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The Importance of Public Service

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By Matt Rowley Posted on March 19, 2020

For some, the term “public service” brings to mind government agencies and policy changes. For others, it represents the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to save others . And still others, the concept of public service is more multifaceted, encompassing everything from the director of the local food bank to the nurses administering vaccines at the community health clinic.

The fact is public service encompasses all of these facets and then some. In this article, we explore the importance of public service and lay out four reasons why you may want to serve your community in your career.

What Is Public Service?

The technical definition of public service is a service provided by the government to the people in a specific jurisdiction. Services may be provided by the government itself, or they pay a private organization to provide them. For instance, a fire or police department is a government-run agency, but trash pickup provided by an independent contractor is a public service financed by the jurisdiction.

Why Public Service Matters

The importance of public services – and public servants – cannot be overstated. In a Pew Research survey, more than 80% of respondents said they felt the government should play a major role in responding to terrorism and natural disasters, ensuring food and medicine are safe, and managing the immigration system. Maintaining the country’s infrastructure, protecting the environment, strengthening the economy, and ensuring access to education were also considered important government priorities.

The same survey revealed that satisfaction with these efforts among Americans is relatively high. More than 70% of respondents said they thought the government was doing a “very good” or "somewhat good" job responding to natural disasters, setting standards for workplaces , keeping the country safe from terrorism, and managing food and medicine safety. Although satisfaction with certain efforts, such as the reduction of poverty, received a less favorable opinion, the ultimate takeaway is that public service matters.

Reasons to Enter Public Service

Beyond the public expectation that the government will provide certain services, public service matters for other reasons and represents a viable career option. Simply put, the array of public service career options is endless, especially as the lines between government, nonprofit agencies and the private sector become increasingly blurred. Regardless of where your passion lies, public service presents opportunities.

If you’ve been considering a career in public service, think about these four reasons to enter a field like criminal justice , EMS , emergency management , fire science , homeland security or public administration .

1. Saving Lives

Often, when you ask someone why they entered the public service , their answer is “I wanted to make a difference.” What that looks like varies from person to person. For some, it’s rewriting public policy to effect change in a specific community, while for others it’s working in the field, providing life-saving assistance in emergencies. The concept of saving lives means different things to different people, but the desire to give everyone a fair shot at life underpins nearly every public service role.

2. Improving Communities

In an essay about public service for the Alliance of Innovation, Tracy Miller, the organization’s Florida regional director, wrote “You do not have to wonder as a citizen if you will have clean water to your home, or street lights that operate, or an ambulance when you dial 911. These have become givens in our lives and it is largely due to the stewards of our public dollars who balance the needs of the people they serve.”

These services do often have challenges, and there are needs for additional services to keep a community running safely and efficiently. Entering public service provides the opportunity to become a steward of public policy and contribute to the improvements that are vital to quality of life.

3. Influencing Social Change

Community improvement isn’t only about improving fire department response times or maintaining clean playgrounds. Social change also matters, and public servants are increasingly becoming agents for social change, creating more equity in social conditions.

A great deal of public service is focused on economics and creating more efficient and sustainable services and agencies, but there’s also an increasing focus on changing how policies and programs are administered to create more equitable conditions. From tackling issues related to racism and civil liberties to building support for citywide recycling programs, the opportunities for influencing social change through public service are diverse and plentiful.

4. Personal Fulfillment

Finally, it can’t be overlooked that working in public service provides a significant source of personal fulfillment. Feeling as if you’re working for a purpose is important; after all, you will spend thousands of hours at your job every year, and work is often closely tied to your sense of identity and accomplishment.

Choosing a career in public service can add to that sense of fulfillment. It can provide opportunities to act on your altruistic desires and the sense of accomplishment that comes from knowing you made a measurable difference in the lives of others.

Education for Public Servants

At Columbia Southern University, we’re fortunate to have worked with students and alumni like Vincent Harris , Dana Osborne , Mark Sealy , Nina Taylor and many others who put their knowledge and skills to work in public service.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the public sector, check out CSU’s online degree programs in public administration, homeland security, fire science and more, all of which will give you the skills you need to make a positive difference in your community.

For more information about CSU, visit ColumbiaSouthern.edu .

Topics in This Article

• Criminal Justice
• Emergency Medical Services
• Emergency Services Management
• Fire Science
• Homeland Security
• Public Administration
• Public Service

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Category: Careers

What Safety & Emergency Services Career Field Should You Pick? [Flowchart]

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Home — Essay Samples — Government & Politics — Public Service — The Importance of Public Service

The Importance of Public Service

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Introduction, promoting societal equity, body paragraph 2: encouraging civic engagement, body paragraph 3: enhancing quality of life.

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Why Public Service Matters and What It Means For You

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Robert Durant, American University's School of Public Affairs Professor Emeritus and visionary behind the Online Master of Public Administration and Policy, recently wrote for The Public Purpose Journal on why public service matters and the skills needed for a career in public service. The piece was featured in the journals' first edition which is sponsored by American University's School of Public Affairs and Student Graduate Council.

Below are some excerpts from Why Public Service Matters – and What It Means For You . The full text can be accessed at The Public Purpose Journal.

