The Lectern

Okay boomers—listen up!

Steve Kelman remembers the savage beats of the great Tom Lehrer.

  • By Steve Kelman

Dissenting from our toxic political culture

Steve Kelman says it's important in this highly partisan era to find points of disagreement with one's own party.

  • By Steve Kelman

Remembering Professor Carter

Steve Kelman reflects on the former defense secretary's life in government and academia.

  • By Steve Kelman

Measuring for management

Steve Kelman is impressed with how today's senior federal civilian and military managers approach performance data.

  • By Steve Kelman

Making an apology

On a trip to Taiwan, Steve Kelman reflects on the importance of apologies.

  • By Steve Kelman

Lessons from Taiwan's rise to dominate the computer chip industry

Steve Kelman notes that an assertive industrial policy can yield big wins for governments willing to invest and manage their investments.

  • By Steve Kelman

Let's not cancel TikTok

Steve Kelman argues that First Amendment rights come ahead of vaguely articulated national security concerns when it comes to the China-owned social media app.

  • By Steve Kelman

The DHS Procurement Innovation Lab is still busy

Steve Kelman looks at how advisory downselects pioneered helped speed up a key FEMA acquisition – and how other agencies can benefit.

  • By Steve Kelman

Loving guns, hating the government

In the wake of recent mass shootings, Steve Kelman explores the reasons why some are resistant to assault weapons bans and how it may stem from an aversion to the federal government.

  • By Steve Kelman

A tribute to a pioneer advocate for small disadvantaged businesses in government contracting

Steve Kelman remembers Centech founder Fernando Galaviz.

  • By Steve Kelman

Why are there so many tributes to Ash Carter on my Facebook page?

Steve Kelman considers the impact of a colleague.

  • By Steve Kelman

My COVID – and a thank you to our scientists and our government

Steve Kelman says he owes a debt of gratitude for a relatively mild encounter with the coronavirus.

  • By Steve Kelman

Signs that 'faceless bureaucrats' helped mitigate the impact of Hurricane Ian

A look at cities and towns in the path of Hurricane Ian that escaped devastation points to the value of modern building codes – and the officials behind their implementation.

  • By Steve Kelman

A U.S diplomatic organization that works

How a short video speaks volumes about current U.S. approaches to diplomacy in China.

  • By Steve Kelman
Featured eBooks

Moderates of the world, unite!

The time may have come for normally reserved political centrists to raise their voices.

  • By Steve Kelman

Coding it Forward fellows share their stories

Two college students planning careers in tech told Steve Kelman why they chose to prioritize government service.

  • By Steve Kelman

GenCyber: NSA sets up summer camps to teach kids to hack

Steve Kelman finds the normally secretive agency's camps an intriguing way to offer a taste of cybersecurity careers to middle and high school students.

  • By Steve Kelman

Customer service at the National Security Agency

Steve Kelman finds a helping hand in the highly secretive spy shop.

  • By Steve Kelman

Steve Kelman reports from his 50th college reunion

After a two-year delay due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Harvard College class of 1970 got the chance to reconnect.

  • By Steve Kelman

A hopeful update on the President's Management Agenda

Steve Kelman says there's a lot to like in the Biden administration's approaches to improving citizen satisfaction, employee engagement and acquisition reform

  • By Steve Kelman

Should the FDA have done more months ago about an impending baby formula shortage?

Steve Kelman asks whether any well-placed Food and Drug Administration officials could have anticipated the current baby formula shortage.

  • By Steve Kelman