2023 Winner Joshua C. Mellor, Nicholas I. Cheviron, Stephanie Stevens and Operation Trojan Shield Safety, Security and International Affairs Joshua C. Mellor, Nicholas I. Cheviron, Stephanie Stevens and Operation Trojan Shield Conceived and led a unique worldwide investigation using information from a government-controlled encrypted messaging service that resulted in the arrest of more than a thousand drug traffickers and members of organized crime syndicates.
2023 Winner Laura K. Cooper and The Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Policy team Safety, Security and International Affairs Laura K. Cooper and The Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Policy team Created the structure for a nimble, meaningful response by the U.S. and its allies to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s unprovoked aggression and deliver military supplies at an unprecedented pace.
2023 Finalist Lisa Hsiao Safety, Security and International Affairs Lisa Hsiao Secured huge penalties against major corporations engaged in detrimental, unfair and deceptive trade practices.
2023 Finalist Shadrach Ludeman, Terah Yaroch, Brooke Harding and the Office of Transition Initiatives Ukraine Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Shadrach Ludeman, Terah Yaroch, Brooke Harding and the Office of Transition Initiatives Ukraine Team Provided critical assistance to the Ukrainian people following the 2022 Russian invasion, partnering with local organizations to help Ukrainians evacuate to safety and deliver food, clothing, power generators and other supplies to those in need.
2023 Finalist Zachary Johnson Safety, Security and International Affairs Zachary Johnson Played pivotal role in responding to radiological threats caused by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as securing the relocation of Department of Energy partners in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
2022 Winner Holly Herrera, Hilary Ingraham, Kiera Berdinner and the Operation Allies Welcome Resettlement Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Holly Herrera, Hilary Ingraham, Kiera Berdinner and the Operation Allies Welcome Resettlement Team Coordinated the largest resettlement of refugees in modern U.S. history, providing housing and services in record time to more than 72,000 people who fled from Afghanistan in 2021 as American military forces withdrew from that war-torn country.
2022 Finalist Hila Hanif, Umid Khikmatov and the Afghanistan Policy Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Hila Hanif, Umid Khikmatov and the Afghanistan Policy Team Organized the successful evacuation of more than 120,000 Afghans, Americans and NATO partners during the chaotic American military withdrawal from Afghanistan during two weeks in August 2021.
2022 Finalist Jonathan Dworken Safety, Security and International Affairs Jonathan Dworken Coordinated the delivery of critical U.S. assistance to the people of Ethiopia amid a violent conflict.
2022 Finalist Roy Dotson and the CARES Act Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Roy Dotson and the CARES Act Team Conducted a nationwide criminal investigation that recovered $1.2 billion in stolen federal pandemic relief payments meant for small businesses and the unemployed, and halted the dispersal of $2.2 billion more in fraudulently requested funds.
2021 Finalist Adam Jacoff and the Emergency Response Robotics team Safety, Security and International Affairs Adam Jacoff and the Emergency Response Robotics team Developed sophisticated testing standards to ensure ground, underwater and aerial robots have the capability to help emergency responders and the military handle disasters and other dangerous situations.
2022 Finalist Kyle Armstrong, Chris Janczewski, Ryan Landers and the Bitcoin Terror Takedown Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Kyle Armstrong, Chris Janczewski, Ryan Landers and the Bitcoin Terror Takedown Team Dismantled a series of sophisticated online fundraising campaigns run by three separate anti-American international terrorist organizations, seizing millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency.
2021 Finalist Kenneth Graham Safety, Security and International Affairs Kenneth Graham Coordinated the national response to the most active hurricane season on record during the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a 100% evacuation rate in the hardest–hit area during Hurricane Laura, the strongest U.S. landfall in 2020 season.
2021 Finalist Chong Le Safety, Security and International Affairs Chong Le Oversaw the development of a $1 billion Air Force satellite system that will enable prediction of major weather events and natural disasters, providing military leaders and civilian authorities with information needed to make crucial, life-saving decisions.
2021 Finalist Zack Schwartz and the Census Bureau Trust & Safety team Safety, Security and International Affairs Zack Schwartz and the Census Bureau Trust & Safety team Led the first-of-its-kind government team that worked with technology companies to combat misinformation and disinformation that threatened the integrity of the 2020 census.
