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Volpe Center Highlights - January 1999

Director's Notes

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility | Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade | National Security | Published and Presented

Before we enter the new millennium, we must concern ourselves with the steps that we must take to renew and strengthen our Federal workforce. The Volpe Center--and indeed the entire Federal government--is in the midst of a major human resource transition. A large number of those in Federal leadership and critical technical positions are eligible for retirement. This, coupled with minimal hiring during the downsizing years, has created a sense of urgency around succession planning and Federal workforce renewal.

The Volpe Center is vigorously addressing workforce planning issues to ensure the future of the Center’s Federal technical capability. As we face this pressing issue together, we must work to see that critical knowledge is transferred to our successors to ensure the continued viability and vitality of the Volpe Center. I have challenged the Center's leadership to commit to achieving this goal and am confident that they will rise to the occasion.

Over the course of the next five years, we will be faced with the challenge of recruiting and assimilating as many as 250 new Federal employees into our technical team. To meet the changing nature and demands of the 21st century marketplace, we will be hiring full time, permanent people.

Moreover, we will put increased emphasis on term appointments, visiting professors, undergraduate and graduate co-op programs, gateway programs, and on exploring new sources of fresh talent. In our recruiting, we will stress the educational opportunities at the Center and our unique access to local universities. Recruitment goals will be an essential element of each supervisor's performance plan for the coming year.

We need to work toward a career resilient workforce —employees who are not only dedicated to the idea of continuous learning, but who are ready to reinvent themselves, to keep pace with change, to take responsibility for their own career management, and who are committed to enhancing the public good.

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