Why Public Service Matters

The seven ongoing, powerful, and interrelated pressures for organizational change and development include:

• Reconceptualizing organizational purpose refers to calls for many agency and program missions and policies to be rethought in light of changing circumstances, needs, and political priorities. These include downward global economic pressures on the visible size of government, structural budget shortfalls, aging workforces, a spiraling national debt, and the rise of so-called "wicked" policy problems such as global warming where compromise has proved elusive internationally and in Washington.
• (Re)connecting with citizens and stakeholders . Reconnecting to create a "coproduction service" ethic impels managers and analysts to stop seeing policymaking and implementation as a one-way flow of expertise from their organizations to a largely passive, malleable, and receptive public.
• Redefining administrative rationality pressures stem from the alleged shortcomings of conventional bureaucratic structures. Critics claim that bureaucracies are too focused on processes and procedures, too remote from the citizens they serve, too centralized to be effective, and too inflexible to adapt on their own to be effective. Others argue that these "pathologies" are exaggerated or are actually functional in offering procedural protections for citizens. Your organization will be expected to become priority-based, customer-focused, information-driven, results-based, learning organizations. In the process, you will continue to be pressed to work collaboratively in networks with other agencies, as well as with private and nonprofit providers of goods and services.
• Reengaging financial resource pressures stem from downward pressures on tax revenues in a global economy, structurally induced budget deficits, the shifting purposes of organizations, and our evolving understanding of what works and does not work in addressing public problems.
• Recapitalizing human asset pressures are also likely to drive agency and nonprofit dynamics for years to come at all levels of government and in nonprofit organizations. This is largely because of the accelerating rate of "baby boomer" retirees that is currently underway, but it also reflects the difficulties of recruiting top-notch experts to government. Regardless, policy and program success depend critically on hiring and retaining persons with the right kinds of skills, in a timely fashion, and with credible retention plans. Equally important is ensuring that the public and nonprofit personnel performing these tasks reflect the sociodemographic characteristics of the clients they serve and the societies from which they come.
• (Re)aligning organizational subsystems refer to pressures to consider how well existing agency resources are "aligned" with—that is, support—present and future mission needs and policy priorities. What has to be aligned are administrative systems dealing with human resource management, financial management, capital investments and acquisition, IT management, and contract management. The greater number of these systems that are not aligned with policy or program goals, the less likely organizational, policy, or program success.
• Revitalizing a sense of common purpose informed by democratic constitutional values  should be a constant concern for you during your public service career, regardless of your choice of sector.This means that your agency, consulting firm, or nonprofit organization must think about more than efficiency and effectiveness.

Skills Needed For a Career in Public Service

"What kinds of knowledge, skills, and values does one need to have not just for a personally successful career but for a career that really makes a difference in citizens' lives?" You might think of these as "literacies" for public service that will make you assets in whatever organizations your career takes you.

So let's call them collectively AU's "ASSETS" regimen for public service. It goes without saying that the ASSETS regimen means reading deeply into topics related to your concentration area and widely across different fields and disciplines to understand today's and tomorrows "wicked" policy problems. But if you want to be a leader in the public service communities, you must consistently improve your abilities to think:

• Analytically
• Systemically
• Synthetically
• Technologically
• Strategically

Read more on Why Public Service Matters – and What It Means For You .

About the Author *Robert F. Durant is the visionary behind the Online Master of Public Administration and Policy program and is professor emeritus of public administration and policy at American University's on-ground programs. Among other awards, he is the recipient of the Dwight Waldo Award from the American Society for Public Administration for distinguished contributions to research in public administration and the John M. Gaus Award and Lectureship from the American Political Science Association for a lifetime of exemplary scholarship in the joint tradition of political science and public administration. His latest book is Why Public Service Matters: Public Managers, Public Policy, and Democracy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014). He resides in Marietta, Georgia and can be reached at [email protected] .

To learn more about American University’s online Master of Public Administration and Policy, request more information or call us toll free at 855-725-7614.

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The pandemic reminds us of the importance of public service

Subscribe to the center on the united states and europe update, fiona hill fiona hill senior fellow - foreign policy , center on the united states and europe.

May 13, 2020

The week of May 4 was Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), when the country honors those who serve as federal, state, county and local government employees and recognize the essential value of government service in American public life. PSRW was established in 1985, 35 years ago, but has not captured the popular imagination owing to persistent levels of distrust in the U.S. government. On May 4, 2020, the Brookings Institution partnered with the bipartisan National Commission on Military, National and Public Service for an event to mark the beginning of PSRW and to address ways of reversing some of the negative popular attitudes. Brookings President John R. Allen and Commission Chairman Joseph J. Heck opened the event, followed by a conversation between Allen, Heck, Commissioner Avril Haines, and Brookings Senior Fellow Isabel Sawhill. I had the pleasure of moderating the discussion.

Two decades ago, the Brookings Institution’s Center for Public Service also initiated a National Commission on the Public Service with former Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker and 10 commissioners drawn from both political parties with diverse experiences of public service. The final report from this effort was released in January 2003. In contrast with Brookings’s earlier effort, the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service was set up by Congress, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, with a two-year mandate to engage the public to produce recommendations for increasing American participation in all forms of service. Brookings scholars from the Economic Studies and Governance Studies programs took part in the exercise. Avril Haines , new Foreign Policy Program affiliate, was one of the commissioners. The commission’s interim report was issued in early 2019, in the immediate aftermath of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history (from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019).

The commission released its final report, titled Inspired to Serve , in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when public servants, military service members, volunteers, and national service members were battling to stem the spread of the virus and to safeguard public health. In an interview with The New York Times at the beginning of April 2020, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a highly-visible member of the White House pandemic task force, and head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, was asked how he would like to be remembered when the pandemic was finally over. He replied that, most of all, he wanted to be recognized as a dedicated public servant, who had done the best that he could to mitigate a terrible disease. In the same interview, Dr. Fauci summed up the general ethos of public service as essentially trying to fix and improve things for the greater good.

Dr. Fauci was first in the national spotlight four decades ago during the early years of the HIV/AIDS public health crisis; by 2020, he has become a household name. As a result of the pandemic, Pew polls released in April 2020 indicated an increase in positive impressions of federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS), with 79% of Americans having a favorable opinion of the former and 73% of the latter. Nonetheless — as panelists discussed during the May 4 event — Dr. Fauci’s prominence, the visibility of other public servants on the frontlines of tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, and these positive polls, may not mark a durable shift in U.S. public understanding of the essential role public servants play in meeting the country’s challenges or in popular views of government service.

