George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and the National Academy of Public Administration are committed to developing and supporting public service leadership across all professions in local, regional, and national communities, in the hope of advancing good governance and the public good.

The current human capital environment is marked by efforts to build the next generation of public servants. Across the nation, the intergovernmental intersections between state and local governments are contracting and growing. At the same time, in the midst of government drawdowns and budget cutbacks, cities and their leaders are innovating, and advancing their communities into the next era of governance as well as providing more effective and equitable public services.

“The reality of the public sector today is that it is assessed by the efficiency of its service delivery. No longer is the effectiveness of the public sector measured by the revenue it generates or the employment it provides…” – R Chandrashekhar, Additional Secretary, eGovernance, Government of India.

Critical infrastructure supports lifeline systems that are considered essential to the successful functioning of governance and society in the U.S.. These systems are the common thread that touches every public service delivery challenge of the future across all levels of government. The efficient delivery of government services relies on a power grid functioning at full capacity, an operational and expansive communication network, a streamlined and efficient transportation system, and water infrastructure delivering clean and affordable water free of pollution.

The capacity and equity of these systems are pressing problems for public administrators around the nation, at all levels of government. The destruction of, or even inconsistency in, these systems could have a debilitating impact upon the economic security and vitality of the nation. Additionally, if such networks are disrupted, there will be a lasting impact upon the social cohesion and political trust of the community. Prioritizing the physical and operational condition of these systems will promote a sense of resilient governance and provide the necessities for human development and capability that extend beyond traditional physiological and safety needs.

On Monday, October 30, 2017, the Schar School and the Academy brought together more than 150 thought leaders, subject matter experts, practitioners, and academics from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to host a one-day, highly interactive symposium to discuss some of the major infrastructure challenges facing local, state, and federal government in addition to considering strategies to ensure national ability to govern infrastructure networks for the future.

Pictured (left to right) are Thomas Downs, Board Member, Network Rail Consulting; Former President, Amtrak; Dr. Terry L. Clower, Professor and Director of the Center for Regional Analysis, Schar School of Policy Government at George Mason University; Andrew D. Williams, Chief Operating Officer, The Berkley Group; and former Dep. Sec. Mortimer L. Downey, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Click here for a full program agenda.

Paul L. Posner’s distinguished career epitomized the concept of the public service—at the Government Accountability Office, the National Academy of Public Administration, the American Society for Public Administration, and George Mason University. His research made major contributions to the understanding of budgetary politics, federalism, and public management.

At Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government, Paul helped refashion the curriculum of the Master of Public Administration program to better prepare graduate students for public service careers in the 21^st century. He also founded the Centers on the Public Service to address emerging challenges to governance at the federal, state, and local levels and the non-profit sector.

A memorial was held on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at the Schar School to recognize Paul’s contributions and honor his dedication to the role of the pracademic in education, management, and public service.

As a special token of love and admiration, Dean Mark J. Rozell presented Paul’s family (wife Arlene and daughter Jennifer) with a picture of Paul signed by all of his close friends,  colleagues, and students.

The Schar School has established a scholarship fund in Paul’s name that will be awarded to qualified MPA students.

To donate, please visit http://advancement.gmu.edu/posnerendowment. Donations should be made payable to the “George Mason University Foundation,” with “Paul L. Posner MPA Scholarship Endowment” noted in the memo line.

Donations may be mailed to:

Zavin R. Smith, Office of Development and Alumni Relations
Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University
3351 Fairfax Drive, MS 3B1, Arlington, VA 22201

For further information, please contact Zavin R. Smith at zsmith@gmu.edu.

Pictured (left to right) are Dr. Tim Conlan, Professor with the Schar School of Policy Government at George Mason University, Dr. Mark J. Rozell, Dean of the Schar School of Policy Government at George Mason University, Arlene Posner, and Jennifer Posner.

The Symposium on 21^st Century Threats and Integrated Emergency Operations was hosted by the George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and the Arlington County Fire Department.

The symposium – held on Monday, December 12, 2016 – brought together a collection of more 300 subject matter experts and practicing first responders from across the Commonwealth of Virginia and the National Capital Region to listen to national and international speakers discuss a variety of topics, issues, and challenges related to the current threat environment and integrated response.

Participants aimed to develop a framework for instituting an innovative public safety-oriented platform of research, training, and education that integrates law enforcement, fire services, and emergency medicine to more efficiently and effectively respond to and prevent against an evolving scenario of atypical emergencies. Such complex attacks include active shooters, riot violence, multi-site marauding, the use of fire and explosives as weapons, and weapons of mass destruction.

Distinguished guests included Mr. Curtis Brown, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Gen. Michael V. Hayden, Distinguished Visiting Professor, along with Dr. Mark J. Rozell, Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, and Ruth D. and John T. Hazel, Chair in Public Policy.

Invited Speakers included Ret. Chief Michael Biasotti with the New Windsor Police Department, New York, Lt. Brian Murphy with the Oak Creek Police Department, Wisconsin, Dr. Isaac Ashkenazi, Professor of Disaster Medicine at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, Dr. E. Reed Smith with the Arlington County Fire Department, Virginia, Dep. Asst. Comm. Graham Ellis and Mr. Daryll Stroud with the London Fire Brigade, United Kingdom, Sgt. Dave Llewelyn with the Metropolitan Police, United Kingdom, and Dep. Co. Man. James Schwartz with Arlington County, Virginia.

Opening remarks were provided by Chief M. Jay Farr of the Arlington County Police Department, Virginia, and Chief Joseph Reshetar of the Arlington County Fire Department (ACFD), while closing remarks were provided by Capt. John Delany also with the ACFD.

Other noteworthy individuals participating in the symposium included Deputy Chief John M. Esposito with the New York City Fire Department, New York, Assistant Chief Michael Marino with the Prince George’s County Fire Department, Maryland, Mr. Jeffrey M. Dulin the Assistant Director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Capt. Sean S. Newman with the New York City Fire Department, New York, Mr. Thomas Anger an Ohio-based Attorney and Emergency Medical Technician, Dr. Richard Kamin the Emergency Management Services Program Director at the University of Connecticut, and Capt. Ryan McGovern with the Boston Fire Department, Massachusetts.

Organizers thank the Hon. Brian J. Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Dr. Jeffrey D. Stern, the State Coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, both with the Commonwealth of Virginia, for supporting this initiative.

Dr. Reed E. Smith, the Operational Medical Director with the Arlington County Fire Department and Chair Committee for the Tactical Emergency Casualty Care at Georgetown University School of Medicine along with Capt. John Delaney with the Arlington County Fire Department, should also be recognized for providing vision and leadership throughout organizing this symposium.

Pictured (left to right) are: Dr. Tonya T. Neaves; Capt. John Delaney; Dep. Co. Man. James Schwartz; Dr. Jeffery D. Stern; Daryll Stroud; Dr. Isaac Ashkenazi; Sgt. Dave Llewelyn; Dep. Asst. Comm. Graham Ellis; and Dr. Reed E. Smith.