2020 Winner Donna F. Dodson Safety, Security and International Affairs Donna F. Dodson Recognized as one of the nation’s premier cybersecurity experts, having helped develop the first commercially available encryption standards as well as state-of-the-art guidelines for government and industry to prevent, detect and respond to cyberattacks.
2020 Finalist Thomas Debass Safety, Security and International Affairs Thomas Debass Created public-private partnerships to advance America’s foreign policy interests while promoting economic growth and entrepreneurship in developing nations across the globe.
2020 Finalist Lina Alathari, Ph.D. Safety, Security and International Affairs Lina Alathari, Ph.D. Developed threat assessment guidelines and worked with law enforcement, educators and local communities to intervene and prevent possible mass shootings in schools, workplaces and public spaces.
2020 Finalist Christopher M. Janczewski, Zia M. Faruqui, Kimberly A. Reece and the W2V Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Christopher M. Janczewski, Zia M. Faruqui, Kimberly A. Reece and the W2V Team Led an international criminal investigation of the largest dark web child pornography site that accepted cryptocurrency to cloak more than one million video downloads, resulting in the arrest of the operator, more than 330 users and the rescue of 25 exploited children.
2020 Finalist John M. Melle, María L. Pagán and team Safety, Security and International Affairs John M. Melle, María L. Pagán and team Coordinated complex negotiations with Mexico and Canada, resulting in a $1.3 trillion trade agreement overwhelmingly approved by Congress that touches almost every aspect of the U.S. economy.
2020 Finalist Thomas W. Prevoznik, Joseph Beemsterboer, Gary Cantrell and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force team Safety, Security and International Affairs Thomas W. Prevoznik, Joseph Beemsterboer, Gary Cantrell and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force team Investigated and arrested 73 health care professionals and other individuals in six states for the unlawful distribution of 40 million medically unnecessary pain pills, helping address the deadly nationwide opioid epidemic.
2019 Winner Ryan Shelby, Ph.D. Safety, Security and International Affairs Ryan Shelby, Ph.D. Provided vital training and resources to help people in Haiti rebuild thousands of homes and roofs ripped apart by a Category 4 hurricane, making the structures safer and stronger to withstand future disasters
2019 Winner Jamie Rhome Safety, Security and International Affairs Jamie Rhome Created a new forecasting model and warning system that more accurately predicts the deadly storm surge caused by hurricanes, saving lives by alerting residents sooner of the approaching danger
2019 Finalist John P. Wagner Safety, Security and International Affairs John P. Wagner Reduced wait times for American citizens and a growing number of foreign travelers arriving at U.S. airports by expediting the clearance process while ensuring a high level of security.
2019 Finalist Kurt Yankaskas Safety, Security and International Affairs Kurt Yankaskas Identified and implemented solutions to combat noise-induced hearing loss, which affects hundreds of thousands of sailors and Marines, and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year in treatments for veterans
2019 Finalist Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D. Safety, Security and International Affairs Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D. Improved the health and safety of our nation’s mine workers by using behavioral science to influence the adoption of new technologies and practices that reduce their exposure to known hazards
2019 Finalist Emily Banuelos and the Taxiway Tango Tiger Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Emily Banuelos and the Taxiway Tango Tiger Team Designed and implemented enhanced surveillance technology that warns when commercial aircraft are lined up to land on a taxiway instead of the intended runway, averting the potential for catastrophic accidents
2019 Finalist James McWhirter, Mark W. Pletcher and the Navy Bribery Scandal Team Safety, Security and International Affairs James McWhirter, Mark W. Pletcher and the Navy Bribery Scandal Team Uncovered and prosecuted the largest bribery and corruption scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy, resulting in dozens of federal criminal convictions and sanctions against numerous Navy officers
2019 Finalist Kara L. De Castro Safety, Security and International Affairs Kara L. De Castro Led pivotal international programs to convert weapons-grade nuclear materials for civilian use and enhanced security cultures to guard against their mishandling and misuse
2019 Finalist Leticia Pibida, Ph.D. Safety, Security and International Affairs Leticia Pibida, Ph.D. Strengthened our nation’s defenses against nuclear and radioactive threats by developing performance standards and tests for detection systems that screen nearly 7 million cargo containers entering U.S. seaports every year
