Happy 100th Birthday U.S. Government Accountability Office

This year marks the 100th birthday of the US Government Accountability Office (GAO). The Congressional agency, originally called the General Accounting Office, was created by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921. Its name was changed in 2004. Throughout its history GAO has saved the federal taxpayers many millions of dollars and made government much more efficient and effective. GAO’s work focuses on anything and everything that impacts the lives of the American people. To discover GAO’s rich history and work, please visit its web page GAO@100 https://www.gao.gov/about/what-gao-is/hundred-years-of-gao/

Here’s to another 100 years!

Here is an interesting connection of GAO to ASPA—Elmer B. Staats, the Fifth Comptroller General of the United States (1966-1981) the title of the head of GAO, was a founding member of ASPA in 1939, was President of the Washington, DC chapter (now NCAC) (1948-1949) and ASPA’s National President (1961-1962).

 

Allen Lomax

By NCAC Board Vice President Allen Lomax

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20200227-2020 The Story of Unmanned Aerial Systems (aka Drones)

The Story of Unmanned Aerial Systems (aka Drones)

Thursday, February 27, 2020 • 6:30pm-8:00pm

The advent of unmanned aircraft systems (“drones”) presents very significant commercial, safety and recreational challenges and opportunities in the US and around the world! There are an estimated 1.7 million drones in operation today – growing to an estimated 2.6 million by 2026. The exponential growth of this technology has provided new jobs, an expanded tax base, and a wide-range of quality-of-life benefits. It has also created complex new issues for federal, state, and local officials and governments. Some of the issues involve:

(1) public safety

(2) privacy

(3) law enforcement surveillance 

(4) preventing terrorism

(5) workforce development and training

At the federal level, how are drones included in agencies (such as FAA, DOD, DOL, DHS, and DOJ) strategic plans? Also, what collaboration is taking place among these agencies regarding this emerging technology and this issue listed above? How are agencies focusing on  ethical issues around drones?

Small, unmanned aircraft are required to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). But there are many challenges to this, and as a result many drones that should be registered are not. As directed in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, DOT has contracted with the National Academy of Public Administration to assess the compliance and effectiveness of the FAA’s registration program for small unmanned aircraft, focusing on FAA’s Interim Final Rule published in December 2015. The study will examine the information collected by FAA, the regulatory environment, organizational capacity, and how non-compliance is determined, including the role and responsibility of local law enforcement.

Frank Principi, a senior advisor on the study, will discuss aspects of drone technology, FAA’s registration program, and conduct a “show and tell” with his own personal drone. Participants will be asked to share their perspective of the challenges and opportunities of drones and to offer recommendations on how to ensure drones continue to be registered, flown safely, and provide new and innovative quality-of-life solutions.             

Presentation by:

Frank Principi is a seasoned management consultant and trusted advisor to c-suite clients in public, private, and non-profit corporations around the world, and is a crisis management expert. He is serving his third term on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, where he is leading efforts to build public and private sector infrastructure – roads, schools, water/sewer, natural gas, electric, and telecommunications – in this rapidly growing jurisdiction. He has served on several regional and state bodies, including the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (Chairman 2012), National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Council (Chairman 2013, 2015), Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (Chairman 2016-2017), Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Virginia Association of Counties and Potomac Hospital. He also chaired Prince William’s Future Commission 2030. 

In the past, Frank served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and its Subcommittees on Transportation, Telecommunications, and Finance. His state government experience includes work with the National Governors Association, including the Governors’ response to 9/11. Among his many honors, Frank is the recipient of three Businessman of the Year awards from the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, Arlington Diocese, and Prince William Living Magazine.

 

The event is free but registration is required.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

20191120-2019 Affordable Housing and Regionalism

Affordable Housing and Regionalism

Wednesday, November 20, 2019 • 6:00pm-7:30pm

A major “wicked problem” at the national state and local levels of governments and many nonprofits is affordable housing. There is not enough needed affordable housing available.

However, building and maintaining needed affordable housing challenges the financial and intellectual capabilities of governments and communities. Recently, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ adopted three housing targets for the Metropolitan Washington DC area between 2020 and 2030. One of the targets was “At least 75% of new housing should be affordable to low- and middle-income households.” Achieving this target as well as the other two targets will require a lot of commitment, dedication and innovation by the District of Columbia and the local governments in Maryland and Virginia.

 The National Capital Area Chapter of ASPA will sponsor a discussion on affordable housing focusing on such questions as:

 (1) What is, or should be, the accountability mechanism for achieving this target?

(2) What tools will be needed to achieve this target?

(3) What are the equity issues around this target and how should they be addressed?

(4) What type of non-financial incentive might serve to encourage increasing needed housing supply?

 Bring your thoughts, ideas and knowledge to this exciting discussion on one of the nation’s and local and state governments’ wicked problems.

 

The event is free but registration is required.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

20191017-2019 The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration

The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration

Thursday, October 17, 2019 • 6:00pm-7:30pm

The increasing use of AI in public administration raises many ethical challenges, not the least of which is ensuring that the decisions made by these systems are consistent with the legal requirements and norms of  the field.  

The National Capital Area Chapter of ASPA will sponsor a discussion on this topic with Professor Pricilla Regan, Professor of Government and Politics at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University.  Dr. Regan recently co-authored a chapter titled, “A Public Administrator’s Practical Guide to Ethics and Artificial Intelligence” in The National Academy of Public Administration’s study of the impact of AI in the field. 

