NASA has announced the selection of the first participants for its first Innovation Ambassadors program, which will enable some of NASA's most talented scientists and engineers to work at several of America's leading innovative external research and development organizations. During assignments of up to one year, the four ambassadors will share their own expertise while learning about innovative products, processes and business models, and upon returning to NASA, can share new ideas with co-workers and implement innovations within their own organizations.
Rotating employees in and out of the private sector is particularly innovative for the federal government, and many have touted the strategy to boost the efficiency and expertise of the information technology workforce, particularly those in cybersecurity positions. Perhaps NASA's program could serve as a model for the federal government in how to most effectively implement these rotations to promote new ideas and create new partnerships.
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
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