Coalition Letter in Support of ACMRA

Dear Mr. Kushner,

The Senior Executives Association (SEA), which represents the interests of the 7,200 career senior executive leaders in the Federal government, was pleased to learn that you will be leading The White House Office of American Innovation.

We believe that in addition to the world class team of business executives you have assembled as advisors, you should include the extensive array of talent and experience that exists among the ranks of current and retired career Federal executives who share your goal of maximizing the taxpayer’s investment in the Federal government.

The Washington Post characterized the Innovation Office as an “…aggressive, non-ideological ideas factory capable of attracting top talent from both inside and outside of government, and serving as a conduit with the business, philanthropic and academic communities.”

SEA is a non-partisan association that has worked with prior Administrations to improve the functioning of government. The Washington Post’s description of the Innovation Office aligns with SEA’s mission of bringing together the most innovative thinkers in government, academia and the non-profit worlds to address the big challenges confronting the Federal government. None of those challenges is bigger than the one you are tasked with and we hope that you will view SEA as a partner and a contributor to this important effort.

SEA believes that the private sector has much to offer when it comes to bringing innovative business practices to the Federal government. But as you know, those business practices will require creative adaptation and implementation strategies given the differences between public and private sector mission requirements. This is where the insights and knowledge of career senior leaders, who have spent decades in the trenches and know the functions of government inside and out, will be of most value to your efforts.

Please contact me directly if you would like more details. The SEA stands ready to marshal the career Federal executive resources required by the Innovation Office to make its mission a success.

Regards,

Bill Valdez
President, Senior Executives Association
77 K Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-971-3300