2019 Finalist Kristen P. Finne Safety, Security and International Affairs Kristen P. Finne Developed a system for first responders to quickly locate and assist 4.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment and are at risk during prolonged power outages
2018 Winner Karen D. Dodge, Margaret Moeser and the Teams Safety, Security and International Affairs Karen D. Dodge, Margaret Moeser and the Teams Brought justice and restored financial losses of nearly $600 million for hundreds of thousands of people who were defrauded by money transfer scams
2018 Winner Andrew M. Herscowitz and the Power Africa Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Andrew M. Herscowitz and the Power Africa Team Provided electricity to some 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, while creating hundreds of millions of dollars in export opportunities for U.S. companies
2018 Finalist Stephen C. Curren and the Cyber Incident Response Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Stephen C. Curren and the Cyber Incident Response Team Defended health care computer systems in the U.S. from a global cyberattack that threatened patients’ health and safety
2018 Finalist Matthew Nims and the Food for Peace Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Matthew Nims and the Food for Peace Team Distributed $1.4 billion in emergency food assistance to 20 million people in four nations fighting famine and threatened by violent conflicts, saving countless lives under harrowing conditions
2018 Finalist Hoa Thi Tran, Ph.D. and the Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Hoa Thi Tran, Ph.D. and the Team Delivered emergency humanitarian relief to nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees who fled violent persecution in Burma to find safe haven in neighboring Bangladesh
2018 Finalist Jeffrey Elliott Wood Jr. and the North Shore Gang Task Force Safety, Security and International Affairs Jeffrey Elliott Wood Jr. and the North Shore Gang Task Force Led a record takedown of the notorious MS-13 gang, arresting more than 60 leaders and members of this criminal organization in the Boston region
2018 Finalist Mark L. Bathrick and the Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Mark L. Bathrick and the Team Built the largest civilian aerial drone fleet to help federal agencies fight forest fires, inspect infrastructure, monitor wildlife and natural resources, halt pollution, and conduct search and rescue operations
2018 Finalist Dave Huizenga Safety, Security and International Affairs Dave Huizenga Managed numerous high-profile projects with foreign governments to secure large quantities of weapons-useable nuclear materials and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands
2017 Winner Timothy P. Camus and the IRS Impersonation Scam Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Timothy P. Camus and the IRS Impersonation Scam Team Led a multiagency investigation and public awareness campaign to stop a massive fraud that conned thousands of Americans into paying millions of dollars in bogus tax bills
2017 Winner Alex Mahoney and the Middle East Crisis Humanitarian Response Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Alex Mahoney and the Middle East Crisis Humanitarian Response Team Led U.S. humanitarian relief efforts in war-torn Syria and parts of Iraq, delivering food, medicine, safe drinking water and other assistance to millions of people in desperate need of help
2017 Finalist Jon R. Smibert Safety, Security and International Affairs Jon R. Smibert Helped Albania revise its constitution and reform its criminal justice system to rid the country of decades of corruption and organized crime, and set a path for this strategic U.S. ally to gain membership in the European Union
2017 Finalist Nat Wood and the IdentityTheft.gov Development Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Nat Wood and the IdentityTheft.gov Development Team Created an easy-to-use online resource to help victims of identity theft quickly report the crime, stop additional fraudulent activity and begin the recovery process
2017 Finalist Vincent Tang and the SIGMA Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Vincent Tang and the SIGMA Team Developed an innovative, mobile and low-cost system to detect the smallest traces of radiological and nuclear materials, offering cities worldwide a new tool to identify and stop terror threats
2017 Finalist Bryan Drake and the Fata Investigation Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Bryan Drake and the Fata Investigation Team Investigated and prosecuted a doctor who is now serving a 45-year prison sentence for giving false diagnoses and unnecessary cancer treatments to hundreds of patients in order to steal millions from Medicare
2018 Finalist Blake Douglas Rowe Safety, Security and International Affairs Blake Douglas Rowe Established sophisticated forensic exploitation laboratories to investigate terrorist activities, contributing to thousands of convictions and thwarting attempts to attack Americans overseas and in the U.S.
