Stories Of Service

ould you make a difference and contribute to the greater good by working for the federal government? Far too often, Americans say the answer is no, believing that government offers only dead-end jobs.

Research by the Brookings Institution has found that many Americans are public-spirited people who want to pursue altruistic careers. But somehow, over the past generation or two, government has lost its allure as the place to work on behalf of the public. Nonprofit institutions, and even for-profit companies, often are seen as providing better opportunities.

It is not necessarily so. The federal government has many thousands of employees whose jobs are as varied, interesting and important as any in our society.

But our government is having trouble filling many of these jobs-including some that are essential to national security, public safety and public health. And government's need is growing, as a huge cohort of baby boomers prepares to retire from jobs in federal agencies. David Walker, comptroller general of the United States and head of the General Accounting Office, has placed this "human capital crisis" on GAO's list of the most critical issues facing the federal government.

The Service to America Medals program aims to help with the problem. We hope that the stories of our medalists, people who have led interesting lives and made great achievements in service to the country, will inspire other Americans to consider working for Uncle Sam.

Government Executive, one of three magazines published by Atlantic Media Co., proposed the medals program more than a year ago, and was soon joined in sponsoring it by the other two: National Journal and The Atlantic Monthly. All have made important contributions to the nation's discourse on public issues

The Atlantic Monthly was founded in 1857 by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell and Oliver Wendell Holmes. In the beginning, the magazine played a leading role in the fight against slavery. Across the years, it has showcased the work of the nation's most celebrated writers and has served as the conscience of the nation on the most difficult issues of the times.

National Journal for 33 years has served as the essential voice of reason on issues facing our nation's leaders. Its nonpartisan, serious, thorough analysis of policy and politics has made the magazine indispensable for those who set the course for our ship of state.

Since 1969, Government Executive has been telling the story of our federal government's executive branch, where our national policies are executed by the largest institutions in the world. The effectiveness of national security and domestic programs is determined by these organizations and the people who run them.

We think our publications have a rare ability to open a national dialogue.

We are joined in creating the Service to America Medals program by the Partnership for Public Service. The Partnership is an initiative of Samuel Heyman, who worked in government during the Kennedy administration and who sees an opportunity now to help rekindle the spirit of public service that burned so brightly then. The Partnership is a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort to revitalize the federal workforce.

We are joined by six public-spirited corporations that believe in the cause the medals program addresses. Siemens Corp. made an early and major commitment to the program, as a National Founding Sponsor. Capital Founding Sponsors include Lockheed Martin, Monster, PeopleSoft, Unisys and Visa USA. We are grateful for the essential support they have provided.

Dead-end jobs in lethargic bureaucracies? Perhaps there are some, but they are not the ones described here. We hope you will agree, as you read about this year's medal winners, that these people have made great contributions to important national goals. They are interesting people working in fascinating jobs, devoting their waking hours to serving the American public. Let us hope their stories will inspire many others to consider joining them in the federal service.