About Sammies Federal employees are responsible for many noteworthy and inspiring accomplishments that are seldom recognized or celebrated. Since 2001, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals highlight excellence in our federal workforce, help to build trust in the federal government and inspire talented and dedicated individuals to join the federal workforce. Named for the Partnership’s late founder who was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s call to service in his inaugural address in 1961, these awards align with his vision of a dynamic and dedicated federal workforce that meets the needs of our diverse nation. The Sammies honorees represent the many exceptional career public servants who are breaking down barriers, overcoming huge challenges and getting results. Whether they’re defending our national interests, protecting the environment, ensuring public health and safety, making scientific and medical discoveries, or responding to natural disasters, famine or war, these federal employees put service before self and make a lasting difference. Samuel J. Heyman believed that “the future of our nation quite simply depends on the quality of our government.” The Sammies are the Partnership’s way of showing the world the many ways our government is making our country better, safer and stronger. Page header: Honorees at the 2021 Service to America Medals gala The 2023 Service to America Medals finalists Former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie presents the 2019 Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal Partnership for Public Service founder Samuel J. Heyman and Ronnie F. Heyman Actor Michael Kelly and former White House Chief of Staff and current Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, present at the 2016 Sammies 2019 Sammies Master of Ceremonies Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Sen. Rick Scott presents the 2019 Safety and Law Enforcement Medal 2023 Federal Employee of the Year, Laura K. Cooper, and United States Deputy Secretary of Defense, Kathleen Hicks 2012 Sammies Masters of Ceremonies, John Roberts, FOX News and Kyra Phillips, ABC News Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice presenting to 2015 National Security and International Affairs Medal recipient, Mia Beers 2012 National Security and International Affairs Medal Recipient, Charles Scoville, with Congressman Darrell Issa 2008 Sammies Master of Ceremonies, Rob Riggle 2023 Career Achievement Medalist, Melissa Emrey-Arras, and Comptroller General of the United States, Gene Dodaro 2007 Sammies Master of Ceremonies, Lester Holt First Lady Michelle Obama with 2014 Sammies winners (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) Anderson Cooper at the 2004 Sammies The 2017 Service to America Medals Gala Former White House Chief of Staff, Andy Card, with 2002 Career Achievement Medal Recipient, Dr. Katharine Gebbie Former White House Chief of Staff, Josh Bolten, with Richard Greene, 2008 Federal Employee of the Year Raj Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, with 2022 Spirit of Service Award Recipient Darren Walker Author Michael Lewis with 2018 Spirit of Service Award Recipient Jeff Bezos Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat with 2021 Spirit of Service Award Recipient Laurene Powell Jobs 2017 Sammies emcee, John Dickerson, Co-Anchor, CBS This Morning Partnership for Public Service President and CEO Max Stier kicks off the 2017 Sammies ceremony Partnership for Public Service Board Members Tom Bernstein (Chairman) and Joel Fleishman Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar presents the 2019 Science and Environment Medal
