Vikram Krishnasamy, M.D. 2020 Finalist Emerging Leaders Vikram Krishnasamy, M.D. Established a training program and communications network to help local public health officials deal with the opioid epidemic, including coordinating outreach to patients when law enforcement arrested medical professionals for illegal conduct.
Monica Ager Jacobsen 2020 Finalist Emerging Leaders Monica Ager Jacobsen Played a crucial behind-the-scenes role shaping the complex legal and policy issues involved in imposing sanctions against dozens of human rights abusers worldwide.
Andrew Laurence, Ph.D., Shannon Ferguson, Ph.D. 2020 Finalist Emerging Leaders Andrew Laurence, Ph.D., Shannon Ferguson, Ph.D. Provided critical information to help law enforcement solve hundreds of drug smuggling cases and other crimes by analyzing microscopic pollen grains to determine where drugs were produced, and the routes taken, as well as the travel histories of crime victims.
Chihoon Shin 2020 Finalist Emerging Leaders Chihoon Shin Recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on helicopter safety, having investigated numerous crashes and made important recommendations to prevent future mishaps and save lives.
Mark Andrew Braza and the Aircraft Carrier Refueling Complex Overhaul Cost Reduction Team 2020 Finalist Emerging Leaders Mark Andrew Braza and the Aircraft Carrier Refueling Complex Overhaul Cost Reduction Team Led the planning and contracting for the multibillion-dollar overhaul of the USS John C. Stennis, saving tens of millions of dollars and ensuring the nuclear aircraft carrier will play a critical national security role for the next 25 years.
Lilia McFarland 2016 Finalist Emerging Leaders Lilia McFarland Led an interagency initiative to help build the next generation of farmers and ranchers, creating a strategy for easing access to critical federal resources and improving customer service.
Jessica Hall Zomer 2016 Finalist Emerging Leaders Jessica Hall Zomer Helped craft and served as chief legal advisor on a major power plant regulation that will eliminate one-third of toxic heavy metals now dumped into the nation’s rivers, lakes and streams by regulated industries.
Jenn Gustetic 2016 Finalist Emerging Leaders Jenn Gustetic Tapped into citizen knowledge and expertise to solve pressing national problems by promoting the use of crowdsourcing, challenges and prizes across government.
Tate Jarrow 2016 Winner Emerging Leaders Tate Jarrow Played a critical role in two huge cybercrime investigations, helping bring to justice individuals involved in computer hacking, stock manipulation, credit card fraud, money laundering and other illicit activities.
Catherine Michelle Pappas 2016 Finalist Emerging Leaders Catherine Michelle Pappas Provided rapid analysis and advice to military commanders and policymakers regarding adversarial activity in Eastern Europe and the Middle East during a period of heightened geopolitical tensions.
Adam R. Schildge 2015 Winner Emerging Leaders Adam R. Schildge Developed and implemented a multi-billion dollar grant program after Hurricane Sandy to make public transportation systems more resilient against future natural disasters.
Bridget Lynn Roddy 2015 Finalist Emerging Leaders Bridget Lynn Roddy Engaged a growing number of college students who contribute new skills, ideas and energy to assist diplomatic and international development programs around the world while working remotely from any location.
Stephanie L. Hogan 2015 Finalist Emerging Leaders Stephanie L. Hogan Protected citizens from dangerous power plant emissions that blow across state lines by leading the EPA’s legal defense of its interstate air pollution rule.
Anthony Cotton, Amanda Femal, Jason Fleming and the DCA Transaction Teams 2014 Finalist Emerging Leaders Anthony Cotton, Amanda Femal, Jason Fleming and the DCA Transaction Teams Generated nearly $1 billion in aid for 60 projects in 42 developing countries during the past two years through an innovative, public–private loan guarantee program.
Sofia Hussain 2014 Finalist Emerging Leaders Sofia Hussain Helped federal investigators crack intricate securities fraud cases and return hundreds of millions of dollars to investors by introducing cutting-edge technology and data analysis.
Gretchen K. Campbell 2015 Finalist Emerging Leaders Gretchen K. Campbell Advanced the emerging field of physics known as atomtronics, paving the way for a new generation of technologies much like electronics has transformed our society today.
Miguel O. Román 2014 Finalist Emerging Leaders Miguel O. Román Provided timely and reliable information on wildfires, storm damage and global energy consumption to help scientists and policymakers better understand and respond to natural disasters and climate change.