The event is free but registration is required.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

20190801-2019 ASPA NCAC Quarterly 1st Thursday Socials

ASPA NCAC Quarterly 1st Thursday Socials

Thursday, August 1, 2019 • 5:30pm-7:30pm

Come cool off with your fellow public servants!

Every quarter, join fellow ASPA-NCAC members for an informal social gathering. Meet new members, catch up with old friends, network and socialize.

Fire & Sage Restaurant

(Located in the Washington Marriott at Metro Center)

Address: 775 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20005.

(Down the block from the 12th Street exit at Metro Center)

Space is limited. Please RSVP.

20190502-2019 ASPA NCAC Quarterly 1st Thursday Socials

ASPA NCAC Quarterly 1st Thursday Socials

Title

Every quarter, join fellow ASPA-NCAC members for an informal social gathering. Meet new members, catch up with old friends, network and socialize.

Get together with your fellow public servants as we mark the beginning of Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW).

Mark you calendars for additional gatherings on August 1st and November 7th. Details will be provided closer to these events.

Fire & Sage Restaurant

(Located in the Washington Marriott at Metro Center)

Address: 775 12th St NW, Washington, DC 20005.

(Down the block from the 12th Street exit at Metro Center)

Space is limited. Please RSVP.

20190411-2019 Annual Meeting: State of ASPA’s National Capital Area Chapter

Annual Meeting: State of ASPA's National Capital Area Chapter

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • 6:00pm-8:00pm

This year’s annual meeting will feature Bryan Hancock, Partner at McKinsey discussing the Implications of Automation and AI on the Workforce of the Future.

6:00 – 6:30 pm – Welcome Reception (heavy hors d’oeuvre)

6:30 – 7:30 pm – Presentation and Discussion

7:30 – 8:00 pm – Annual Meeting: State of ASPA’s National Capital Area Chapter.

Offices of the National Academy of Public Administration

1600 K Street, NW,  Suite 400, Washington, DC 20006

(IMPORTANT NOTE: entrance to the building is on 17th Street)

Near both Farragut North and Farragut West Metro Stations

Space is limited. Please RSVP.

20190206-2019 The Affordable Housing Crisis with Ed Lazere

The Affordable Housing Crisis with Ed Lazere

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 • 6:00pm-8:00pm

The Affordable Housing Crisis: What are the right priorities and solutions for addressing the homelessness and affordable housing needs of DC and other major cities? 

Ed Lazere, Executive Director, DC Fiscal Policy Institute, is a longtime housing advocate and tax policy expert.

Join us in a discussion about what works and what doesn’t work when trying to invest in economic development and grow jobs.

Space is limited. You must RSVP to attend.

20190613-2019 PA Connections: June Planning Meeting and Networking Event

PA Connections: June Planning Meeting and Networking Event

Thursday, June 13, 2019 • 6:30pm-7:30pm

PA Connections is a community of ASPA NCAC members interested in networking, mentoring, and professional development. If you have been looking to become more involved in the chapter and to meet others in the public administration arena, this is the group for you! We work together to build resources for public administration professionals, host events, and provide a forum to connect members to one another.

Agenda:

    1. Updates
    1. Proposal for Journal/Book club
    1. Fall line-up of chapter events
  1. Discussion and feedback

 

Questions? Can’t attend but would like to stay involved? Please contact us at aspancacmentoring@gmail.com

We need your help! Right now, we need help with website construction. Soon, we will need people to help expand the content of the Shared Resources Platform. And for the fall, we will be looking for “Event Champions” who will be responsible for playing host for an event. The logistics of the event (space, food, etc) will be taken care of by the programming committee. If you are interested in contributing in these or other ways, please let us know.

Space is limited. Please RSVP.

20181108-2018 PA Connections: Virtual November Meeting and Networking Event

PA Connections: Virtual November Meeting and Networking Event

Thursday, November 8, 2018 • 6:00pm-7:30pm

Come join friends and colleagues who share an interest in mentoring, networking, and professional development at our next PA Connections meeting. The SRP Workgroup will present web-page mockups of the Shared Resources Platform for discussion and feedback.

This is an online event. Details will be emailed to registrants.

Shared Resources Platform
The Shared Resources Platform is an online curated compendium of useful resources for professional development. The goals of Shared Resources are: (1) To create a hub of information utilized by professionals who are exploring their career options or looking for career guidance; and (2) To provide information on a number of careers and sectors, while also connecting professionals for the purposes of forming inter/intra sector relationships.

Networking and Mentoring
PA Connections and NCAC leadership have been working to improve networking opportunities, both in quality and quantity.
 Programming events are being designed with networking in mind, for example by holding round-table discussions or allowing for informal discussions with invited speakers following the speaking portion of the event.
 PA Connections has launched the Networking Registry (Beta version) to help connect members seeking career and professional advice with members who are interested in sharing their knowledge and experience.
 PA Connections is establishing Shared Resources, an online resource to supplement person-to-person knowledge transfer. The value proposition for this resource is that it will be curated and annotated by members of the PA community.

Networking Registry
The Registry contains basic biographical information about members looking to connect. The Beta version is open only to PA Connections members, but it is our intent to open the Registry to all members of the chapter once we are satisfied that we have ironed out the kinks. If you are interested in joining the Beta version, email the PA Connections Team at aspancacmentoring@gmail.com.

PA Connections was formed by ASPA NCAC members interested in leveraging mentorship and networking to become more effective in our jobs and more adept at managing our careers.

Questions? Can’t attend but would like to stay involved? Please contact us at aspancacmentoring@gmail.com

Space is limited. Please RSVP.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.