FEB East Agency Spotlight Q&A: Anne Johnson

Q1: What Board do you serve on for the FEB Eastern Region and in what capacity?

A1: I am in my second term as Chair of the Philadelphia Federal Executive Board. Highlights include meeting colleagues across the federal government in the local Philadelphia area and also chairing our annual awards ceremony.

Q2: What is unique about your agency’s mission?

A2: The U.S Food and Drug Administration is a multi-faceted public health agency that regulates approximately 20 cents out of every dollar spent. Employees in the agency work domestically in all 50 states, U.S territories and internationally to ensure safety and effectiveness of human and animal foods and medicines, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, and devices that emit radiation.? We also regulate tobacco products.? I started working for the FDA, as an investigator, specifically in the Office of Inspections and Investigations (formerly Office of Regulatory Affairs).??Currently, I serve as senior science advisor to the Associate Commissioner for Inspections and Investigations on regulatory matters, strategic initiatives, program execution, and short- and long-range program goals. Several of them, I lead. OII is a world-class inspectorate. In fact, every year, the investigators in our inspectorates fly over 26 million miles to conduct FDA operations in the U.S. and abroad.??I am extremely proud of the professionalism, dedication, and expertise of those who serve in the FDA.

Q3: How does your agency collaborate with the Federal Executive Boards? What benefits have you noticed from this collaboration?

A3: What benefits have you noticed from this collaboration?? Nationwide, through the FEB Network, we have participated in numerous trainings, professional development and emergency preparedness exercises that serve to enhance our abilities to effectively perform our duties. ?The exchange of ideas and best practices hones our respective areas of expertise. Any agency can benefit and collaborate with FEBs. Our agency participates and benefits from local FEB coordination in areas such as: local closure information sharing, table-top exercises to enhance coordinative efforts, the?IT Council, and professional development programs for federal employees. ?The rapid access to information that is tailored to the local community keeps us informed in real-time in a valued added manner on the ground. The collaboration has strengthened our rapport with other federal agencies and our communications with state and local regulatory partners.? We can leverage our various missions to improve our effectiveness, build bridges and be more efficient. FDA has always supported participation in FEB efforts including many of us who have served as officers or representatives.

Q4: How has the FEB impacted your relationships with federal/state/local agencies?

A4: The FEB places an amazing network of talented individuals literally at your finger-tips – with the ability to learn from each other, collaborate, or problem solve together. In addition, the collaboration extends our reach into communities and areas where we may not have had much prior interaction. The FEBs are also a great way to disseminate information beyond the norm in a true cross-cutting fashion. Also, we host an annual awards ceremony to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and excellence of hard-working federal colleagues.?It is always wonderful to meet in person. These moments turn many of our professional connections into valued relationships and friendships.

Q5: How do FEB programs/services align with your agency’s mission and priorities?

A5: We are a public health agency and having just exited a pandemic, it was evident having a wider local network to support information sharing with was incredibly important.?

Q6: What outcomes/goals would you like to achieve through collaborating with the FEBs?

A6: In the coming years, I would like to advance our local connections in the communities in which we reside, including outreach to academia.? It is important for us to remain in touch with the public, let them know we are here to protect and serve via our respective missions, to do our very best to address concerns, and provide trusted and reliable information.? In addition, I have found public service to be extremely rewarding and would like to see us elevate awareness of the value we bring to our up-and-coming new generations hosting local cross-agency recruiting events and encouraging them to consider a career in government.