New Surgeon General of the U.S.'s quote

“Americans will be more likely to change their behavior if they have a meaningful reward--something more than just reaching a certain weight or dress size. The real reward is invigorating, energizing, joyous health. It is a level of health that allows people to embrace each day and live their lives to the fullest without disease or disability.”

- VADM Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., Surgeon General

William Ernest Henley - Invictus

Invictus

User Rating:

9.3 /10
(177 votes)


- vote - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10





Print friendly version

E-mail this poem to e friend

Send this poem as eCard

Add this poem to MyPoemList


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

my quick bio

In 2009 Jason Jurkowski stepped away from his commissioning in the U.S. Public Health Service where he had accomplished much at a young age. He had supported the US Government in management of over $10 million per year and supervised over 25 civilian, military and contracted personnel at once. In his last position, he was the former Special Assignment Authority, for the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) where he assisted ASPR in becoming a higher functioning organization and worked to further develop the leadership and communication skills of ASPR members. The position oversaw the initiatives, engagement and deployed involvement of the teams in the USA. Prior to that, he was the Director for Secretary’s Operations Center, ASPR, HHS, involved in the management of Federal emergency management medical support functions in response to national and international response for natural and man-made disasters as well as bio-terrorism attacks. He also served as the HHS Executive and Program Integrator for Department of Homeland Security, National Operations Center; functional proponent for medical emergency support investment to include personnel, equipment and materiel programs. Jurkowski has the following special qualifications:
- Security Clearance
- HHS Project Management Certification
- Managed millions of $
- Oversaw $ millions on contract management and contract awards
- Advanced Microsoft Office experience
- Policies and procedures development
- Gathering and analyzing metrics
- Over 5 years experience in project and financial management
- Over 5 years as a budget/finance manager
- Over 5 years as a program manager
- Significant contracts experience
- Policy/procedure writing and modification experience

For applicants, federal hiring reform a relief

By Ed O'Keefe
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Brad Kennedy wants to work for the federal government so badly that he's been flying back and forth between his home in Madison, Wis., and Washington since January. He's spent almost $2,000 on airfare and a total of eight weeks away from his family, networking with anyone who might help him join the federal payroll.

This Story
A move to streamline the hiring process
Hiring officials have finally heard the magic word: Resumes
The 40-year-old litigator and father of two was laid off in the fall and almost immediately set his sights on a federal job. He has applied for positions in the Commerce and State departments. His wife's salary as a teacher and his unemployment benefits help fund the trips to Washington, and he stays at his sister's house in Reston.

"I've wanted for a long time to serve my country through government service," Kennedy said. But after 40 applications for federal positions, 15 replies and so long away from his family, he's frustrated. But he said the new rule allowing résumés and cover letters instead of requiring essay-style questions announced Tuesday by President Obama is encouraging, and he plans to apply again. The changes must be implemented by Nov. 1.

"I would hope that it would make my application materials perhaps more competitive than they would have been with the KSAs," Kennedy said, referring to the lengthy essays currently required for most applications. "But I also think it's going to explode the already high volume for each of these positions."

An onslaught of highly qualified applicants is exactly what the Obama administration wants. In calling for the federal hiring reforms, Obama said that the government "must recruit and hire highly qualified employees" and that public service "should be a career of choice for the most talented Americans."

But the current hiring process "is too cumbersome, too bureaucratic," said Jeffrey Zients, the administration's chief performance officer.

"A hiring process that takes 140 days or more . . . is indicative of that problem," he added.

Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry said he is sympathetic to the frustration of applicants tied up in the federal hiring system, but noted that the Obama administration developed and announced important changes in a relatively short period of time -- 13 months.

"In Washington speed, I'm feeling pretty good," Berry said Monday.

But Brandi Perry is sick of waiting. The 33-year-old medical receptionist from Columbia Heights has spent 18 months applying unsuccessfully for 25 federal jobs. She particularly wants a public affairs or administrative position.

"It's just incredibly frustrating when you know you're qualified for a position and you could make all the difference," Perry said.

She is drawn to the federal sector by its stability, professional growth opportunities and generous benefits, including more paid holidays than her current job provides. With or without the changes, she'll keep applying.

"I'll try again tonight, and whenever they roll out the new system, I'll try again," she said.

DC Metro escalator service

The Washington Post)

Metro interim General Manager Richard Sarles told reporters during a roundtable discussion Tuesday afternoon that the agency plans to bring in consultants to help solve its ongoing problems with escalators and elevators.

Sarles said the move is a response to rider complaints, and the consultants would be on the scene within a month .

Metro board member Mortimer Downey told The Washington Post in a recent story that "escalators are clearly a problem."

"Escalators are an integral part of the passengers' ride and experience," Downey said, "and they need to be every bit as effective as the trains. They are not an amenity."

On any given day, dozens of Metro escalators are out of service. It's been an ongoing source of frustration for passengers. Tuesday afternoon about 68 escalators were listed as being out of service (out of a total 588) on Metro's Web site.

Do you have your own story to tell about escalator service? E-mail us at transportation@washpost.com.