FMA contributes a monthly column, "Hear it from FMA," published on FEDmanager.com on a variety of issues and topics. This month we featured FMA Manager of the Year Linda Lentjes.

Linda Lentjes, a member of FMA Chapter 396, Naval Station Mayport, in Jacksonville, Florida, was named FMA's Manager of the Year. She was recognized for this outstanding achievement at FMA’s 85th Annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar.FMA National President Craig Carter praised Lentjes, saying, “I can’t say enough about what Linda means to FMA and the Department of the Navy. She truly lives out FMA’s motto of “advocating excellence for public service. Her wisdom and thoughtful leadership are evident through her exceptional service on FMA’s Executive Board and her achievements at Naval Station Mayport help ensure the U.S. Navy remains the most dominant seafaring force the world has ever known.”

Linda’s career with the Department of Defense has spanned more than 40 years, starting as a GS-2 temporary employee in the administrative field. She rose through the ranks and was selected for the position of Resource and Requirements Director/Comptroller with U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet, Naval Station Mayport, Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where she continues to work today in this leadership position. She embodies the Association’s mission at her agency, in her community, and as a leader within FMA.

FMA contributes a monthly column, "Hear it from FMA," published on FEDmanager.com on a variety of issues and topics. This month we featured FMA-endorsed legislation that would protect feds in the event of a government shutdown or debt default.

Most bills introduced in Congress languish and do not advance. More than 15,000 bills were introduced in the 117th Congress and 364 of them were signed into law. But sometimes a bill is introduced that is a complete no-brainer.

That is clearly the case with the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act (H.R. 1301 / S. 640), introduced in early March by Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI). Their legislation, which FMA swiftly endorsed, would protect feds from negative financial consequences from civil penalties due to situations completely out of their control, including a government shutdown or a debt default. This is about as commonsense as legislation comes.

FMA writes a quarterly column for FEDForum, published on FEDmanager.com, to share our mission and efforts. This quarter's topic was "New Year, New . . ."

New Year, new Congress, new . . . Resolve. The 118th Congress offers a fresh chance to secure a fair pay raise next year, and FMA has renewed vigor and resolve to make important changes to attract and retain the best and brightest to public service.

Federal managers, and indeed all feds, deserve to be treated with respect for their efforts and the work they have performed over many years. Every job they hold and perform daily is because of a congressional mandate. It is not too much to ask that, in return, feds be given the ability to maintain a living wage that provides for them and their families.

Federal Managers Groups Largely Support Trump OPM Pick

By Erich Wagner, Government Executive

The Trump administration’s nomination of George Nesterczuk to serve as director of the Office of Personnel Management is already making waves among groups that represent federal workers.

While groups representing managers voiced varying levels of support for the announcement Wednesday, a union official was warier of the choice.