Next year, in 2021, the U.S. will commemorate the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s call to service . Since then, other U.S. leaders have promoted public and national service in a nonpartisan or bipartisan manner, often building on the work of their predecessors. The year 2019 marked the 25th anniversary of the launch of AmeriCorps by President William J. Clinton, which President George W. Bush expanded with the creation of the USA Freedom Corps in 2002, and the Medical Reserve Corps . President Bush’s initiatives were spurred by the nation’s response to the terrorist attack of 9/11. The panelists for the May 4 event all stressed that COVID-19 will require a similar national response.

The National Commission on Military, National and Public Service’s March 2020 report offers one comprehensive approach to this response. In addition to policy recommendations, and specifically targeted legislation, the commission report proposes significant U.S. government and congressional investment in civic education to increase awareness of opportunities for the public, and to make national service the norm for Americans rather than the exception.

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Public Service and Its Responsibilities Essay

Public service refers to the set of different services offered by the government to the people under its jurisdiction, either through public or private sectors. Public service may also refer to a course that is offered in various higher learning institutions in order to equip learners with key knowledge and skills in the vast field of public administration. Public service or public administration is a field with a diverse scope, which main goal is to help in the advancement of policies and management to enable the government to carry its missions in a smooth manner. In other words, this is a field of profession primarily focused on the organization of government programmes and policies in various sectors of accountability. One of the main and striking characteristics of people within this diverse sector consists in the fact that, their services are required in all public agencies and departments. This, however, automatically makes them professionals in a number of disciplines. This nature of the service has won my heart at once, thus increasing my interest in this field.

As it can be observed, the overall responsibilities of public service usually involve outputs that can rarely be attributed to characteristics of quality or even to specific individual efforts. Public service is a field guided by commitment and dedication, which attracts only those people who are passionate about serving the communities. Having studied Political Science and Philosophy, I am interested in using community-based organizations within this specific field to make a difference in the community. My wide knowledge in public policies, coupled with rich skills acquired from previous experiences and engagements are enough to lead me into higher levels of performance within this particular field. My participation in a number of sessions and retreats has also exposed me to extensive administrative duties, thus giving me some extra knowledge as far as the practice of public administration is concerned.

My personal attributes, which include the ability to work well under pressure, fast comprehension of new concepts, and effective communication will help me effectively undertake the practice of public administration. More importantly, I will also try to utilize the basic skills of public relations that I possess in helping various segments of the community thrive in their respectful areas of commitments. My fluency in French is an added advantage to my career as a public service officer. French is arguably one of the widely-spoken languages across the world, and this clearly explains the reason why many people in the modern world have decided to study it as an alternative or the second language. This great exposure is likely to open up new opportunities to my career as well as to my personal growth, since I would be able to extend my public administration services to people of different cultural backgrounds, who may not be familiar with my first language, but can understand French. All these qualifications and experiences are instrumental in helping me achieve my goals in the diverse sector of public administration, where service to the people is a matter of priority. With all my experiences and ambitions, there is no doubt that public service has become more beneficial to me now more than ever before, and that is why I would not hesitate to embrace it fully as my favorite profession.

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How I Serve: The Importance of Public Service

Yesterday, I visited with USDA employees in Minnesota to tell them how much their work means to the Secretary, myself and the American people. USDA employees across the country and around the world do critical work that impacts millions of lives and I could not be prouder.

Folks often ask me why I work in the federal government and my answer always is: it’s how I serve. Public service is at the core of our nation’s principles. Our founding fathers performed a public service when they laid the foundation for the United States of America—as they sat down to write the Declaration of Independence and as they worked each day afterward to create and maintain a nation.

Public service looks a bit different today. At USDA alone, we help people buy homes, connect rural schools and hospitals to the internet, feed underserved children during the school year and summertime, provide loans to farmers and ranchers, fight wildfires and keep our food system safe and secure. Our employees are the best and brightest in the business. Public service is an honorable profession and should not be taken for granted.

These are just some examples of our great work. For all this and more, I want to express my deepest thanks to the incredibly talented and dedicated workforce at USDA.

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A Call to Lead: Public Service is a Noble Cause

The vast majority of elected officials, teachers, police officers, and other men and women in the public arena are dedicated servants that we are lucky to have.

President Bush often reminds us that to whom much is given much is required. This biblical reference invokes notions of leadership and service, qualities that each of the authors in this inaugural issue of The Catalyst have clearly demonstrated. Unfortunately, today it is fashionable to castigate, mock, and dishonor those Americans who have served in the public sector as elected officials or as “bureaucrats.”

It’s easy to pile on with stories of foolishness or incompetence, and on occasion we all have delighted in doing that — myself included — but we do so at our peril.

It is hard to imagine why good and able people would offer themselves up to work policing our streets, educating our children, or standing for office when those individuals are referred to as “losers” or laggards and whose judgment, intellect or integrity are called into question time and time again.

The French philosopher and revolutionary Joseph de Maistre said that “every country has the government it deserves” and in a democracy we have the “leaders we deserve.”

As someone who has spent much of my career in public service, I can tell you that many of the smartest, hardest-working, and most thoughtful and able people I know are those I had the privilege of working with in the public sector. They often served at considerable sacrifice to themselves and their families, and we are lucky they suit up every day to see about the problems and work of the American people.

I can tell you that many of the smartest, hardest-working, and most thoughtful and able people I know are those I had the privilege of working with in the public sector.

During my days in Washington and Austin, most of the people I came across in every branch of government were there for the right reasons. Did I agree with every one of them or with everything they did? Of course not, but I tried to hold the belief that no matter their point of view, their motives were pure and their intentions good.

Like me, I believed they desired a rewarding and stimulating career of making a meaningful difference in the lives of our fellow citizens no matter their role in the organization. I certainly hope they thought that about me — that I was there for the right reasons, too.

The problems our public officials and public servants are confronting are as thorny and intractable as ever. Now more than ever we need our smartest and most able Americans working to keep us safe, educating our young people, and building our communities. When public service and those who live it are demeaned or dishonored, and when we discourage those we sorely need from offering themselves up to this work, we create a culture of disrespect for our nation’s institutions.

