Reflecting on Gary Locke and Michelle Obama

Last week was an interesting jaunt through the Obama administration for me. I saw the President speak on Tuesday, and the First Lady and the Commerce Secretary on Thursday. It was a great opportunity to get at least a partial look at how the administration is choosing what it says about federal employees and personnel policy.

While I remain concerned about the fact that President Obama isn't talking about federal employment and its importance (although I have to say, his pledge to meet with civil servants with the best ideas for improving government is an encouraging nod to front-line employees is promising), I was struck by the content of both Michelle Obama and Gary Locke's addresses.

Having a first lady who can discuss the merit system principles and sound like she understands them, and who draws a direct connection between the work that federal employees are doing and her own focus on working families is a very good thing. Having a Commerce Secretary who has worked with civil servants, even at a lower level of government, and knows both what they can do and what it takes to manage them is good for Commerce employees, and good for the Cabinet at large. That isn't to say that the Obama administration is going to make perfect, or even good, personnel policy. That remains to be seen. But listening to a First Lady and a Cabinet Secretary talk about workforce issues knowledgeably, to identify the issues and challenges in workforce policy accurately and forcefully, and to talk to federal employees about those challenges directly, is encouraging.