Science and Technology for America's Progress Ensuring the Best Presidential Appointments in the New Administration (2008) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Pages 1-6
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Each of these concerns -- from national security, economic development, health care, and the environment, to education, energy, and natural resources -- is touched in essential ways by the nation's science and technology enterprise. The nation requires exceptionally able scientists and engi neers in top executive positions and on federal advisory commit tees to weigh available data, to consider the advice of scientists and technical specialists, and in the case of presidential appointees, to make key management, programmatic, and policy decisions.
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The APST should have credibility and the respect of the S&T community; an understanding of large research and educa tional enterprises; background as a practicing researcher (academic or nonacademic) ; awareness of a wide variety of public policy issues; familiarity with issues in technology and national security, economic development, health and the environment, and international affairs; and the ability to work and communicate with others, including policy makers.
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Candidates often have to put their careers on hold during the lengthy confirmation process. Streamlining proposals include such mechanisms as relying on one system of background checks rather than separate systems for the White House and the Senate, clarifying the criteria for the position in question and the principles for questioning nominees, requesting only relevant and important background information, and keeping the process timely and on track with the goal of completing the appointment process within 4 months from first White House contact to Senate confirmation.
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The administration should examine current federal advisory committee appointment categories to see that they are appropriate to meet the nation's needs. When a federal advisory committee requires members with scientific or technical proficiency, persons nominated to provide that expertise should be selected solely on the basis of their scientific and technical knowledge and credentials and their professional and personal integrity.
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Essential viewpoints needed for appropriate committee balance and scope should be represented by accomplished people in that policy arena, but scientists, engineers, and health professionals nominated primarily to provide S&T input should be selected for their scientific and technological knowledge and credentials, for their professional and personal integrity, and for their ability to articulate the issues. Achieving a balance of policy perspectives may be appropriate for those placed on committees for their policy insights, but it is not a relevant criterion for selecting members whose purpose is to provide scientific and technical expertise.
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Such persons, when serving as presidential appointees, make key pro grammatic and policy decisions that will affect our lives and those of our children. Similarly, skilled scientists and engineers are needed for advisory committees to provide advice on the myriad issues with complex technological dimensions that confront government decision makers.
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