Jonathan Baker 2014 Finalist Emerging Leaders Jonathan Baker Saved taxpayers more than $4 billion on the purchase of 40 new rockets and led the engineering team responsible for launching 13 Air Force satellites into orbit.
Sara Meyers 2014 Winner Emerging Leaders Sara Meyers Created a sophisticated data analysis system to evaluate the performance of federal housing programs, and set up processes to track $13.6 billion in economic stimulus and $50 billion for Hurricane Sandy disaster recovery.
Andrew Rabens 2013 Winner Emerging Leaders Andrew Rabens Led an initiative to engage young leaders from the Middle East and North Africa to share ideas and learn about American democracy.
Manan Vyas 2013 Finalist Emerging Leaders Manan Vyas Advanced the national goal of developing hypersonic aircraft engines, the last frontier of aeronautics, through innovative testing and scientific analysis.
David Vollman 2013 Finalist Emerging Leaders David Vollman Gathered, organized and analyzed data on cataract surgery results to improve medical practices and outcomes for patients.
Shane Morris 2012 Finalist Emerging Leaders Shane Morris Ensured U.S. diplomats in the Middle East could securely dispatch and receive classified documents and equipment during the Arab Spring uprisings.
Deborah Temkin 2012 Finalist Emerging Leaders Deborah Temkin Leads the government-wide campaign against bullying, working to educate school districts and governments at all levels on what they can do to protect young people from this painful and sometimes fatal problem.
Mary Pletcher 2011 Finalist Emerging Leaders Mary Pletcher Awarded and tracked $2.9 billion in Interior Department economic stimulus funds, providing thousands of jobs while preserving our country’s treasured public lands.
Oliver P. Fischer 2011 Finalist Emerging Leaders Oliver P. Fischer To ensure that a historic independence vote was fair and peaceful, helped develop and conduct a critical population and housing census, and mediated local tribal conflicts in remote and dangerous parts of Southern Sudan.
Jacob M. Taylor 2012 Winner Emerging Leaders Jacob M. Taylor Came up with an original scientific theory that could lead to medical imaging in microscopic detail for better health care, while also developing innovative technology to allow greater quantities of data to speed across the Internet with less energy and at lower cost.
Katherine Antos 2011 Finalist Emerging Leaders Katherine Antos Led the creation and evaluation of state plans to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary, and one of the planet’s first identified “marine dead zones.”
Mark Simakovsky 2010 Finalist Emerging Leaders Mark Simakovsky Instrumental in shaping the Defense Department’s response to the Russia-Georgia War in 2008, while facilitating efforts to prevent further instability and promote U.S. interests in the region.
Ann S. Martin 2011 Winner Emerging Leaders Ann S. Martin Worked with Mexican officials to study cross-border currency flows and help disrupt the laundering of billions of dollars derived from illicit U.S. drug sales.
Till Rosenband 2010 Finalist Emerging Leaders Till Rosenband Invented the world’s most precise timekeeping device, an entirely new type of atomic clock based on quantum computing research.
Saskia van Gendt 2010 Winner Emerging Leaders Saskia van Gendt Fostering a new breed of environmentally-friendly construction and packaging materials that promote reuse, cut down on waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Kristen Taddonio 2009 Finalist Emerging Leaders Kristen Taddonio Created a unique industry-government alliance that is accelerating adoption of greener technologies.
Clare D. Rowley 2009 Winner Emerging Leaders Clare D. Rowley Helped thousands stay in their homes by working to implement IndyMac’s mortgage modification program after the bank failed, and advised the Obama administration’s efforts to reduce foreclosures.
Jared Summers 2009 Finalist Emerging Leaders Jared Summers Reduced costs for our government by $200 million through his successful leadership of the disposition of the retired F-117 fleet.
Ian B. Spielman 2009 Finalist Emerging Leaders Ian B. Spielman Pioneered a new area of research that is helping scientists understand crucial, but currently intractable, mysteries of physics like the explanation of high-temperature superconductivity.
P. Ryan Jackson 2010 Finalist Emerging Leaders P. Ryan Jackson Ensured that a planned massive fish kill, intended to stop the invasive Asian carp from migrating into and damaging the Great Lakes’ ecosystem, would not have harmful effects on the environment.
Cara Peck 2009 Finalist Emerging Leaders Cara Peck Helped urban areas improve the way they process food waste, promoting new efficiencies and ways to use refuse as a source of renewable energy.
