Developing Tomorrow's Leaders - Lessons from the Federal Sector

Bob Lavigna joined the Partnership for Public Service as VP of Research in August 2006. The Partnership is a non-partisan, nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing public service by inspiring a new generation to serve, and helping to transform government. Bob directs research projects that find new ways for public sector agencies to attract and retain talent.Before joining the Partnership, Bob was Senior Manager of Consulting Services for CPS Human Resource Services. From 1991-2001, he was Director of the Wisconsin civil service system, and also directed a statewide labor-management cooperation program. Before being appointed to his Wisconsin position by the Governor, Bob served with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).The organizations Bob has led have received innovation awards from the Ford Foundation, the Council of State Governments, the Urban League and others. Bob's individual awards and honors include selection as a "Public Official of the Year" by Governing magazine. He is also a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.Bob is a past President of the International Public Management Association for Human Resources and past Chair of the American Society for Public Administration Section on Personnel. He writes frequently for journals and other publications, is the author of three book chapters, and has spoken at conferences across the U.S. and abroad.Bob has a B.A. in Public Affairs from George Washington University and an M.S. in HR from Cornell University.

Tom Fox is the Director of the Annenberg Leadership Institute - an innovation and leadership laboratory where rising leaders learn the best management practices and put them to use solving some of their agencies most significant challenges. As Director, Tom leads the overall program administration, including classroom sessions, and serves as an advisor to the various agency teams. Since joining the Partnership in 2002, Tom has worked with agency leaders to improve their management and operations, including work with the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the Department of Interior, and an Executive Branch intelligence agency.Tom has also researched and developed recommendations to overcome significant federal crises. Most notably, he authored a report - Homeland Insecurity: Building the Expertise to Defend America from Bioterrorism - documenting a shortage of federal biologists and medical professionals that threatened to undermine our nation's defenses against bioterrorism. The report generated Congressional hearings, legislation, and action by the White House Homeland Security Council.Prior to joining the Partnership, Tom's professional experience includes work in the public and private sectors, including the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), the U.S. Senate and the White House. Within Andersen's Office of Government Services, Tom was a Senior Consultant providing strategic human capital and workforce planning support to government clients. At GAO, Tom was a human capital analyst managing the development of reports such as Human Capital: A Self-Assessment Checklist for Agency Leaders.Tom is a summa cum laude graduate of Bowling Green State University and holds a master's degree from Georgetown University's Public Policy Institute.