Name: Brian Swiger; Program: Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF); Education Level: Postdoctoral Researcher
September 11, 2024
minute read time
The Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) is the federal government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree holders across all academic disciplines. Established 45 years ago by Executive Order, the PMF Program has embodied the essential mission of recruiting and developing future government leaders drawn from all segments of society.
Eligible individuals apply to become Finalists, and they have 12 months to secure an appointment as a Fellow, a two-year, full-time, paid fellowship at a federal agency.
The PMF Program creates a lasting bond among Fellows and Alumni by instilling a spirit of public service that potentially leads to a career in government. In Fall 2023, DOE's Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) welcomed three PMF participants to support numerous elements of the cleanup mission, including emergency management, cybersecurity, and engineering.
Meet Brian Swiger, Facility Engineer at the Savannah River Salt Waste Processing Facility. After obtaining a bachelor's degree in physics, a master’s in space engineering, and a PhD in climate and space sciences engineering from the University of Michigan, Swiger served as a post-doc researcher in space weather.
In 2023, he accepted his appointment in DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. The DOE PMF Program has been instrumental in Swiger's journey toward public service.
Swiger, 2023 PMF supporting the DOE Office of Environmental Management.
While most PMF appointments across federal agencies are not STEM-oriented positions, Swiger considers himself fortunate to be a public servant while applying the skills acquired through his technical background. This is a testament to the transformative power of the PMF, inspiring others to pursue their passion for public service.
“At some point, I became disenchanted by the esoteric nature of my work. I was looking for a place where my contributions would impact the American people more. I accepted my PMF appointment in DOE-EM because I am attracted to EM's commitment to environmental stewardship by dealing with our past shortcomings of nuclear waste management to protect current and future generations,” said Swiger.
Swiger, as part of the engineering oversight team at DOE’s Savannah River Site (SRS), helps to ensure the Salt Waste Processing Facility operates safely and in accordance with regulations and expectations. The Salt Waste Processing Facility at DOE SRS is a critical component of safely and efficiently disposing of the legacy defense nuclear waste on-site, some of which has been there since the 1950s. Swiger's engineering efforts help evaluate the various safety systems while keeping him engaged and stimulating his continuous learning mindset.
Swiger, alongside fellow PMF participants and early-career professionals at DOE HQ in Washington, D.C., in November 2023.
The PMF Program has helped him achieve his dreams of public service. As most PMF Appointments across federal agencies are not STEM-oriented positions, Swiger says he is lucky enough to be a public servant while applying the skills acquired through his technical background.
"One of my mentors recently reminded me that what we are doing on-site and at EM complex-wide is something very few people could be a part of. I often reflect on that perspective during my morning commute. It helps me to start each day with a sense of duty for my commitment when I accepted the PMF appointment,” Swiger recounted.
In the near future, Swiger looks forward to expanding his knowledge of the nuclear safety engineering profession. His goal is to further support DOE-EM missions related to using nuclear technology for the common good. Swiger's aspirations reflect the potential for growth and development that the PMF program offers, inspiring hope and optimism for the future of public service.