A Modest Proposal for Employing Contract Project Managers in Service of the Public Good

HHS contract project manager David Fulton recently found himself in a unique conversation—one that blended history and innovation in the most unexpected way. As he sat at his desk, reviewing the complexities of modern state initiatives, an AI-generated holographic Benjamin Franklin appeared, offering sage advice with a glimmer of 18th-century wit. “David,” the avatar began, “governance in your time, like mine, depends upon preparation, innovation, and the wise employment of talent. Tell me—have you considered the merits of your modern-day contract project managers?” And so began a dialogue that would reframe the value of expertise in tackling today’s public challenges.

By Benjamin Franklin, as imagined in the modern day

My esteemed colleagues in the service of the public,

Permit me to share an observation: Success in governance, like success in any endeavor, rests upon the shoulders of preparation, prudence, and the wise application of resources. In my time, we secured the union of these United States by harnessing the best minds of the day, not solely from within the government but also from without, inviting expertise where it was most needed. Might not the same wisdom apply today to the complex endeavors undertaken by your State Departments of Health and Human Services?

Allow me to advance a notion I believe most worthy of your consideration: the deliberate and judicious use of contract project managers to address the great challenges of your age.

1. Calling Upon Expertise Where It is Lacking

When a ship’s captain encounters uncharted waters, does he not seek the counsel of one who has sailed them before? So too should state leaders summon the aid of those versed in the peculiar complexities of large-scale initiatives. Contract project managers, with their varied experiences across industries and regions, are akin to navigators—well-versed in the tides and storms of project management. Their knowledge of modern methodologies can help steer state initiatives safely to their intended harbors.

2. Flexibility, the Hallmark of Prudence

In my day, we learned to adjust our sails to meet the winds. Contract project managers provide a similar flexibility, entering the service of the state for a season, to address a specific purpose. When the harvest is gathered, they depart, leaving no burden upon the state’s treasury beyond their hire. Such arrangements spare your permanent staff from undue strain and preserve resources for future needs.

3. Introducing Fresh Perspectives to Stale Systems

The danger of familiarity, I have often observed, is that it breeds complacency. Long-tenured officials, though invaluable for their knowledge of precedent, may at times resist the winds of change. A contract project manager, unencumbered by institutional inertia, may propose innovations that quicken the pace of progress and refresh the course of governance. This, I daresay, is no small boon in an age of rapid technological and societal evolution.

4. Guarding Against Waste and Mismanagement

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” I once wrote, and it remains true. The employment of a contract project manager is such an ounce of prevention, ensuring that projects stay true to their objectives, avoid delays, and manage risks with the discipline of one who is wholly devoted to their success. By keeping budgets and timelines in check, they save the state from the more grievous costs of failure.

5. Efficiency Without Extravagance

Let us not forget the virtue of thrift. The expense of hiring a contract project manager, though it may seem substantial at the outset, pales in comparison to the costs incurred by projects that falter. Furthermore, these temporary stewards of progress require no pensions, no long-term benefits, only fair compensation for the tasks completed. Such an arrangement is a testament to both economy and fairness.

6. Strengthening the Republic Through Wise Stewardship

Governance is, at its heart, the act of serving the public good. By employing contract project managers to ensure the success of programs that address health, nutrition, and welfare, you fulfill your sacred duty to the people. Their well-being, like the flame of a lantern, must be tended with care, lest it be extinguished by negligence or inefficiency.

In Conclusion

Leaders of the modern age, I implore you: Do not let pride or bureaucracy prevent you from availing yourself of the talents that stand ready to serve. Contract project managers are not an extravagance, but a necessity for these complicated times. They bring clarity to confusion, order to chaos, and results where they are most desperately needed.

The health and happiness of the people are, as always, the chief ends of government. Employ those who will help you secure these ends with wisdom, efficiency, and honor.

Yours in service to the public, Benjamin Franklin (in spirit)