In 2013, Mr. Volcker founded the Volcker Alliance, a nonprofit with a mission to empower the public sector workforce to solve the challenges facing our nation. The Volcker Alliance envisions a public sector workforce with experience, preparation, and commitment to ensure government is accountable and delivers with excellence.

At the Alliance, we seek to inspire others with the story of Mr. Volcker’s commitment to public service. Mr. Volcker’s career includes impressive appointments and policy achievements across sectors. Most notably, Mr. Volcker worked in the United States federal government for almost thirty years, culminating in two terms as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 1979 to 1987 under Presidents Carter and Raegan, a critical period in bringing a high level of inflation to an end. In November 2008, President-Elect Obama chose Mr. Volcker to head the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.

When he was appointed chairman of the Federal Reserve, our country was facing inflation in the double digits. Mr. Volcker raised interest rates to as high as 22% to break the back of inflation. He was vilified. His policies caused palpable short-term pain. Even so, Mr. Volcker kept his eye on the long-game, doubled-down on the economics, and mustered the courage of his convictions to stick it out while political winds roared around him. Many credit Mr. Volcker for the decades of prosperity that flowed from his leadership.

While known widely for his legacy in financial regulation, Mr. Volcker’s driving passion was public service. Mr. Volcker attributed his deep commitment to public service to his father who was a city manager in Teaneck, New Jersey; a man who he idolized and who taught him the importance and dignity of public service. Mr. Volcker believed the effective performance of our government depended on a well-trained, diverse, and empowered public service workforce. He often highlighted the unique satisfaction of making the kinds of weighty judgement calls public service requires—the kinds of calls that can change the world. He said, “there can be no greater satisfaction than dealing first-hand with the most important issues of our time, with no other purpose than serving the public interest.”

Following his passing in 2019, the Volcker Alliance serves as the steward of his legacy and the vehicle for championing his passion for public service in the next generation. Every day, we work to advance the world Mr. Volcker believed in so deeply. We promote innovation in public service education, empower leaders to build the democracy of our future, connect talent to city, state, and federal government jobs, and inspire others with the story of Mr. Volcker’s commitment to public service.