Suggested Talking Points
                               James S. Benson

                          FDA Honor Awards Ceremony 
                          Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza
                             Rockville, Maryland
                                June 1, 1990

I. Opening Remarks

Good afternoon and welcome. 

I am particularly pleased to be a part of today's Awards ceremony honoring
all of the persons who help the Agency achieve our goals as guardians of the
public health.

First, I want to say, Congratulations to all of you receiving awards.  I
know that you've work hard and you deserve the accolades. 

For those of you receiving your first award,  may this be the first of
many.  And for those who have been here before, keep up the good work.

I have had many "firsts" during the past six months as interim Commissioner,
and some of them haven't been much fun. 

This is my first Honors Award Ceremony as Acting Commissioner, but I can
think of no other program that I have so much looked forward to as this one.



II. FDA Today 

As we recognize the outstanding achievements of the past year, its important
to remember that we are the preeminent consumer protection agency in the
world.

We have a highly respected reputation that came to us the "old fashioned" 
way -- we earned it.

We earned it through the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of 
employees like you. 

And during these difficult and unusual times that is exactly how our
reputation will be maintained and will grow -- through employee commitment. 

This awards ceremony is only one small way to publicly recognize and thank
all of you for your fine work.


III. FDA Employees: Our Most Important Resource 


We've always known that FDA's employees are its most important resource.

And we are striving to do more to demonstrate your importance.

Over the next several months, you will be hearing more about various new
human resource activities that are being initiated. 

These include programs designed specifically for clerical and support 
personnel; an interpersonal skills series for supervisors and managers; and 
programs designed to enhance FDA's scientific capabilities. 

Let me briefly, tell you about the new interpersonal skills workshops.

After many employee surveys and much research, the Office of Planning and 
Evaluation (OPE) has developed workshops on communications, leadership, 
motivation, and team building.

We've done this because we've learned that executives, supervisors, and 
managers need to be more aware of -- and sensitive to -- the importance of
interpersonal skills when directing employees in critical public health 
programs. 

They need to know how to lead, communicate, motivate, and build effective 
work teams, and how to let FDA employees know how valued they are.

Many of you will be involved in these new ventures; they have a common goal,
to make us more effective guardians of the public health. 

I also expect many of you who are receiving awards today to continue to be
leaders in inspiring and motivating others to excellence. 


V. Closing: Tribute to Dr. Parkman and challenge to Honorees


In conclusion, I want to share a few personal thoughts about a retiring FDA 
employee whose public service has made us all proud.

And I want you challenge you to follow his example. 

Dr. Parkman 

As many of you know, Dr. Paul Parkman will be retiring on July 31, after 30 
years in federal service. 

There are lots of impressive things I could say about Paul: 

He began his government career as a virologist in 1960, 

He joined FDA in 1972,

Between 1972 and 1987, he held several leadership positions within the
Bureau of Biology and the Center for Drugs and Biologics, and 

He has lead the Center for Biologics Evaluation since its creation in 1987. 

He's an international authority on biologics and childhood infectious 
diseases, 

He and his co-workers developed the firstsuccessful vaccine against rubella 
(German measles), 

He's been one of our principal liaisons with the scientific community and 
has provided significant personal leadership in the fight against AIDS, 

And, over the years, he has received numerous awards and citations. 

These are worthy accomplishments of which we are all proud. 

However, I believe the most important thing is that he served, and that 
service has made a difference.

We are deeply appreciative of and indebted to him for that service. 

We shall miss him and we wish him  and his family Godspeed. 


Challenge to Honorees 

With that role model before us, I ask you to also commit yourselves to a
leadership role that will enable FDA to continue to maintain the public 
trust.

I've spent a lot of time lately talking about expectations from FDA, and how
the gap between what the public expects and what we can deliver affects our 
credibility.

The best solution: continue to give our best every day. 

With people like Paul Parkman, and people like you we're honoring today, we 
will move ahead as a highly skilled and motivated group, united in a common 
purpose: to provide the best consumer protection in the world.

Together, we can do it. 

Thank you, and again congratulations on receiving your awards.

This program should conclude at approximately 3:00 P.M. and I hope all of 
you will stay with us until the end.


Thank you.