In education, for example, our aging workforce will necessitate the recruitment and retention of teachers over the next decade to educate our students for the global knowledge economy, but our best and brightest are choosing other fields. For example, California had 21,500 teacher vacancies to fill this school year, but the state only issued 15,000 teaching credentials. Yes, some of it is related to pay, no doubt, but the diminishment of the field of teaching has not helped lead our best young minds into careers in education. The old saw “those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” engenders a corrosive attitude about the teaching profession.

The diminishment of the field of teaching has not helped lead our best young minds into careers in education.

Many teachers have told me they fear being candid with parents and often shirk from honest feedback on students. They fear a lack of credibility with parents and a presumption that the child is always right. This is a far cry from my day when teachers were respected and sometimes feared!

In law enforcement, our police officers that risk their lives each day are often viewed with suspicion and disdain. Recent events in communities like Ferguson and Chicago have intensified those views, but it is important to remember that the vast majority of police officers are good, honest, honorable men and women who keep our communities safe and livable. The “cop crunch” is the phenomenon to describe a lack of law enforcement personnel – especially women and minorities – and a scary trend that will make us less safe and more vulnerable.

Our federal work force is graying and the “kick the dog” rhetoric from politicians surely doesn’t engender enthusiasm from able young people to seek a life of public service in their government. We can’t complain about competency in government and simultaneously denigrate those who serve.

Finally and regrettably, those presidential candidates faring poorly in the polls are those who have led our states and demonstrated the executive skills and temperament required to govern in challenging times. Since when did having experience to do a job become a disadvantage in getting that job?

As I prepare to re-enter the public arena in March as the President of the University of North Carolina System, I hope for two things. First, that elected officials, my fellow state employees and the faculty and staff of the universities there will know how much I admire and respect their contributions and second, that my fellow citizens will show their support for those who work on their behalf. After all, to whom much is given, much is required.

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Apr 13, 2015

Blog , Video

Pay it Forward: The Value of Public Service

George Knowles, Web Communications Associate

What does public service mean? For some, it’s volunteering at a shelter or school once a month, or donating to a charity during the holidays. For others, it’s a year-round way of life.

Efrem Ayalew, winner of AYPF’s first-ever Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award , is a good example. Ayalew, who wrote the award-winning essay that demonstrated his commitment to public service and helping youth, came to the Washington area from Ethiopia when he was twelve and was forced to overcome significant language and cultural barriers in order to adjust to life in the United States.

Adapting to his new surroundings was a challenge. Ayalew’s mother, who worked full-time while raising him and his four siblings, had always stressed the importance of learning. While at school, Ayalew was faced with the pressure of fitting in with his new peers, who didn’t always see the value of school. In trying to adapt, Ayalew sometimes felt torn between two worlds, the world of his family, and that of his disengaged classmates. “It is naturally easier to flow with the current of life than to swim against it. Hence, I tried to be something I was never meant to be,” Ayelew writes in his essay.

However, Ayalew’s mother, or “Lion Mother,” as he describes her, kept the pressure on, and at school Ayalew joined the Upward Bound program, a Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) initiative that served as Ayalew’s “ah-ha” moment in terms of seeing the value of education, learning, and community service. Ayalew’s family had always emphasized the importance of learning, but the concept hadn’t become tangible yet. “Learning new stuff every day seemed nice, but the bigger picture was missing in order to connect the smaller dots.”

As part of the program, Ayalew went on college tours, spent six weeks at the George Washington University, and began to form an idea of what college life was like. This moment was instrumental for Ayalew. “I started to realize a college education was not only a dream, but also a reality I could strive for,” writes Ayalew.

After completing his degree at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Ayalew felt drawn to public service, particularly helping young students achieve success. He began volunteering at Roosevelt High School in Washington, D.C. through the AmeriCorps program. Ayalew also started working as a Youth Development Specialist at Leckie Elementary School as part of the Fishing School in Washington, D.C., where he was a lead teacher in an afterschool enrichment program.

At the moment, Ayalew is a volunteer teacher’s assistant with the Maryland Multicultural Youth Center at Buck Lodge Middle School. He works mainly with English as Second Language (ESL) students in the 7 th grade. Volunteering with ESL students has a special significance for him, as he struggled to master English when he first moved to the United States.

Going forward, Ayalew remembers what it was like for him growing up and keeps the memories close. Facing a steep language barrier and cultural divide was often hard, but his early exposure to public service and his family’s emphasis on learning saw him through. Whether it’s in teaching or youth development, Ayalew would like to work to make a difference in youth outcomes, to help young people succeed and achieve what can sometimes seem like impossible dreams of going to college or improving their lives. “A lot of times students can’t see a different reality, or a way out of their neighborhood,” said Ayalew. “I want to be able to work with kids who don’t see that side of reality.”

George Knowles is the Web Communications Associate at the American Youth Policy Forum.

____________________________

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF), a nonprofit, nonpartisan professional development organization based in Washington, DC, provides learning opportunities for policy leaders, practitioners, and researchers working on youth and education issues at the national, state, and local levels. AYPF events and publications are made possible by contributions from philanthropic foundations. For a complete list, click here .

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Federal employees share why public service is important to them

During last year’s Public Service Recognition Week, we asked federal employees to share their stories about working in government. More than 130 public servants from 45 different agencies answered. The responses shed light on why public servants view their work as important.

Many federal employees believe their work makes a difference. At the Department of Defense, Marcus S. sees himself as helping our nation become “healthier, stronger and sustainable.” Others see their impact in smaller and more specific ways. At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Velma B. knows she’s made a difference when she talks with a grateful family for whom she helped provide housing. Likewise, Kendra A. at the Internal Revenue Service knows she has done her job well when she hears the stress in a taxpayer’s voice subside over the course of a phone conversation.

Some employees see public service as a way to bring people closer to their government. Karen S. at the National Science Foundation is passionate about using her skills to figure out “how we communicate with each other, how our leaders communicate with their teams and how our government communicates with the public.” A few respondents said that their work helps change public perceptions about government. Richard G., for instance, believes that his work at the Social Security Administration can help ensure that “the American people have confidence in the skills and character of the public servant.”

