to serve people. It's been my calling throughout my life but I don't think I realized it when I started. I really like to work with complex information in the mathematical arena, but being able to share that knowledge and information with people is what I enjoy the most."
Sean Stegall
City Manager, Elgin Ill.
Best known for: Budgeting and performance measurement.
Government service: Stegall began his career in 1995 as a project coordinator with the city of St. Charles, IL. In 1997, he went to work in the private sector, but returned to public service after a year, as assistant city manager in Batavia, NY, and Elgin, IL. He was promoted to city manager in 2009.
Biggest challenge: Convincing people that the world has changed and that the Great Recession has fundamentally changed how government services will be viewed and delivered into the future. "It is very, very difficult to get people to stop thinking from an old paradigm," he says, "because none of us were prepared for the time we're living in now."
Greatest reward: Helping city employees reach their potential. Stegall says he's amazed by how much people discount their special abilities. He says believing in them goes about 90 percent of the way; the other 10 percent is giving them opportunities to showcase their talents that may be beyond the strict confines of their job title and description.
Why public service: "It chose me. I cannot remember a moment in my life when I wanted to be anything other than a public servant. I don't remember making a conscious choice; I come from a very small family and my mother, grandmother, uncles were all public servants."
Federal Employees
Through a unique collaboration, the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service works with The Washington Post to produce its weekly Federal Faces and Federal Player series to share the stories of little know federal workers who are leaving a big impact.
Do you know a federal employee doing extraordinary work on behalf of the American public? Please send your nominations for a Federal Player to psrw@ourpublicservice.org.
 | Justus Derx Investigating serious and complex environmental crimes |
 | Michael Bahar A compass for U.S. naval law |
 | Bill Cowell Bringing Richard Nixon back to life |
 | Juanita Wheeler Bringing young talent into the federal fold |
 | Cicely Wolters An unabashed advocate for the Peace Corps |
 |
Wendy Davis Helping to bring energy-saving lights to consumers |
 |
Emily Doerr Helping the impoverished make healthy choices |
 |
Leon Esterowitz Laser pioneer applying science to defense and health care |
 |
hannah draper Helping women advance in Turkey |
 |
Larry Rabin Protecting endangered species |
 |
Clare Ribando Seelke Providing policy analysis to Congress |
 |
Kenneth Graham Aiding the Gulf spill response with weather forecasts |
 |
John Wodatch A Justice Department disability rights pioneer |
 |
Nitin Madhav Aiding the poor and suffering abroad |
 |
Chad Jeremy Facilitating a volunteer movement |
 |
Keith Prewitt Protecting the president |
 |
Susan Solomon Saving a planet in peril |
 |
Laura Rosenberger Advancing U.S. interests abroad |
 |
Alberto Ruisanchez Fighting those who discriminate against minorities and persons with disabilities |
 |
Robert Harris Advancing U.S. interests one treaty at a time |
 |
Saskia van Gendt Encouraging use of "climaterials" -- reusable construction products with a reduced carbon footprint |
 |
Shyam K. Sharan Determined to save lives through genetics |
 |
Margaret Weitekamp Using memorabilia and science fiction to explain how Americans view space flight |
 |
Jeff Baker Building green, saving green |
 |
Alex Romero A steward for national parks in the D.C., Maryland region |
 |
Ayesha D. Edwards Providing federal support for children's educational television |
 |
Paul Coburn Helping First Responders Communicate During Disasters |
 |
Sara Bloom Fighting drug maker health care fraud |
 |
Paul T. Peek Helping the traveling public get passports while guarding against fraud |
 |
Greg Kutz Uncovering child abuse and neglect at residential, public and private schools |
 |
Kate Beale USAID's congressional liaison on Haiti |
 |
Dr. Suzan Murray Chief Veterinarian, National Zoo |
 |
Till Rosenband Inventing The World's Most Precise Timekeeping Device |
 |
Carl Burleson The greening of aviation: Reducing air and noise pollution from jetliners |
 |
Michelle Collins After Katrina, Preparing Students for Emergencies |
 |
Mike Wash Bringing the Government Printing Office into the digital world |
 |
Cherise Spiller Hands-on federal internship |
 |
Chris Redwood Bringing improved nursing care to the VA's sickest patients |
 |
Joseph Schaefer Saving lives in "Tornado Alley" |
 |
Deborah Autor FDA official leads charge against dangerous unapproved prescription drugs |
 |
Joshua Bienfang Securing high-speed communication |
 |
Kevin Smith Helping vets get engineering degrees and jobs |
 |
Sue Ellen Walbridge Encouraging students to excel in math and science |
 |
Kenny Thompson President Obama's advance man |
 |
Carl Pike Leading the law enforcement fight against violent Mexican drug cartels |
 |
Lisa Shames The ultimate consumer watchdog |
 |
Peter Wilhelm Has been involved in the development, deployment and operation of more than 95 satellites critical to the nation's defense |