2017 Finalist Mark Skoog Safety, Security and International Affairs Mark Skoog Spearheaded the development of a revolutionary flight control system the Air Force uses to prevent ground collisions when pilots become disoriented or lose consciousness, saving lives and the loss of fighter jets
2016 Winner Thomas A. Mariani, Steven O’Rourke and Sarah D. Himmelhoch Safety, Security and International Affairs Thomas A. Mariani, Steven O’Rourke and Sarah D. Himmelhoch Secured a record $20.8 billion legal settlement against BP for the devastating 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, providing funds to help a five-state region recover from massive environmental disaster.
2016 Finalist John Pallister and the Volcano Disaster Assistance Team Safety, Security and International Affairs John Pallister and the Volcano Disaster Assistance Team Strengthened volcano readiness and warning systems worldwide, helping countries forecast eruptions, save lives and reduce economic losses while enhancing America’s ability to respond to domestic volcanoes.
2016 Finalist Richard May Safety, Security and International Affairs Richard May Employed underutilized authorities to expose drug cartels, transnational criminal organizations and others who launder money in the U.S. through high-end real estate, fashion and electronics transactions.
2016 Winner Kirk Yeager Safety, Security and International Affairs Kirk Yeager As the FBI’s premier bomb expert, leads U.S. and foreign law enforcement to determine how terrorist-made explosives work, and finds new ways to detect and stop them.
2016 Finalist Carrie Stokes Safety, Security and International Affairs Carrie Stokes Helped USAID make better decisions about its economic and humanitarian assistance in developing countries by championing the use of satellite data and geographic information to combat poverty, disease and natural disasters.
2016 Finalist Anne Barker Dunn and the Veterans Justice Program Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Anne Barker Dunn and the Veterans Justice Program Team Reduced recidivism among veterans caught up in the criminal justice system, and lowered their chances of becoming homeless by providing housing, job counseling, and mental health and drug treatment services.
2016 Finalist Ajay Bhatt and the Operation No Safe Haven Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Ajay Bhatt and the Operation No Safe Haven Team Tracked down 70 human rights violators living illegally in the United States and coordinated their removal to face justice for crimes including murder, torture and ethnic cleansing.
2015 Finalist Natasha M. de Marcken Safety, Security and International Affairs Natasha M. de Marcken Spearheaded a new strategy to improve the quality of education in developing nations, shifting the focus from simply getting children into schools to teaching them to read.
2015 Finalist Rob Thayer and the Syria Emergency Food Assistance Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Rob Thayer and the Syria Emergency Food Assistance Team Delivered life-saving food assistance to millions of people within war-torn Syria and to refugees who fled to neighboring countries.
2015 Winner Mia Beers and the U.S. Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Mia Beers and the U.S. Ebola Disaster Assistance Response Team Led a team of U.S. responders who risked their own health to coordinate personnel from five federal agencies and helped turn the tide on the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.
2015 Finalist John B. Price Safety, Security and International Affairs John B. Price Created a device to find living disaster victims buried beneath the wreckage of toppled buildings by adapting radar-based space technology in partnership with NASA scientists.
2016 Finalist Daniel Patt Safety, Security and International Affairs Daniel Patt Developed a cutting-edge system that allows U.S. warfighters to strike their intended targets faster and with greater accuracy, while helping to protect American troops and innocent civilians.
2015 Finalist Peter A. Morrison and the U.S. Navy Solid State Laser Team Safety, Security and International Affairs Peter A. Morrison and the U.S. Navy Solid State Laser Team Provided the U.S. Navy with a new defense system by designing, building and testing the first-ever laser weapon to be approved for combat operations aboard a Navy ship.
2015 Finalist Anna M. Dozier Safety, Security and International Affairs Anna M. Dozier Protected and recovered millions of dollars in assets for American workers and their families, skillfully investigating misconduct by fiduciaries of private retirement, health and welfare plans.
