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Mariela Melero and the Customer Service and Public Engagement Directorate

Mariela Melero and the Customer Service and Public Engagement Directorate

2016 Finalist

Citizen Services

Mariela Melero and the Customer Service and Public Engagement Directorate

Made immigration resources more accessible and user-friendly, including a cutting-edge online tool that can answer 90 percent of questions posed by those seeking U.S. citizenship or residency.

Lisa M. Jones

Lisa M. Jones

2016 Winner

Citizen Services

Lisa M. Jones

Helped low-income communities gain access to investment capital to fund health-care centers, charter schools, day-care centers, housing, small business development and commercial real estate projects.

Joseph J. Mueller

Joseph J. Mueller

2016 Finalist

Citizen Services

Joseph J. Mueller

Prevented the collapse of a major dam that threatened the lives and property of thousands of residents and business owners downstream, and could have disrupted New York City’s water supply.

Thomas O’Toole

Thomas O’Toole

2016 Finalist

Citizen Services

Thomas O’Toole

Created two nationwide programs to help high-risk, high-need homeless veterans receive the comprehensive medical care, housing assistance and social services they need to get off the street and reclaim their lives.

Kim Nazi and the Blue Button Initiative Team

Kim Nazi and the Blue Button Initiative Team

2011 Finalist

Citizen Services

Kim Nazi and the Blue Button Initiative Team

Established a simple process that allows veterans and beneficiaries in the VA, Medicare and DOD health systems to download their personal health information, empowering them to take charge of managing their own care.

Julie Rushin

Julie Rushin

2011 Finalist

Citizen Services

Julie Rushin

Developed a way for prospective college students and their parents to import tax data onto their online federal loan applications, streamlining a time-consuming and error-prone process.

John P. Wagner

John P. Wagner

2015 Finalist

Citizen Services

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.

Kevin G. Stricklin and the MSHA Mine Emergency Team

Kevin G. Stricklin and the MSHA Mine Emergency Team

2015 Finalist

Citizen Services

Kevin G. Stricklin and the MSHA Mine Emergency Team

Improved coal mine safety and reduced deadly accidents to the lowest number in history, and led dangerous rescue operations to save trapped miners.

Constantine P. Sarkos

Constantine P. Sarkos

2015 Finalist

Citizen Services

Constantine P. Sarkos

Protected commercial air travelers by leading major fire safety improvements that have increased passenger survivability during blazes occurring in-flight and after crash landings.

Lucile Jones

Lucile Jones

2015 Winner

Citizen Services

Lucile Jones

Spurred communities and states to prepare for catastrophic earthquakes by applying her groundbreaking research and taking preventive measures to protect citizens and critical infrastructure.

Günter Waibel, Adam Metallo and Vincent Rossi

Günter Waibel, Adam Metallo and Vincent Rossi

2014 Finalist

Citizen Services

Günter Waibel, Adam Metallo and Vincent Rossi

Made iconic treasures from the Smithsonian’s vast collection accessible to students, teachers, historians and curious visitors everywhere through the use of computerized 3-D imaging and printing technologies.

Douglas James Norton

Douglas James Norton

2014 Finalist

Citizen Services

Douglas James Norton

Engaged citizens, scientists and state agencies in protecting their local streams, lakes and rivers by providing access to water quality data and assessment tools via the web.

Marcia Crosse

Marcia Crosse

2014 Finalist

Citizen Services

Marcia Crosse

Directed congressional attention to the Food and Drug Administration’s increased global role in the regulation of drugs and medical devices leading to reforms to better protect public health.

Michael Byrne

Michael Byrne

2014 Winner

Citizen Services

Michael Byrne

Put detailed data about our nation’s broadband availability and communications systems in the hands of citizens and policymakers through the use of interactive online maps and other visualizations.

James D. Green

James D. Green

2014 Finalist

Citizen Services

James D. Green

Collaborated with the ambulance manufacturing industry and multiple federal agencies to create ambulance crash standards to help reduce injuries and fatalities among EMS workers and patients.

Terence V. Milholland

Terence V. Milholland

2013 Finalist

Citizen Services

Terence V. Milholland

Overhauled IRS’ information technology and tax processing systems, leading to quicker refunds and notices to taxpayers, reduced fraud and better internal management.

Martha Dorris

Martha Dorris

2013 Finalist

Citizen Services

Martha Dorris

Delivered timely information on federal programs and services and engaged citizens with our government through the use of web portals, social media, crowdsourcing tools and a powerful search engine.

Dave Broomell

Dave Broomell

2013 Finalist

Citizen Services

Dave Broomell

Developed a number of technology innovations that have improved Social Security’s customer service and employee efficiency.

Daniel Madrzykowski

Daniel Madrzykowski

2013 Winner

Citizen Services

Daniel Madrzykowski

Dramatically improved firefighting practices by conducting and sharing sophisticated research that has saved firefighters’ lives and protected property across the nation.

J. Todd Weber and the CDC Multistate Response Team

J. Todd Weber and the CDC Multistate Response Team

2013 Finalist

Citizen Services

J. Todd Weber and the CDC Multistate Response Team

Quickly identified contaminated medicine as the cause of a major meningitis outbreak in 2012, and led the national public health response.