Alain D. Carballeyra 2008 Winner Emerging Leaders Alain D. Carballeyra Introducing cutting edge 3-D technology to improve medical care and rehabilitation, and helping restore quality of life for soldiers that have suffered traumatic battle injuries.
Joshua R. Fairley and the Team 2008 Finalist Emerging Leaders Joshua R. Fairley and the Team Led the development of new technology to improve the accuracy of improvised explosive device (IED) detection by 75 percent.
Joshua Pomeroy 2008 Finalist Emerging Leaders Joshua Pomeroy Developed breakthrough technology that enhances our ability to read microchips, which will lead to further miniaturization in data storage.
Patricia Frounfelker 2008 Finalist Emerging Leaders Patricia Frounfelker Discovered hazards associated with reactive armor that have prompted safety improvements for U.S. soldiers.
Markus Garlauskas 2007 Finalist Emerging Leaders Markus Garlauskas Rose to become one of the United States’ senior intelligence officials on the Korean peninsula by the age of 28.
Myroslava Gongadze 2007 Finalist Emerging Leaders Myroslava Gongadze Serves as the leading spokesperson for democratic values in Ukraine, helping to move the nation in a more pro-western direction.
Brian Waud 2007 Finalist Emerging Leaders Brian Waud Led effort in Russia to successfully secure and dispose of enough radiological material to build 2,300 dirty bombs.
Nicole Faison 2007 Winner Emerging Leaders Nicole Faison Created income verification program that eliminated more than $2 billion in fraudulent payments by HUD’s rental assistance programs.
Konrad Lehnert 2007 Finalist Emerging Leaders Konrad Lehnert Conducted groundbreaking research to use quantum mechanics to improve measurement science.
Matthew D. Lowe 2006 Finalist Emerging Leaders Matthew D. Lowe Played critical role in laying the groundwork for the historic agreement between the United State and India on nuclear energy.
Christina Sanford 2006 Winner Emerging Leaders Christina Sanford Served as chief of the legal office at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq and provided critical support for Iraq’s democratically elected government.
Karen Stewart 2006 Finalist Emerging Leaders Karen Stewart Played critical role in developing and implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the largest public health initiative ever.
Emily H. Majcher 2006 Finalist Emerging Leaders Emily H. Majcher Developed new technology to treat contaminated wetlands without disturbing the surrounding ecosystem.
Patrick Forrest 2005 Finalist Emerging Leaders Patrick Forrest Expanded homeownership in the impoverished Colonias regions along the U.S.-Mexico border, helping 800 families buy homes.
Lynn Clements 2005 Finalist Emerging Leaders Lynn Clements Developed a national education and outreach campaign to educate young people about their workplace rights and responsibilities.
Kevin McAleenan 2005 Winner Emerging Leaders Kevin McAleenan Developed the Office of Anti-Terrorism, which was created soon after 9/11 to help better secure the nation’s ports and borders from terrorists and terrorist weapons.
Bill Hindman 2005 Finalist Emerging Leaders Bill Hindman Developed a laser technology system that allows the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to better communicate with one another in wartime, saving the government $100 million and enhancing our national defense.
Nicole Nelson-Jean 2004 Winner Emerging Leaders Nicole Nelson-Jean Led U.S. delegation to the Arctic Circle for negotiations with Russian officials to better secure Russia’s nuclear materials and weapons. This agreement led to the creation of a service and training center for nuclear material and weapons security in Murmansk, Russia.
Ranjeet Singh 2004 Finalist Emerging Leaders Ranjeet Singh Developed expertise on Afghanistan’s ethnic groups, geography and economy which has made her a leading expert in formulating U.S. policy to deal with opium poppy cultivation and narcotics trafficking in that country.
Leopoldo Miranda-Castro 2004 Finalist Emerging Leaders Leopoldo Miranda-Castro Established the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife program in the Caribbean, which has helped to restore more than 2,000 acres of tropical habitat; also created the first “shade coffee” program in the U.S., which is expanding to Hawaii.
John Butler 2004 Finalist Emerging Leaders John Butler Developed new techniques to improve DNA identification and crafted texts and established guidelines used internationally to ensure accurate DNA testing. Helped identify the remains of additional victims of the World Trade Center attacks.
Paul Wilde 2003 Finalist Emerging Leaders Paul Wilde Designed the tests that revealed the likely cause of the Columbia disaster.