 |
Joan Lok A community affairs specialist with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) |
 |
Teri Glass Leads the development and fielding of state-of-the-art medical evacuation equipment |
 |
Mark Simakovsky A policy adviser to Secretary Gates on Russia and Georgia |
 |
Robert Benzon Organizes and leads the investigation after airplane crashes. His team interviews pilots, cabin crew, air traffic controllers and passengers to gather information |
 |
Rachel Volke Gains real life experience as an intern and integral part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response |
 |
Cynthia Nolt-Helms Encourages college students to think about how to preserve the earth for future generations, and to encourage them to be proactive |
 |
Karen Turner Utilizes mobile technology to help developing countries |
 |
Marcy Forman Led the Office of Investigations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm of DHS with more than 8,000 employees |
 |
Vickie Kloeris Responsible for developing, testing and packaging all of the food that is sent into orbit on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station |
 |
Rachel Dorman A youth policy advisor in the Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy |
 |
John Fox Has a mandate to chronicle the colorful and often dramatic history of the FBI |
 |
David Fahey Contributed to the influential Montreal Protocol |
 |
Kevin Kampschroer Responsible for ensuring that all federal buildings meet the sustainable design and energy reduction requirements |
 |
Tracy Mustin Building common ground to stop the spread of nuclear weapons |
 |
Jeffrey Collins Battling the narcotics trade in Bolivia |
 |
Daniel Weinberg Managing the 2010 Census and planning for 2020 |
 |
Budge Weidman Uncovering our nation's history |
 |
Jim Blubaugh Protecting children from harmful school bus diesel emissions |
 |
Daniel Irwin Using NASA technology to solve disaster, environmental conditions |
 |
Christina Sanford Applying the law to world hot spots |
 |
Judah Levine The nation's timekeeper |
 |
Richard Santangelo Building more with less (energy use, that is) |
 |
Les Shepherd First impressions are everything for GSA chief architect |
 |
Jacquelyn Williams-Bridgers Assessing the finer aspects of U.S. foreign policy |
 |
Leslie Holland-Bartels Pioneering new climate-change policies |
 |
Eileen Harrington Improving the agency's ability to help small businesses |
 |
Steven Chalk Managing Billions of Dollars in Clean Energy Stimulus Funding |
 |
Katharine Gebbie Creating a climate for cutting-edge research |
 |
Richard Greene USAID's Greene: Helping save lives with low-cost tools |
 |
Dinah Cohen Helping wounded veterans re-enter the workforce |
 |
Nicole Faison Ensuring efficiency at HUD |
 |
Jeffrey Knox From Wall St. to Prosecuting Terrorists After an About-Face |
 |
Jared Summers Aircraft Mission Saved Taxpayers' Millions |
 |
Cara Peck Confronting the Nation's Energy Crisis, Air Quality and Ecological Balance |
 |
Amy Meyer Leading Efforts to Spur the Economy in a Volatile Region (USAID) |
 |
Chris Dwyer Tracking Ships, Terrorists and Pirates |
 |
Benjamin Fisherow Working for the Environment -- in the Justice Department |
 |
Michael German Leading the Fight Against Homelessness |
 |
Patricia Guerry Collaborative Works Leads to Food Borne Illness Vaccine |
 |
Thomas Waldmann NIH Scientist Leads Fight Against Cancer, AIDS |
 |
Audrey Nelson On a Quest to Protect Health-Care Workers |
 |
Compton Tucker Pioneering Satellite Monitoring of Vegetation |
 |
Ian Spielman Cracking the Code of Superconductivity |
 |
Robin Robinson Improving the Government's Pandemic Response |
 |
Regan Murray Advancing Crucial Clean Water Standards |
 |
Jeffery A. Schloss The 'Unsung Hero' of the Human Genome Project |
 |
John McDougal Busting Offshore Accounts for the IRS |
 |
Cray Henry Driving DoD's Supercomputing Enterprise |
 |
Tim Evans Using Web Analysis to Improve Government |
 |
Cathleen Berrick Taking the Reins on Transportation Security |
 |
Fran Ligler Combating Bio-threat Agents, Recognized Worldwide |
 |
David Leckrone 'Superman of the Hubble Science' |
 |
William Fallon Operation Falcon in Full Force |
 |
Karen Turner Harnessing the Power of Mobile Devices |
 |
Allan Comp Pushing Enforcing Cleanup Projects Nationwide |
 |
Stephen Ayers A Capitol Visionary |
 |
Carol Shull Pushing to Preserve History, One Landmark at a Time |
 |
Gail Lovelace Godmother of the Transition |
 |
Cynthina Bascetta Fighting the GAO's Battle of New Orleans |
 |
Walter Oleszek A Hill Staffer's Guide to Congressional History and Habit |
 |
Jesse Tampio Presenting Uncle Sam to a New Generation of Leaders |
 |
George Selim DHS's Selim: Training Generation Y to Fight Terrorism |
 |
Joshua Pomeroy Joshua Pomeroy's NIST can be described as an "iPhone on steroids." |
 |
Orlando Illi Unraveling a Web of Medical Records, One Veteran at a Time |
 |
Kristen Taddonio EPA's Taddonio Illustrates a New Generation of Thinking |
 |
Carolyn Shanoff FTC's Shanoff Leads the Fight Against ID Fraud |
 |
Dr. David Lipman NIH internet pioneer making critical medical and scientific information available online for scientists, researchers and the general public |
 |
David Williams IRS Official Greatly Expanded Anti-Poverty Program |