Many federal employees are also driven by their specific agency missions. Keith C., for example, shared that his job at the Texas Department of Transportation keeps bridges safe for public use. At the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency, Betsy K. shared her work helps strengthen the cybersecurity of government networks.

Some public servants also joined government after witnessing specific social and economic wrongs. Kirtida P. left her executive management job in medical device manufacturing and pharmaceuticals after she observed companies selling harmful medical devices for corporate profit. She now works at the Food and Drug Administration inspecting medical products before they’re sold for public use. Maria L. at the Environmental Protection Agency comes from a family of migrant farmworkers. She sees her work as an environmental scientist as important because she has firsthand knowledge about the disparities among migrant families and small rural communities.

In short, public servants see their work as important for a wide range of reasons—from helping to uphold our democracy to making one person’s day slightly better. But no matter why federal employees find their work important, they have all committed their lives to public service—and that is worth honoring.

Public Service Recognition Week is from May 2-8, 2021. Visit our website  for simple, low-cost resources that can help you and your organization celebrate, and  sign up  to receive event updates and materials for next year’s celebration.

To share your own experiences of working in the federal government and why public service is important to you, take the #IServeBecause survey here.

If you are interested in joining public service, visit  gogovernment.org , your guide as you consider, apply and secure federal employment.

Will Butler is a former intern on the Partnership’s Communications team.

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Why Public Service is Important Now More Than Ever

A hiring freeze and talk of big policy changes with a new presidential administration can be unsettling for young people hoping to enter the federal workforce. But if you ask experienced government executives, they will tell you that it’s a good time to get into public service.

On Feb. 22, a panel of federal executives assured students that not only was there a place for them in public service, but it remains a noble calling.

"I can't remember a moment or time in public service when there hasn’t been challenges," said Gwen Sykes, chief financial officer for the U.S. Secret Service. “No matter what job you do, when you are in public service, you are serving the American public.”

Despite the hiring freeze, some agencies and departments, including the law enforcement agencies, are authorized to fill positions.

"Use the federal hiring freeze time to learn about the government. Figure out what you want to do,” Sykes advised students.

Zina Sutch, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the Office of Personnel Management, started in the private sector as a stock broker and told the audience that she soon realized the work didn’t align with her values.

“My passion is working to help other people," she said. “Tap into what is it that you bring. Figure out what matters to you.”

Reginald Wells, deputy commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s Office of Human Resources, said there will always be challenges in public service.

“That’s why we do this because we fix things,” said Wells. “We make them better than they were.”

As the federal workforce ages, there is a need for millennials to enter with innovative ideas, said Bill Valdez, who spent his career at the U.S. Department of Energy and now is president of the Senior Executives Association. The current “pause in hiring” will prompt many agencies to conduct internal reviews and do more with less.

“There is going to be a huge need for your generation to come up and build those new mission critical positions,” said Valdez. “The hiring freeze, along with a well thought out workforce plan for the federal government, will pay long-term benefits for everybody in this room.”

SPA’s Patrick Malone, executive in residence and director of the Key Leadership Program, moderated the event and asked the panelists why now, more than ever, should young people think about a career in public service.

"This election highlighted the divisions that exist in our country,” said Wells. “Where we go in the future is going to require extraordinary men and women who believe in this country and what it can become. The volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity has always existed but it is accentuated now. The problems we are dealing with in this world are escalating - climate issues, terrorism, the economic situation - and are reaching a fever pitch that we have to address.”

Sutch said administrations come and go, but those in the government must be a-political.

“The side that we are on is the side of the people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter who is taking on the leadership role. What matters is that we are serving the people in the best way we possibly can. Change is forcing federal workers to think differently and be creative - which can be rewarding. When adversity strikes, that’s when the biggest opportunities open up.”

What does public service mean to you?

By Julie Galante

Ahead of Veterans Day this year, we asked some HKS students who serve—and have served—in the military: What does public service mean to you? How has your military experience shaped your understanding of and connection to public service?

Here is what they shared.

David Choe MC/MPA 2024

La cañada, california u.s. army ranger.

My numerous combat deployments remind me of our dedication to one another, whether amongst my brothers and sister in arms, or the friends and family in the reaches of my heart. As I reflect on these experiences, I am moved deeply by the spirit of service shown by the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those moments of reflection remind me to live and lead a life that makes the world a better place.

“I am moved deeply by the spirit of service shown by the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those moments of reflection remind me to live and lead a life that makes the world a better place.”

Grace Jones MPP 2024

John f. kennedy fellowship,  belfer young leaders fellowship redding, california u.s. navy reserves, lieutenant commander.

Serving in the military helped me realize service must stem from a place of compassion. I’ve witnessed firsthand the sacrifices, camaraderie, and dedication of my shipmates. The most effective leaders exemplified compassionate service: a genuine care for one another was not merely an emotion, but a motivating factor guiding every mission.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the sacrifices, camaraderie, and dedication of my shipmates. The most effective leaders exemplified compassionate service: a genuine care for one another was not merely an emotion, but a motivating factor guiding every mission.”

Rebecca Marshall MC/MPA 2024

Medford lakes, new jersey u.s. army foreign area officer.

I serve my country by leading soldiers in the U.S. Army to help develop engaged, responsible citizens who can contribute to society during and after their military service. While it is important to honor those who have served in the military on Veterans Day, I also recognize my HKS classmates who offer their time and energy to better our communities through their service as educators, health care providers, nonprofit professionals, or policymakers and activists.

What distinguishes members of the military from many other public servants is our unique sense of duty, selfless service, and personal courage.

When called upon, we must at a moment’s notice put aside personal cares or beliefs and fulfill our obligation to deploy to harsh, dangerous environments. We are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our fellow servicemembers and civilians and to preserve the ideals and values we hold dear.

Over the last 10 years, I have lost many friends and mentors in the line of duty, and their lives and legacies are testaments to the personal and moral courage of those who wear the uniform with solemn pride. I had the privilege of serving with people of different backgrounds, religions, socioeconomic classes, and political opinions, and we always found common ground in our commitment to advance the cause of freedom. Our differences can be our greatest asset in public service.

