The Final State of the Union
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Summary:
Today the U.S. Office of Personal Management (OPM) and the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP) welcomed more than 50 Federal innovators to the White House to celebrate the key contributions of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professionals working in our Government. Every day, these STEM employees conduct scientific research; collect and analyze measurements of Earth; inform policy decisions; and carry out programs that help grow our Nation’s economy, boost national security, and protect public health and our environment.
Participants in a White House event celebrating the Federal science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce demonstrate a prototype tool being developed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to help hiring managers better target and recruit top STEM job applicants. (Photo by Sheena Friend)
Every day, these STEM employees conduct scientific research in laboratories and in the field; collect and analyze measurements of Earth from land, air, sea, and space; synthesize scientific insights to inform policy decisions; and administer and carry out a host of programs and initiatives that help grow our Nation’s economy, boost national security, and protect public health and our environment.
These innovators are skilled professionals with expertise in areas as diverse as supercomputing, climate science, ecosystem conservation, robotics, energy systems, and epidemiology. It is their job to seek answers to urgent science and technology questions; help ensure that innovative solutions and technologies are rapidly prototyped and brought to market; and collectively contribute to keeping our nation on the cutting edge.
Since its earliest days, the Obama Administration has emphasized the importance of maintaining a dynamic, diverse, and high-caliber Federal STEM workforce with multi-disciplinary skills and the necessary professional, technical, and policy expertise to achieve the wide-ranging missions of Federal agencies. This includes:
- Ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources in government-funded research and procurement programs;
- Managing large, dynamic, and complex research and engineering organizations that perform and fund research
- Conducting in-house research at Federal laboratories and other institutions;
- Developing Federal policies and regulations based on accurate technical and scientific information; and
- Performing operational activities at the state, local, and Federal levels.
In remarks at today’s event, OPM Director Katharine Archuleta and OSTP Director Dr. John P. Holdren acknowledged the extraordinary work of the Federal Government’s many STEM employees, including newly minted Service to America medal recipients, and recognized a host of thriving STEM-mentorship programs such as the Departments of Education and Energy’s STEM Mentoring Café, which connects teachers and students with Federal STEM professionals. In addition, at today’s workshop, OPM demonstrated early prototypes of five exciting data products being currently developed to assist hiring managers in their efforts to advertise, target, and understand STEM-job applicants
OSTP and OPM applaud of the work of the US Government’s STEM workforce and look forward to continually supporting and broadening participation in STEM careers that serve the American people.
Learn more about steps being taken to strengthen the Federal STEM workforce here.
Jayne Morrow is Executive Director of the National Science and Technology Council at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Sydney Smith-Heimbrock is Deputy Associate Director for Strategic Workforce Planning and Chief Learning Officer at the Office of Personnel Management.
