JMU Federal Dukes Spotlight: David S. Burkholder
Government Leadership and a Strong Foundation
David Burkholder graduated from JMU in 1992 with a B.B.A in International Business and Spanish with a study abroad at the University of Salamanca. Soon after graduating, David received an entry position with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and dedicated his career to work collaboratively with foreign governments, industry sectors and international organizations to provide the safest, most secure and efficient aerospace system in the world for the traveling U.S. public. Throughout his 20+ years of federal service, David has led the Agency’s foreign affairs programs in Latin America, the Asia and Pacific region, and also in the civil aviation branch of the United Nations, known as the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO. Since 2009, David has provided executive-level leadership to formulate and execute international strategic plans for the FAA that drive U.S. priorities in the areas of air traffic operations, aviation safety, airport operations, and foreign policy. David is currently the Deputy Executive Director for the Office of International Affairs. JMU provided David with a strong foundation to thrive in whatever position and overcome any obstacle that he faces.
The Need for Robust Talent Acquisition
David talked about different challenges the public sector and government service have been facing. For many agencies including the FAA, these challenges are concerning talent acquisition and predicable and sustainable funding. David explained how the process and speed of hiring within a government agency or organization is significantly different than the private sector for a variety of reasons. A lot of the time filling vacant positions from within the organization is the quicker, safer option as opposed to going through the process to hire externally. Unfortunately, this can lead to groupthink with a pool of talent having the same background or experience.
One of the biggest challenges in the public sector is attracting new bright minds possessing unique perspectives. Often the most attractive jobs to graduates are the ones with the higher salary in the shinier packaging. Another area that tends to turn applicants away is the difficulty of searching and applying for a desired position. David said this challenge could be overcome by increasing the overall accessibility and general public awareness to these opportunities. This could mean reassessing current rules, regulations or requirements for positions. Another solution could be to broaden the outlets where the federal job is offered — not just through USA Jobs. Even after the outlets are broadened, there still needs to be effective advertising to reach the right pool of professional candidates and highlight the excellent opportunities that many government jobs offer.
The Future of International Air Travel Depending on U.S. Leadership and Innovation
Another challenge David talked about was acquiring sustainable and predictable resources (people and dollars) to support the growing number of value-added international programs and initiatives. This could eventually lead to a safer global aviation system for American citizens, resulting in operational and economic benefits for the U.S. aerospace industry. There are many opportunities for the FAA to provide technical assistance to countries in all regions to improve their aviation systems and safety oversight, implement new technologies and procedures, ensure foreign airports and air carriers meet established global standards, and provide much needed training to officials and regulators. The United States has always been a leader to help other countries as we are able, but there are only so many projects that can be supported with existing resources. Government funding provides a baseline for FAA’s global leadership and support, but we need to continuously look at new ways to secure funding, or partner with other countries or industries, so we can do more. This is an obligation to the American citizens: they expect the same levels of safety no matter where they are flying.
His Love of Business and the World
Going into JMU, David knew he wanted to do something business related but didn’t know what that something would turn into. After discovering the international business program, he liked that the course work covered every branch of business without getting too deep into one concentration. He also liked that you needed to study a second language. He had previous experience with Spanish and figured he would keep up with the language. That was where the University of Salamanca provided a tremendous experience and opportunity. After returning for his senior year, he took all the international counterparts for the different business branches. He loved the mix of both culture and business in one overall field. This was where the beginning of his professional journey started, and he’s only continued to learn and expand that love.