Susan Angell, Mark Johnston and the Homeless Veterans Initiative Team

Susan Angell, Mark Johnston and the Homeless Veterans Initiative Team

2012 Winner

Citizen Services

Susan Angell, Mark Johnston and the Homeless Veterans Initiative Team

Led an interdepartmental program that reduced veterans homelessness by 12 percent in one year as part of an ambitious national goal of finding shelter for all veterans by 2015.

Livia Marques

Livia Marques

2012 Finalist

Citizen Services

Livia Marques

Led a nationwide initiative that resulted in the creation of more than 1,600 community-based “People’s Gardens” and the donation of 1.3 million pounds of produce to the needy.

Heidi King and James Battles

Heidi King and James Battles

2012 Finalist

Citizen Services

Heidi King and James Battles

Created and implemented a health-care professional team training program that has become the gold standard for eliminating thousands of preventable patient deaths each year due to medical errors.

Lance Rodewald

Lance Rodewald

2012 Finalist

Citizen Services

Lance Rodewald

Enhanced vaccine programs to protect greater numbers of children against life-threatening diseases by adding new vaccines, modernizing distribution, and reducing racial, ethnic and economic disparities.

Michael A. McBride

Michael A. McBride

2012 Finalist

Citizen Services

Michael A. McBride

Established partnerships with more than 4,000 organizations that have annually enlisted nearly 90,000 volunteers to prepare millions of federal tax returns for disadvantaged filers.

Julius Knapp, Ruth Milkman, Sharon Gillett and the Omnibus Broadband Initiative Team

Julius Knapp, Ruth Milkman, Sharon Gillett and the Omnibus Broadband Initiative Team

2011 Finalist

Citizen Services

Julius Knapp, Ruth Milkman, Sharon Gillett and the Omnibus Broadband Initiative Team

Developed a comprehensive strategy to ensure every American has access to high speed Internet service, laying a foundation for economic growth and global competitiveness.

Diane K. Braunstein

Diane K. Braunstein

2011 Winner

Citizen Services

Diane K. Braunstein

Created a fast-track system for terminally and seriously ill Americans to receive approval for Social Security disability benefits in days or weeks instead of months or years.

Jennifer Main, Timothy G. Massad, David N. Miller and the Troubled Asset Relief Program Team

Jennifer Main, Timothy G. Massad, David N. Miller and the Troubled Asset Relief Program Team

2010 Finalist

Citizen Services

Jennifer Main, Timothy G. Massad, David N. Miller and the Troubled Asset Relief Program Team

Implemented a $700 billion rescue plan to secure the nation’s banking system and help the American people by halting the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.

Robert Benzon

Robert Benzon

2010 Finalist

Citizen Services

Robert Benzon

Served as Investigator in Charge of the “Miracle on the Hudson” and other high-profile airplane crash investigations, advancing aviation safety for millions of travelers worldwide.

Deborah Autor

Deborah Autor

2010 Finalist

Citizen Services

Deborah Autor

Through aggressive enforcement actions, incentives and multi-faceted education campaigns, is stopping the distribution of hundreds of unapproved prescription drugs.

Shane Kelley and Eva Ristow

Shane Kelley and Eva Ristow

2010 Winner

Citizen Services

Shane Kelley and Eva Ristow

Improved the delivery of Social Security benefits to citizens living in impoverished and remote locations through an innovative two-way video service.

Gail Lovelace

Gail Lovelace

2009 Finalist

Citizen Services

Gail Lovelace

Led the civil service’s efforts to ensure a smooth and peaceful presidential transition from the Bush to the Obama administration.

Tim Evans

Tim Evans

2009 Finalist

Citizen Services

Tim Evans

Led the improvement of the Social Security Administration’s benefits and information websites, which rank higher in customer satisfaction ratings than Amazon, Google and Yahoo.

Michael German

Michael German

2009 Winner

Citizen Services

Michael German

Created partnerships to reduce homelessness with more than 850 state and local leaders, which have contributed to a 30 percent reduction in long-term homelessness.

Carolyn Shanoff and the Team

Carolyn Shanoff and the Team

2008 Finalist

Citizen Services

Carolyn Shanoff and the Team

Preventing identity theft by educating more than 120 million American households about the crime.

Rajiv Jain

Rajiv Jain

2008 Winner

Citizen Services

Rajiv Jain

Developed and led an initiative that reduced a type of life-threatening, hospital-acquired infections by 60 percent and has been replicated at all 153 VA hospitals and other hospitals across America and parts of the world.

David J. Lipman

David J. Lipman

2008 Finalist

Citizen Services

David J. Lipman

Led the development of the groundbreaking PubMed Central database which enhances biomedical research in a way that is accelerating scientific discovery and increasing public knowledge.

David Williams

David Williams

2007 Finalist

Citizen Services

David Williams

Revamped outreach efforts for the Earned Income Tax Credit, helping hundreds of thousands of Americans receive vital benefits, and oversaw the Telephone Excise Tax Refund–the largest one-time tax refund in history.

