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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 2007 Finalist Citizen Services Wallace Fung and Henry Chao Created the IT infrastructure that supports the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.
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. 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 2003 Finalist Citizen Services Donna Bonar Created a computer database to track and enforce child support payments.
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 2003 Finalist Citizen Services Terry Van Allen Developed a school of entrepreneurship for one of Texas’ most impoverished communities.
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 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 2003 Finalist Citizen Services Kevin Carr Revolutionized American manufacturing with comprehensive technical, business and consulting services.
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 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.