Study Reveals a Training Gap

Last week, Sen. Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) reintroduced a bill aimed at improving the communication skills of managers and supervisors by addressing what he called inconsistent and inadequate training for supervisors.

Akaka's bill would require that new supervisors receiving training in how to communicate with and manage employees. The training would come in their first 12 months on the job, with mandatory retraining every three years, the senator said. Current managers would have three years to obtain training to brush up their employee management skills.

"Meaningful training matters," Akaka said. "Training should not be discretionary for agencies."

Public Service Awards

The 2007 National Public Service Awards were announced yesterday by the American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration. The awards honor career managers who are models of excellence and accomplishment over a sustained period of time.

The winners are:

· Peter M. Blumberg, a department head at the National Cancer Institute's Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics.

· Barbara S. Dorf, director of the office of departmental grants management and oversight at the Housing and Urban Development Department.

· James E. Hartwell Jr., program manager for the Air Force test and evaluation squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

· Thomas H. Muehlenbeck, city manager of Plano, Tex.

· Mark A. Pisano, executive director for the Southern California Association of Governments.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address is barrs@washpost.com.