MISSION
OhMyGov! aims to improve bureaucracy by inspiring and cultivating change through the spread of information and ideas, the use of innovative online tools, and the strategic deployment of satire and wit.
ABOUT US
OhMyGov! is a website that caters its news, information, and online
tools to those working in and with the U.S. Government. As a
cause-driven, information provider and thought leader,
OhMyGov! offers an online community where government employees,
contractors, and concerned citizens can access and exchange information
fluidly.
To keep readers awake and in good spirits, OhMyGov! strives to deliver the most interesting news with style and personality. After all, remaining fair and balanced doesn't have to equate to stiff and boring! To ensure you're properly desocialized to the expected news tone, we've infused the site with humorous section titles, content, and our beloved mascot and trusted adviser, BureauPat (it's like bureaucrat, in case you missed it).
OUR STORY
The OhMyGov! concept spawned from real experiences working in government. For years, two of the three founding partners attempted to carve their niches through the bureaucratic jungle of federal employment. Concerned that red tape, office politics, blame shifting, poor access to information, and an impressively sluggish pace was restraining the imaginations, motivations, and accomplishments of the majority of those in government - let's face it, some simply don't want to work - they began developing a forum for airing government's dirty laundry and most exquisitely ridiculous inside stories.
During the early stages of planning, a realization took root that the website being conceived could, if properly designed, tackle some of the problems plaguing government, while also highlighting the good, the bad, and the stupid. But the vision loomed large, and so our third partner was sought and added to the team. The balance became complete, and the concept underwent an expedited evolution, eventually morphing into the first phase of design - the site that exists today. But no vision is complete without a name. Late one summer afternoon, while trying to obtain a wedding license in our nation's capital, and having spent the better part of a day visiting - and waiting around in - four different government offices, our new partner stood up and thunderously shouted three words that captured the passion and frustration only government can inspire: Oh My Gov!
Moments later, discussion permeated our basement "war room" over the OhMyGov! name. Was it too divisive? Too negative? Too silly to convey the serious underbelly of the project's lofty goals?
We thought not, believing that government accomplishes many amazing feats that could make you say OhMyGov! while at the same time failing to accomplish seemingly simple feats that also make you furiously bellow: OhMyGov!
And so continued our journey to create a website where users could read and discuss everything that makes you want to say OhMyGov! Future components of the site will provide greater tools for making your job easier and making your day more fun.
For now, we feel we've created an oasis for those looking for what’s going on and what’s going wrong in the United States Government. We hope our hub for change empowers users to voice their concerns, expose problems and accomplishments, present solutions, and obtain breaking news, opinion, and facts about the inner workings of their government. After all, you are paying for it.
STAFF
OhMyGov! is managed by a team of longtime government insiders, scientists, policy-makers, businessmen, and seasoned journalists intensely devoted to healing government systemically.
The staff includes:
Andrew B. Einhorn, M.S.
Editor-in-Chief, Cofounder
Andrew B. Einhorn, M.S. is a writer, management consultant, and environmental scientist by training, but that description bores even him. Prior to starting OhMyGov!, Mr. Einhorn worked as a public health consultant for John Snow Inc. Following his stint at JSI, Einhorn served as a management consultant and environmental specialist at ICF International, a publicly-traded management consulting firm based in Fairfax, VA. At ICF, Einhorn provided environmental analysis, policy development, communications, and management support for a wide variety of private and public sector clients, including the the Department of the Navy, Missile Defense Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Department of Defense (DoD).
Mr. Einhorn holds degrees from Emory University and The George Washington University. He has spoken at a myriad of conferences about his experiences (and frustrations) developing management systems for the Defense Department and is also the author of Broke in Boston, a travel guide for young professionals. For this work, he has appeared in various print, radio, and television media around Boston.
Mark Malseed
Managing Editor, Cofounder
Mark Malseed is an investigative journalist, author, and information industry consultant with deep experience on both the editorial and business sides of publishing. He is coauthor of The Google Story (published by Bantam Dell), the first biography of the technology giant, which became an international bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, and is being published in 26 languages worldwide. He gives frequent lectures and interviews about Google and the new information landscape.
Mr. Malseed has also done extensive research and reporting on government and national security, including three years as the exclusive researcher for Bob Woodward of The Washington Post. During this time, Mr. Malseed was a named collaborator on the #1 New York Times bestsellers Plan of Attack and Bush at War, as well as numerous stories in The Washington Post. He also collaborated on the 2001 nonfiction bestseller The Bureau and the Mole about FBI spy Robert Hanssen.
Richard Hartman
Cofounder
Richard
Hartman, Ph.D. is a career member of the federal Senior Executive
Service where he currently exercises a leadership role in the planning,
development, execution, and promotion of programs within the US health
care system. A life-long dedicated public servant, Dr. Hartman brings
to OhMyGov! over 20 years of experience within the federal government
first as an active duty officer in the United States Air Force
and later in executive positions at three different cabinet level
Departments. His broad exposure to the inner workings of the federal
government give him clear insight into both the successes and blunders
of our government.
He
holds a Doctorate's Degree in public health, a Master's Degree in
policy and management, and a Bachelor's Degree in physics. Dr. Hartman
held both Associate and Assistant adjunct professor appointments at George Washington University and Georgetown University, respectively.
Eliza Krigman
Staff Writer
Eliza Krigman is a staff and research assistant at the Brookings Institution. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish. After working as a Press Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, she moved to D.C. to pursue a domestic career in public policy. She is passionate about good governance and political journalism.
Jeff Dubbin
Staff Writer
Jeff Dubbin is a contributing writer to OhMyGov! Mr. Dubbin graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Political Theory, focusing on the role of religion in modern democracy. He has a predilection for ideas either brand-new or older than old, and his favorite pastime is trying to determine the difference. When he isn't writing, he performs improvisational and stand-up comedy while ironically considering law school. He has worked on Capital Hill and for international law firms, and is also an Editorial Board Member for thesequitur.com.
Tarkan Rosenberg
Photographer, Writer
Katelyn McClure
Editorial Intern
Lauren Reisig
Editorial Intern
Andrew Raines
Graphic Designer
Karen Martin
Graphic Designer
Jaime L. Hartman
Contributing Writer
Earthsky Studios
Web Developer
www.earthsky.net
For staff inquiries, please contact editors@ohmygov.com
PRINCIPLES
OhMyGov! was founded upon the belief that change within the U.S. Government has not kept pace with the ever-changing world. In order to continue providing essential services to a growing population without overburdening taxpayers or becoming too large to function, the government must learn to do more with less. Likewise, to combat emerging threats and rogue terrorist factions that mobilize quickly and have no particular geographical residence, the Government must become more efficient, flexible, and adaptable to rapid change.
Since one out of every five dollars spent in the U.S. is spent by the Government, operating more efficiently translates to decreased spending, taxpayer savings, and lower deficits. More effective operations increase the likelihood of preventing the ill-handling of events like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, which have cost thousands of lives and billions of dollars. More effective operations will also enable the U.S. to develop new technologies and strategies for competing with rapidly emerging economic superpowers, such as China and India.
OWNERSHIP
OhMyGov! is a project of Kilimedia, a Delaware-based Limited Liability Corporation.
Corporate Address:
1220 N. Market Street, Suite 806, Wilmington, DE 19801