“I had the privilege of serving with people of different backgrounds, religions, socioeconomic classes, and political opinions, and we always found common ground in our commitment to advance the cause of freedom.”

Brandon Moore MPP/MBA 2025

2023 black family fellowship ,  2023 pat tillman scholar torrington, connecticut u.s. army, captain (aviation).

Four months into our deployment to a small outpost in southeast Afghanistan, the United States began peace negotiations with the Taliban. This resulted in the “grounding” of our Apache helicopters for the foreseeable future.

We spoke almost no Pashto and they spoke little English, but the smiles and gestures of frustration when the ball landed outside the court were sufficient communication. We became friends.

Exactly one year after we departed our outpost, Afghan provinces began to fall to the Taliban. Scrolling through online images, I discovered a photo of Taliban soldiers occupying my former headquarters. Scrolling further, I saw them surrounding the barracks that housed the Afghan soldiers. I need not describe the peril they faced. I tell this story to emphasize one point: service is real. It is impactful, it matters, and the stakes are as high as they can possibly get. I also cannot put into words the privilege it was to serve alongside American, coalition, and Afghan servicemembers while fighting for a stable democracy in Afghanistan. Our mission was unambiguous, and our purpose was clear. Yet Kabul fell, and the rights of Afghan women and girls were all but eliminated. This means that our duty now is to never forget. We can never forget those who sacrificed through two bloody decades of conflict, and we cannot forget the millions of Afghans who continue to suffer to this day.

“Service is real. It matters and the stakes are as high as they can possibly get. I cannot put into words the privilege it was to serve alongside American, coalition, and Afghan servicemembers while fighting for a stable democracy in Afghanistan.”

Jon Moss MC/MPA 2024

2023 pat tillman scholar los angeles, california u.s. navy special operations (eod) officer.

My understanding of public service has been shaped by my diverse experiences, from my time in the classroom as an elementary school teacher in Compton, California, to my military service and humanitarian work.

Growing up in a dysfunctional family environment, I became acutely aware of other people’s vulnerabilities. The chaos of my early life instilled in me resilience and an ability to remain calm in the face of adversity. These experiences made me sensitive to the struggles of vulnerable communities and drove me to make a tangible difference. This led me to teach in the Compton Unified School District, where I witnessed firsthand the disparities in education and the potential of young minds when given the right opportunities.

My military experience further deepened my connection to public service. Serving as a Special Operations Bomb Technician in the Navy, I was entrusted with ensuring safety and security. This role honed my technical skills and reinforced the importance of selfless service, teamwork, and leadership. My time in the military made me realize I could leverage my skills to serve even more vulnerable populations such as the oppressed Karenni people in Burma. Witnessing their resilience and desperation, I felt a moral obligation to stand by them, to provide them with the resources and support they desperately needed. The stark contrast between the resources available in the West and the dire circumstances of the Karenni people highlighted the urgency of their plight. It was evident that their suffering demanded immediate action.

My military training and the leadership skills I acquired equipped me to make a meaningful impact in these conflict zones. But beyond the technical assistance, I realized that the most profound impact I could make was being present and making those around me feel valued and loved.

My experiences in Burma further solidified my commitment to public service. Witnessing the devastating effects of civil war and the challenges faced by Internally Displaced People (IDPs), I recognized the need for agile, grassroots solutions. The people of Burma, largely forgotten by the Western world, required sustainable solutions to empower them in the long run.

Now, as I look to the future, my vision is clear. I aim to establish a nongovernmental organization dedicated to removing weapons of war and ensuring the safety of civilians in conflict zones. I aim to collaborate with governments, international organizations, and other NGOs to create lasting solutions. My time at HKS will equip me with the policy knowledge required to realize this vision.

To me, public service is more than just a duty; it’s a calling. It’s about recognizing the interconnectedness of our shared humanity and stepping up to make a difference. My military experience has shaped my understanding of public service and instilled in me a relentless drive to serve those in need, no matter the challenges.

As we commemorate Veterans Day, I am reminded of the sacrifices made by countless individuals in the name of service. I am honored and inspired by the legacy and selfless dedication of those before me.

“To me, public service is more than just a duty; it’s a calling. It’s about recognizing the interconnectedness of our shared humanity and stepping up to make a difference.”

Omer S. Rafiq MC/MPA 2024

2023 pat tillman scholar southbridge, massachusetts u.s. marine corps, infantry officer.

As a first-generation immigrant, I have benefited from American values in more ways that I can begin to quantify. Through continued public service, I aspire to support a sustainable and inclusive democracy that uplifts everyone—and is a beacon of hope for nations across the globe to emulate.

As a military officer, integrity, empathy, resilience, and moral courage were the bedrock of my success in uniform. Being a trustee for the wellbeing of those under my charge was not only part of my job description, but also a moral imperative. The concept of "service before self" was molded in my ethos and tested repeatedly across the globe. These experiences have ignited a desire for continued public service while always prioritizing the needs of country and community before self. 

“The concept of 'service before self' was molded in my ethos and tested repeatedly across the globe. These experiences have ignited a desire for continued public service while always prioritizing the needs of country and community before self.”

Garry Schwartzman MC/MPA 2024

2023 cpl equity fellowship ,  2023 pat tillman scholar rockville, maryland u.s. army, major.

Soon after arriving in the United States, my uncle, a former Soviet refusenik, gave me a word of advice: “There are three types of people in this country—those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. Strive to become an agent of change.”

Inspired by his wisdom, I decided to serve my new country during a time of war. Nearly two decades after joining the military, I continue safeguarding the American dream to repay my debt of gratitude to my adoptive nation. Since my early days in combat supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, through my formative years as a Combat Support Officer and now a newly minted Foreign Area Officer, I seek to advance and defend U.S. national security interests by building and strengthening America’s diplomatic and military relations with our regional partners.