John Doll and David Freeland

John Doll and David Freeland

2007 Finalist

Citizen Services

John Doll and David Freeland

Created the first successful Internet-based electronic filing system for U.S. patent applications.

Dinah F. B. Cohen

Dinah F. B. Cohen

2007 Winner

Citizen Services

Dinah F. B. Cohen

Leads the world’s largest assistive technology program, filling more than 60,000 accommodation requests for people with disabilities, including 2,400 accommodations for wounded service members.

Wallace Fung and Henry Chao

Wallace Fung and Henry Chao

2007 Finalist

Citizen Services

Wallace Fung and Henry Chao

Created the IT infrastructure that supports the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Robin E. Ware

Robin E. Ware

2006 Finalist

Citizen Services

Robin E. Ware

Led the quick and full recovery of mail service to the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Raymond Brammer, Jr.

Raymond Brammer, Jr.

2006 Finalist

Citizen Services

Raymond Brammer, Jr.

Led effort to get Social Security benefits to Hurricane Katrina victims and restore SSA operations in Louisiana.

Kevin Harrison and the DEA Rescue Team

Kevin Harrison and the DEA Rescue Team

2006 Finalist

Citizen Services

Kevin Harrison and the DEA Rescue Team

Rescued 90 seniors who had been abandoned in an assisted living facility after Hurricane Katrina.

Betsy Kinter

Betsy Kinter

2006 Finalist

Citizen Services

Betsy Kinter

Set up customer call centers that helped 948,000 Hurricane Katrina victims receive federal relief.

Thomas Casadevall and the USGS Hurricane Response Team

Thomas Casadevall and the USGS Hurricane Response Team

2006 Winner

Citizen Services

Thomas Casadevall and the USGS Hurricane Response Team

Used technology to help locate and rescue thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims and personally conducted rescue missions that saved 600 people.

Robert Otto

Robert Otto

2005 Finalist

Citizen Services

Robert Otto

Brought the post office to the people by developing the USPS’s web services.  

Coral Childs and the GSA Computers for Learning Team

Coral Childs and the GSA Computers for Learning Team

2005 Finalist

Citizen Services

Coral Childs and the GSA Computers for Learning Team

Coordinated government-wide effort to distribute more than 118,000 computers and related equipment to needy schools.

Terence Lutes

Terence Lutes

2005 Winner

Citizen Services

Terence Lutes

Led the development of the popular e-File system that has allowed millions of Americans to get their tax refunds in as few as 10 days, while also cutting processing costs for government by as much as 90 percent.

Dennis Wagner and the Leadership Team

Dennis Wagner and the Leadership Team

2005 Finalist

Citizen Services

Dennis Wagner and the Leadership Team

Developed and conducted an initiative that has generated rapid increases in organ donation in the U.S., already saving or enhancing 1,400 additional lives in 2004.

Margaret Washnitzer

Margaret Washnitzer

2004 Finalist

Citizen Services

Margaret Washnitzer

Pioneered new performance-focused management principles that have revolutionized the way that we deliver aid to social service providers and low-income families.

Eileen Harrington and the FTC Do Not Call Team

Eileen Harrington and the FTC Do Not Call Team

2004 Winner

Citizen Services

Eileen Harrington and the FTC Do Not Call Team

Developed and implemented the federal Do Not Call Registry, which has reduced the number of telemarketing calls for more than 60 million Americans.

Donna Bonar

Donna Bonar

2003 Finalist

Citizen Services

Donna Bonar

Created a computer database to track and enforce child support payments.

Ray McKinney and the Team

Ray McKinney and the Team

2003 Finalist

Citizen Services

Ray McKinney and the Team

The Mine Safety and Health Administration, led by Ray McKinney, saved the nine Quecreek miners trapped in a cold, dank mine 240 feet below ground.

Terry Van Allen

Terry Van Allen

2003 Finalist

Citizen Services

Terry Van Allen

Developed a school of entrepreneurship for one of Texas’ most impoverished communities.

Marcella Banks

Marcella Banks

2003 Finalist

Citizen Services

Marcella Banks

Bridged the digital divide for Native American communities and the military during her 45-year federal career.

Thomas Cacciarelli

Thomas Cacciarelli

2004 Finalist

Citizen Services

Thomas Cacciarelli

Gave up a successful job at one of the most prestigious liver transplant hospitals in the world to ensure that veterans in need of organ donors would receive swift and affordable care.

Kevin Carr

Kevin Carr

2003 Finalist

Citizen Services

Kevin Carr

Revolutionized American manufacturing with comprehensive technical, business and consulting services.

Joseph A. Foster

Joseph A. Foster

2004 Finalist

Citizen Services

Joseph A. Foster

Coordinated the federal legal response to contain outbreak of monkeypox, and also helped manage the federal legal response to SARS and West Nile Virus occurrences.

Nelson Hernandez and the Community Affairs Team

Nelson Hernandez and the Community Affairs Team

2003 Winner

Citizen Services

Nelson Hernandez and the Community Affairs Team

Helped disadvantaged Americans learn how to benefit from personal banking services and better manage their money.

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