ASA Connect

Hi folks,

I am now back in the AmStat community and thrilled to be able to contribute.

Please indulge me while my first communication is back to my formenr beloved Census Bureau colleages in the form of an open letter.

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Greetings to my former colleagues at the U.S. Census Bureau:

I was unable to send a final good-bye to you on my last day as Director of the U.S. Census Bureau (Feb. 14), so I thought I'd post this open letter on social media as a special message to you.

I spent the last 3+ years trying to personally meet every one of you, look you in the eye, and tell you how fortunate the Bureau was to have you contributing to its exquisite mission. Yet, life happens. My own personal situation required that I step down at this time, consistent with my value of "family first." This was my choice, albeit a difficult one.

Now that I'm no longer a federal employee, I wish to acknowledge the great honor and privilege it was to be a public servant and to be your colleague. I will forever cherish our time together. Allow me to leave you with a little secret: much of my public speaking was also intended to be a message to you. Check out any online recording of my speaking events these past 3 years to see what I mean. Collectively, they represent my offerings to you.

Now, a transition of administrations has occurred as part of our republic's democratic process. Uncertainty and stress abound. Events are unfolding rapidly. Families are suffering. As a nascent former director, please know that I feel your pain. And in all honestly, stormy weather lies ahead. Yet, the Census Bureau's mission remains as a beacon of hope.  

During my service, I saw that the Bureau's career staff benefit from four sources of strength. First is your intense dedication to mission. You are leaders in providing quality statistical data about our nation's people and economy and do this exceptionally well.  Each staff person makes their unique contribution towards the mission. Our country needs that more than ever. Second are the Bureau's organizational values of scientific integrity, objectivity, transparency and independence. These are powerful tools to guide decision making. Third is your profound resilience. You demonstrated to the world that a quality decennial census could be conducted in the midst of a deadly global pandemic. That resilience remains with you, and you'll again need to draw upon it. Lastly, you have each other. The bonds of colleagueship run deep at the Bureau and are a great source of strength. Beyond these, please understand that there are many, many communities of external stakeholders (me included) who actively advocate for you and the federal statistical community. Stakeholders represent a robust source of strength, and I pray they provide a measure of comfort in these challenging times. 

I miss you all so much. I promise to do all I can to support the Bureau and the federal statistical system as your once-again stakeholder colleague.

Seriously, you are the absolute best…  I hope you know that.

Rob

 Yes indeed, those of outside of government are deeply appreciative of the important work done by statisticians in the federal government.   Thank you.