“Nearly two decades after joining the military, I continue safeguarding the American dream to repay my debt of gratitude to my adoptive nation.”

Joshua Stinson PhD in Public Policy candidate

Fort walton beach, florida u.s. air force, lieutenant colonel.

When I joined the military, the opportunity to fly airplanes in combat, get an education, and pursue adventure around the world was compelling. But after wearing the uniform for over two decades, the value of public service has changed. There were plenty of adventures, combat missions, and opportunities to lead. But I never anticipated the lost time, lost friends, and lost wars.

Today, I’m clear eyed about the complex hurdles. Continued public service is deeply tied to my values of sustaining the United States government and ensuring that the U.S. military is ready to meet future challenges. Public service is now about fixing systemic issues incrementally and creating opportunities so the next generation of public servants can live up to our highest ideals.  

I remain in public service not because of ambitions of adventure and glory. Instead, I found the perseverance to lead through challenging circumstances was rewarding and profound for the public good. The opportunity to make a difference for others, even in the smallest of ways, sustains my energy to better the military, the United States, and people around the world.

The opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself and make a small difference is why I remain committed in public service.

“I remain in public service not because of ambitions of adventure and glory. The opportunity to make a difference sustains my energy to better the military, the United States, and people around the world.”

Roni Yadlin PhD in Public Policy candidate

Irvine, california u.s. air force, lieutenant colonel, b-1 pilot.

My military experience has exposed me to a community of people dedicated to service. Everyone came to military service for unique and individual reasons, but they are all ready and willing to put those individual desires aside to serve the greater good.

Dismantling barriers for Latinx communities, one student at a time

By Carol Kerbaugh

Essay: Voluntarism and Public Servants

Americans celebrate volunteers and public servants, intuitively recognizing that there is something of great value in helping your community. But often we have arrived at distorted understandings of voluntarism and public service: definitions that emphasize trivial engagement and exclude important forms of public service. Exploring the benefits of service, the rules and norms that support and promote it, and the virtues that volunteers display will provide us will a more accurate understanding of what it means to serve.

Volunteering is good for society. When a disaster strikes a community and citizens step forward to care for and comfort those who have been harmed, the benefits are immediately apparent. But the benefits go deeper and are longer lasting than just providing immediate relief to the suffering.

Volunteering promotes habits and virtues in the volunteers themselves that have lasting effects on them and on their communities.

In Democracy in America , Alexis de Tocqueville argued that a free society depended on an engaged citizenry. But engagement requires more than just occasionally voting in local, state, and national elections. Instead, Tocqueville wrote that citizens needed to develop the art of association. During his travels in America he was astonished at how readily Americans were willing to form organizations. (Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835). This habit of creating civic and private associations has the effect of turning private individuals into citizens. Working with others draws individuals out of their private lives and teaches them skills necessary for self-government. Today social scientists call this “social capital,” which roughly defined is the ability of citizens to solve problems without government assistance. Developing social capital teaches individuals and groups to work together, build bases of power, and recruit others to their cause. These civic associations also teach individuals how to be leaders. They elect officers who make decisions, form committees that set policy, and deliberate about the future of the organization. These are all skills that transfer to political and personal life. Civic associations also instill a sense of dignity and power in their members.

Instead of seeing themselves as isolated and vulnerable, they begin to recognize that they have the power to create change and to control circumstances.

Working together to accomplish shared goals brings a sense of satisfaction. Being part of an association also instills a sense of pride in individuals.

When individuals are elected to an office, no matter how small, in organization it shows that it shows that their fellow citizens trust them with responsibility. One of the great dangers of a democracy is that individuals will feel powerless and succumb to a sense of fatalism. But that fatalism only makes individuals less involved and feel even more powerless and thus less willing to get involved.

Since volunteering brings important benefits to individuals and communities, it is worth considering what can be done to promote it. Tocqueville believed that the primary method is to decentralize power as much as possible. If the national government makes all the important decisions, there is little incentive for individuals to participate and volunteer. But when decisions are left to local communities, individuals can see that they can make a difference. That has the effect of pulling them out of their private lives and combatting the temptations of fatalism. As one person among hundreds of millions, citizens recognize that they can at most have a limited effect on national government, but at the local level their voice matters. But it will only matter if local communities matter. Tocqueville applauded America’s federal system precisely because it reaffirmed the importance of lower levels of government. Local governments serve as a kind of primary school for democracy where individuals first learn the art of citizenship.

Strong local governments also encourage strong civic associations. When decisions can be made at the local level individuals have an incentive to form voluntary associations to solve the problems closest to them.

If solving the problem required a permit from Washington, few would ever create civic associations. It follows, then, that democracies should remove obstacles to forming voluntary associations. Of course, the First Amendment provides support for this since it guarantees the freedom to assemble and the Supreme Court has ruled that freedom of speech also guarantees a right to expressive association, or the right to associate with groups that share our opinions. But it behooves America to encourage voluntary associations through other mechanisms.  For instance, the tax code can be used to promote or inhibit their creation. Providing tax benefits for donations to nonprofits encourages them while denying tax-exempt status to nonprofits impedes their formation. There should also be a general predisposition by Americans to accept the legitimacy of these associations even when they support positions that they individually oppose. This can be a difficult attitude to encourage.

Just as we are inclined to support free speech for those we agree with but oppose freedom of speech for those we disagree with, the same can occur with the right to association.

This analysis should make it apparent that public servants are not just those who hold public office. A wide range of people can be categorized as public servants. In fact, it is even broader than the discussion indicates. One class of people that often are not categorized as public servants but nevertheless provide services that benefit all of us are those who engage in private enterprise, particularly entrepreneurs who take on great risk with no guarantee of reward. The risks that they take serve the public in several important respects. Obviously generating ideas that lead to economic growth and prosperity benefits all of us. Entrepreneurial thinking often reveals new and more efficient ways to use natural resources. One of the extraordinary results of a free economy is that the price of natural resources tends to decline over time rather than increase. One would think that the price should go up because as more of the resource is consumed less of the resource is available, but in a free economy there is always an incentive to think more efficient ways to use resources because doing so saves money and generates profit. Thus, the counterintuitive but nevertheless true conclusion is that those engaged in private enterprise often increase the stock of resources available by creating better ways of using it.

