We serve the public honestly and objectively.

• Work for the greater good. Contribute to the betterment of the public, the nation, and the transportation community, aligning with U.S. DOT goals.
• Be good public stewards. Conduct ourselves with the recognition that we are stewards of public funding, confidence, and trust.
• Be honest and objective. Provide objective expertise to help others make informed decisions.
• Be a good neighbor. Look for opportunities to improve and contribute to our local and professional communities.

We continually anticipate and respond to global transportation challenges and emerging issues.

• Embrace a systems perspective. Understand the larger context in which our work fits. Bring a cross-organizational, interdisciplinary perspective to your projects
• Take smart risks. Use and foster bold and forward thinking that allows for calculated risks. Look for new ways of approaching issues, and share lessons learned.
• Make an impact. Be passionate about our work and continually find ways to increase its utility.
• Be intellectually curious. Grow our knowledge and pursue opportunities to stay at the top of our profession. Explore opportunities outside of our comfort zone.

We strive to deliver outstanding products and services that exceed sponsor expectations.

• Deliver quality. Do our best work in tasks great and small. Take pride in our contribution.
• Focus on the customers’ needs. Listen carefully to customers’ goals and deliver solutions that address their needs. Be proactive in helping customers manage and solve problems.
• Be a leader. Lead from whatever role you have in the organization, understanding that strong leaders also know when to follow.
• Be accountable. Take responsibility for our own actions—including those resulting in both wins and losses.
• Avoid groupthink. Encourage questions and embrace meaningful debate, understanding that diverse points of view lead to new ideas and innovations.
• Move Volpe forward. Contribute to improving the organization. Be engaged in making the U.S. DOT Volpe Center a better place.

We foster internal and external collaboration and partnerships through teamwork and mutual respect.

• Build trust—with both colleagues and customers. Set realistic expectations and reliably follow through. Be straightforward about changes in deadlines and deliverables. Address problems early and openly.
• Look for new opportunities to partner with others. Forge relationships across the transportation industry.
• Work as one Volpe. Collaborate with our colleagues across organizational and divisional boundaries to fulfill our common purpose of advancing transportation innovation for the public good. We are strongest and at our best when unified in purpose and action.
• Be transparent. Communicate information in a clear, timely, and appropriate manner. Share resources and information openly.
• Seek opportunities for mentoring. Invest in ourselves and others through coaching and mentoring—whether you are the mentor or mentee. Step up to share our expertise and help colleagues grow and be successful.

We support the personal and professional well-being of our staff.

• Embrace a healthy work-life balance. Try to strike a healthy balance between our personal and professional lives, and help others do the same.
• Treat everyone fairly. Administer policies consistently. Offer opportunities based on people’s merits and qualifications—not on personal biases or relationships.
• Have fun. Make time to interact with our colleagues and get to know one another. Enjoy what you do and who you spend time with at work. Bring a healthy sense of fun to the workplace.