Since 1985, Congress has dedicated the first full week of May as Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) to honor the nation’s civil service, including members of the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense. Typically, PSRW serves to acknowledge the vital roles federal employees play in maintaining government operations.
In recent months, federal employees have faced increased scrutiny from the administration through executive orders and statements on social media targeting their professionalism and performance. Despite these challenges, PASS’s National President, Dave Spero, voiced unwavering support and recognition for federal employees. “But that will not stop PASS from recognizing the federal employees we represent at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense,” he stated, reinforcing the ongoing appreciation for their significant contributions.
Spero highlighted the multifaceted public service roles these employees undertake daily. “It doesn’t take away anything from celebrating the stellar government service they provide on a daily basis,” he noted. Employees are involved in varying responsibilities such as maintaining air traffic control equipment, conducting inspections, creating flight procedures, and more, serving not only travelers but a broad aviation community.
These federal employees are described as highly skilled and experienced in ensuring the safety of the complex air traffic control system. According to President Spero, “Not just in aviation—public servants are all around us,” highlighting their roles across different sectors including education, healthcare, public safety, and more. He added, “Military and civilian federal employees defend our country every day. And our members ensure safety in the air and on the ground.”
The emphasis remains on extending gratitude to federal workers for their dedicated service, especially considering about 60% of PASS-represented employees are military veterans continuing their service at the FAA. The gratitude towards the federal workforce is shared by their communities, who owe “two million federal workers a debt of gratitude, this week and every week.”