Most importantly private enterprise provides employment for citizens which in turn breeds a sense of self-reliance. If individuals are to be free, they must be able to provide for themselves. In fact, these complement each other because providing for yourself reinforces a sense of independence, dignity, and freedom. That does not mean that assistance for those who have fallen on hardship can never be justified. However, for individuals to feel secure enough to exercise their rights and assert themselves when government violates those rights, they cannot be completely dependent on government for their economic well-being. Tocqueville showed that such dependence entices citizens to vote away their freedom for physical security, which reduces them to mere subjects or wards of the state. Once that freedom is forfeited, it is difficult, perhaps impossible, to reclaim.

It is also important to remember that not everyone holding public office is truly a public servant. While the Framers of the Constitution hoped that individuals of merit and virtue would seek and gain office, they recognized that human nature was not so accommodating and prudence dictated taking “auxiliary precautions.” James Madison said in Federalist No. 10 that “enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm” (James Madison, Federalist No. 10, 1787). In fact, the Constitution is designed with the assumption that individuals will seek to advance their private ambitions through public office. The system of separation of powers and checks and balances is there, as Madison said in Federalist No. 51 , so that, ambition can counteract ambition (James Madison, Federalist No. 51 , 1788). While we should not encourage excessive cynicism, citizens should not uncritically accept claims of selfless public service since those very claims of self-sacrifice can be used to further private interests. The genius of the American Constitution and its elaborate system of restraints on power is that it forces those with private interests to consider the public good. That is elected officials become public servants in spite of themselves.

As Madison explains at the end of Federalist No. 51 , that the Constitution is constructed so that “a coalition of a majority of the whole society could seldom take place on any other principles than those of justice and the general good” (James Madison, Federalist No. 51 , 1788).

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Voluntarism and Public Servants

Public Service Motivation and Its Implications for Public Service

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• Anne Mette Kjeldsen 4  

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Public service motivation is individuals’ orientation toward delivering services to people with a purpose to do good for others and society. This type of motivation is especially relevant for public servants because it affects behavior and performance in public, nonprofit, and private provision of public services. Research consistently shows that public service motivation increases individual and organizational performance if public service providers agree with the values of the public service organizations in which they work and see the societal impact potential in their jobs. Public service motivation can be cultivated by leadership, especially if the general governance context is based on trust. Finally, public service motivation can contribute to attracting and retaining individuals in public service provision, and these individuals are socialized to prioritize doing good for others and society as part of their public service careers. This implies that public service motivation has great potential for contributing to better public service delivery, but the literature suggests that it depends on factors such as governance context. Public service motivation can have dark sides if it adds to the job demands in a context with sparse resources, an aspect that emphasizes the role of leadership.

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Andersen, L.B., Jensen, U.T., Kjeldsen, A.M. (2020). Public Service Motivation and Its Implications for Public Service. In: Sullivan, H., Dickinson, H., Henderson, H. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of the Public Servant. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03008-7_81-1

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Introduction

A public service can be defined as a service provided by a government to persons living within its jurisdiction either through public sector or by funding private provision of services. Public service can be classified either as institutional or administrative. These services must be available to all regardless of their income, race, religion and political standoff. All citizens of a country are considered to be eligible users of the services. Public service is composed of four essential elements; employee, public services and an officer (Light, 2009). All this are necessary for the public service to be effective. Public service is of great importance in virtually all sectors or aspects of life. Safety and security are very necessary for the peaceful existence of any society. If safety was left to the economic sectors, it would have been out of reach for many low income earners. Additionally, unscrupulous business people would have used that chance to extort the public. Due to the sensitivity of the matter, it therefore calls for an independent body that is not driven by profit motives to provide the service (Holmes & Australia, 2011). Also, without safety, little progress can occur in the society where individuals attach prodigious value to their lives. Hence are not ready to risk or lose it. Currently, the effective functioning of any government depends on the harmonized interaction of administrative and political constituents of the system of government, the society and the state since predominantly efficiency of public organization supports the citizens. Without public service, there will be little organization in the society and this will, to a large extent, hamper development of the state. Furthermore, housing is a basic need that all citizens must have access clearly stipulated by the fundamental doctrine of human right. Due to the economic disparities not all citizens may afford houses hence governments must provide this service to avert a scenario where people live a deteriorating life (Kishel, 2007). Good infrastructure such as roads is mandatory for the economic development of any country. Public service is of great importance as far as transportation is concerned. It ensures that all parts of the country are developed and have access to major places or services (Kishel, 2007). This fosters a sense of equity and togetherness. Additionally, transportation services are quite costly such that if the government does not provide it, many low income earners will be disadvantaged while the rich may capably take advantage of the situation to benefit themselves. The success and effectiveness of any government depends on the quality of services that the citizens have access to. Public service is significant as it ensures that the quality of some essential services is upheld (Light, 2009). If these services were left at the provision and discretion of business people, they would have compromised the quality as they strive to maximize returns. Governments must essentially budget for all services that it is obligated to deliver to its subjects. Consequently, this enhances planning and economic and social development since it equips the government with important facts concerning the demographics. Evidently, the sophisticated society cannot work effectively without an effective government that fully supports its citizens through provision of public services. Governments must obligate to provide equal opportunity for all citizens to flourish and reach their potential. They must bravely and unabashedly defend the public and competency of the individuals called to public service.

Holmes, B., & Australia (2011). Citizens' engagement in policymaking and the design of public services. Canberra: Parliamentary Library. Kishel, A. -M. (2007). Government services. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co. Kishel, A. -M. (2007). Government services. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co. Light, P. C. (2009). The new public service. Washington, D.C: Brookings Institution Press. Shah, A., & World Bank (2005). Public Services Delivery. Washington, D.C: World Bank.

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