2023 Winner Paul Nissenbaum, Gloria M. Shepherd, Maria S. Lefevre and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation Team Management Excellence Paul Nissenbaum, Gloria M. Shepherd, Maria S. Lefevre and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation Team Helped craft and implement the $1 trillion infrastructure law that will modernize the nation’s highways, bridges, shipping ports, railroads and airports.
2023 Winner Brian Key, Scott Bellamy and The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test Team Science, Technology and Environment Brian Key, Scott Bellamy and The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test Team Managed the NASA team that successfully altered the orbit of an asteroid, providing the first-ever planetary defense test that could protect Earth from celestial threats.
2023 Winner Melissa Emrey-Arras Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Melissa Emrey-Arras Led investigations and proposed recommendations that have helped millions access federal student aid and have their student loans forgiven, while rooting out fraudulent student loan schemes.
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 Federal Employee of the Year 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 Winner Fletcher Schoen and Jennifer Harkins Emerging Leaders Fletcher Schoen and Jennifer Harkins Played integral roles in the release of 11 American prisoners wrongfully detained in Russia and Venezuela, contributing to creative diplomatic strategies and delicate negotiations while showing compassion to the families and keeping them informed.
2023 Winner Sarah O’Donnell, Allison Hutchings, Megan Meacham and the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Team People's Choice Award Sarah O’Donnell, Allison Hutchings, Megan Meacham and the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program Team Created a major initiative that provides grants for prevention, treatment and recovery services to help millions of people suffering from opioid use in rural communities across the country.
2023 Finalist Anne Lord Bailey, Caitlin Rawlins and the VA Immersive Team Science, Technology and Environment Anne Lord Bailey, Caitlin Rawlins and the VA Immersive Team Built a cutting-edge nationwide immersive technology network to empower front-line staff and enable the treatment of veterans for a wide range of medical issues such as anxiety, depression, pain management, spinal cord injuries and more.
2023 Finalist Carolyn Hightower Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Carolyn Hightower Empowered victims of crime, mass violence and terrorism by developing, implementing and overseeing landmark victim support programs and professionalizing the field of victim assistance.
2023 Finalist Michael E. Camal Emerging Leaders Michael E. Camal Leads and has expanded a government campaign to help aviation personnel identify potential victims of human trafficking and report their suspicions to law enforcement.
2023 Finalist Adam M. Phillippy, Sergey Koren, Arang Rhie and The Telomere-to-Telomere Team Science, Technology and Environment Adam M. Phillippy, Sergey Koren, Arang Rhie and The Telomere-to-Telomere Team Conducted the first complete assembly of the human genome, sequencing the most difficult, final part of our genetic makeup, advancing our understanding of our biological blueprint and opening up scientific frontiers that could revolutionize the treatment of a multitude of diseases.
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 Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris Emerging Leaders Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris Engaged in pioneering work that deploys insects as natural predators against other bugs that damage crops such as apples and pears, limiting the use of harmful pesticides, saving farmers money and protecting the environment.
2023 Finalist Sarah L. Nelson, Samantha L. Calkins and the National Ignition Team Science, Technology and Environment Sarah L. Nelson, Samantha L. Calkins and the National Ignition Team Managed a complex scientific enterprise that for the first time produced a fusion reaction that created a net energy gain, a breakthrough in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest that could lead to advancements in national defense and clean energy.
2023 Finalist Michael Reardon Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Michael Reardon Successfully promoted a wide range of policies and practices to the states and businesses that have provided greater access to employment, transportation and technology for millions of people with disabilities.
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.
2023 Finalist Dr. John Palmieri, Richard McKeon, James Wright, and the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office Management Excellence Dr. John Palmieri, Richard McKeon, James Wright, and the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office Established a new 988 national three-digit suicide prevention and drug crisis telephone, text and chat lifeline service, helping greater numbers of people receive assistance than an older 10-digit phone line, while providing quicker, more professional support.
2023 Finalist Dave Clark Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Dave Clark Managed 94 Navy aviation crash investigations worldwide over two decades that uncovered safety problems and led to important aircraft modifications that have saved countless lives.
2023 Finalist Blane Workie, Robert Gorman, Jessica Ilich and the Aviation Consumer Protection Team Management Excellence Blane Workie, Robert Gorman, Jessica Ilich and the Aviation Consumer Protection Team Led an aggressive campaign to ensure airlines refund travelers for canceled or significantly delayed flights and require coverage of other related costs when circumstances are within the airline’s control, and held airlines accountable with a record $8.35 million in fines and more than $1 billion in passenger refunds.
2023 Finalist Mark V. Ingram Emerging Leaders Mark V. Ingram Developed and launched the main innovation arm of the U.S. Air Force, improving pilot safety, saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and strengthening our national defense.
2023 Finalist Ralph Roe Jr. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Ralph Roe Jr. Played an instrumental role during a four-decade NASA career in dramatically reshaping the agency’s safety culture to help ensure the successful exploration of the universe.
2023 Finalist J. Vincent Edwards Science, Technology and Environment J. Vincent Edwards Developed innovative and highly effective new cotton-based medical gauze and dressings for trauma and chronic wound patients that are now in use by hospitals and first responders.
2023 Finalist Rear Adm. Nancy Hann Management Excellence Rear Adm. Nancy Hann Instituted policies to dramatically curb sexual harassment, assault and bullying among employees aboard NOAA’s marine fleet and aircraft, creating a safer workplace and changing the organization’s culture.
2023 Finalist Cheryl T. Seager Science, Technology and Environment Cheryl T. Seager Initiated creative and extraordinarily successful techniques to identify and clamp down on violators of air, hazardous waste and water pollution laws, particularly in communities at risk.
2023 Finalist Eric J. “Rocky” Feuer Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Eric J. “Rocky” Feuer Built a sophisticated system using statistical analysis to better understand and interpret national cancer trends, leading to significant prevention, screening and treatment options that have saved countless lives.
2023 Finalist Lisa Gifaldi, Shelly Pierce, Andrea Gold-O’Connor and the SNAP Online Purchasing Team Management Excellence Lisa Gifaldi, Shelly Pierce, Andrea Gold-O’Connor and the SNAP Online Purchasing Team Developed a system that for the first time allowed millions of low-income urban and rural residents lacking access to supermarkets and healthy food choices to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase food online.
