Robert J. Gilson
Robert (Bob) J. Gilson has expertise in all aspects of Federal labor and employee relations. He began his Federal career with the US Civil Service Commission. Bob has held managerial and advocacy positions with Navy, Army, Treasury and the National Transportation Safety Board. He has served as chief negotiator on numerous labor agreements in the U.S. and abroad. He represented his agencies before the FLRA, FSIP, MSPB, EEOC and arbitrators. Bob had principal responsibility for adverse actions regarding conduct and performance at all levels including Senior Executives. He has trained literally thousands of Federal negotiators, supervisors and managers and has been doing so for 34 years. He is now conducting advanced bargaining classes on contract negotiation and on I&I. 2008 will see open enrollment sessions of these and other advanced courses for practitioners.
The recipient of numerous awards, Bob is a frequently invited speaker at national conferences on labor and employee relations. He considers his last federal employment with NTSB to have been his best as the Agency deals with some of the most difficult jobs the government tackles with some of the best people. While at the Board, Bob was asked to lead the project to establish the NTSB’s national training Academy. Bob retired from Federal service in 2001 and is currently a senior associate with GRA Inc. Recent projects included developing and delivering an intensive Employee Relations Boot Camp and putting together a Peer Review Program for the Transportation Security Administration.
Bob is the author or coauthor of eight books for Federal managers. His ninth, The ABCs of Federal Labor Law was be published in the Spring of 2007. To see some of his current writings, visit the "Federal Manager’s Toolbox" on FedSmith.com.
