Michael Hassett

I am responsible for tracking program performance, strategic planning, and conducting financial and risk analysis to determine if our organization is meeting its mission. I am also a social scientist and earned my Ph.D. and masters in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. My research focuses on the drivers of work engagement and turnover in the federal workforce. I put my research into action as a member of the NOAA Fisheries' Wellness Council, which explores how we can support employee wellness. In 2022, I co-authored a policy in its final stages of review that supports employee participation in sanctioned wellness activities to boost resilience, engagement, and retention.

I was inspired to join the public service through my Peace Corps and AmeriCorps Volunteer services; first in Tonga and then in both Pittsburgh and Baltimore. I had many peers and mentors who were incredibly passionate and committed to public servie and to their organizations; they were making a real and tangible impact in underserved communities. I wanted to support programs and maximize my impact in communities around the country and federal service seemed like a no-brainer. I was–and continue to be–s. I am proud to be among their ranks.

With experience in multiple areas of public service, one of the highlights of my career came via the classroom. While working for Baltimore City Public Schools, as a college access coordinator, I decided to begin emailing the White House every week and explained how hard working my students were and how they are working to be the first college graduate of their families. After doing this for over a year, my students, their parents, and a handful of teachers were invited to the White House to see President Obama greet the Canadian Prime Minister on the South Lawn. It was so rewarding to see these hardworking students and their families be given this opportunity.

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