Two weeks ago, PSC testified at a hearing where the commitment of federal contractors and their employees to the government’s mission was questioned. Obviously those questioning that commitment haven’t talked to contractors the way the Boston Globe’s Beth Healy did in this May 23 profile of Kathleen Flanagan, the chief executive of Abt Associates, a PSC member company actively involved in our International Development Task Force. The entire piece is worth a read, but I’d like to highlight Flanagan’s response to Healy’s question of what drew her to the development field.
Flanagan said:
"I’m very passionate about making a difference, and Abt is a mission-oriented company. Abt is dedicated to improving people’s lives, to helping our clients improve programs, and going into fragile countries or underdeveloped countries and raising them up.”
That sounds a lot like dedication to mission and public service to me. And it serves as a good reminder to those who question the motives of for-profit contractors: it IS about the mission.
