Arnold, the centerpiece of your proposal is purposefully putting successful businesspeople into high positions of government. In the recent past, what business figures who assumed roles in the executive branch have you most admired?
Arnold, the centerpiece of your proposal is purposefully putting successful businesspeople into high positions of government. In the recent past, what business figures who assumed roles in the executive branch have you most admired?
Good question. I have not admired many people in the executive branch. Dwight Eisenhower comes to mind--not that he was in business. Alfred Kahn is another, again not coming from business. Mitch Daniels is a third, again not coming from business. Cabinet secretaries are usually politicians. Or you might get a Commerce Secretary (not an important position) who is a big donor. What about the administrative agencies? the typical appointee seems to have a background as a "lawyer/lobbyist." I can't think of anyone with a management background who has played a prominent role in an agency.
Pompeo 'founded' Thayer (renamed 'Nex-Tech') aerospace with Brian Bulatao and a few others, by consolidating several other companies, and was one of the senior managers there for eight years. Then he was president of Sentry International, which makes tools for the oil industry, for about a decade I think. When he became CIA Director, he brought in Bulatao to be the COO. By accounts I trust, he immediately strikes most people as being coruscatingly bright.
Arnold, the centerpiece of your proposal is purposefully putting successful businesspeople into high positions of government. In the recent past, what business figures who assumed roles in the executive branch have you most admired?
Good question. I have not admired many people in the executive branch. Dwight Eisenhower comes to mind--not that he was in business. Alfred Kahn is another, again not coming from business. Mitch Daniels is a third, again not coming from business. Cabinet secretaries are usually politicians. Or you might get a Commerce Secretary (not an important position) who is a big donor. What about the administrative agencies? the typical appointee seems to have a background as a "lawyer/lobbyist." I can't think of anyone with a management background who has played a prominent role in an agency.
"A third of the department heads in the Trump administration (33%) were people whose prior experience had been entirely in the public sector."
Surely there's one or two of the remaining 67% you admire? I choose Mnuchin. Holding my nose, of course. Don't mess with the money.
Fwiw I think Pompeo is the quintessential swamp creature. Former CIA director. Politician. He left the private sector behind a long long time ago.
Pompeo 'founded' Thayer (renamed 'Nex-Tech') aerospace with Brian Bulatao and a few others, by consolidating several other companies, and was one of the senior managers there for eight years. Then he was president of Sentry International, which makes tools for the oil industry, for about a decade I think. When he became CIA Director, he brought in Bulatao to be the COO. By accounts I trust, he immediately strikes most people as being coruscatingly bright.
Maybe COO needs to be top-rated ref in sports world.