2021 Finalist Ian Brownlee and the Interagency COVID Repatriation team COVID-19 Response Ian Brownlee and the Interagency COVID Repatriation team Created and managed a State Department-led task force that repatriated more than 100,000 Americans who were stranded in countries all over the world when borders were closed and airports shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
2021 Finalist Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D. COVID-19 Response Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D. Laid the groundwork for strict scientific regulatory standards used for the rapid development, testing and approval of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines amid a deadly, once-in-a-century pandemic.
2022 Finalist Suma Nair, Ph.D., M.S. COVID-19 Response Suma Nair, Ph.D., M.S. Coordinated the federal initiative to supply community health centers nationwide that assist underserved populations with life-saving COVID-19 vaccines, antiviral medications, testing kits and protective face masks.
2022 Finalist Yolanda López Management Excellence Yolanda López Guided Voice of America through a tumultuous period of political upheaval, restoring the integrity and independence of its news operations while providing strong support for the workforce.
2022 Finalist Samantha Sutton Emerging Leaders Samantha Sutton Played an important behind-the-scenes role across three presidential administrations as an adviser on U.S. policy toward Israel and the Palestinians.
2022 Finalist Mitchell Zeller, J.D. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Mitchell Zeller, J.D. Directed federal efforts to regulate the marketing and accessibility of tobacco products that can cause death and disease, instituting policies that cut back on cigarette usage and saved lives.
2022 Finalist Robert Fenton COVID-19 Response Robert Fenton Orchestrated the creation of 39 mass vaccination centers in early 2021 that in a short time administered lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines to 5.6 million people while also providing federal support to 1,600 smaller vaccination sites throughout the country.
2022 Finalist Gary Disbrow, Ph.D., Robert Johnson, Ph.D., Kimberly Armstrong, Ph.D., Rodney Wallace and team COVID-19 Response Gary Disbrow, Ph.D., Robert Johnson, Ph.D., Kimberly Armstrong, Ph.D., Rodney Wallace and team Led the federal effort to quickly identify and invest billions of dollars in the rapid development and production of COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
2022 Winner Gregory Robinson Federal Employee of the Year Gregory Robinson Oversaw the successful launch of NASA’s revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope after years of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns, setting the stage for spectacular discoveries about the origins of the universe.
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.
2021 Winner Laurene Powell Jobs Spirit of Service Award Laurene Powell Jobs A leader committed to systemic social change.
2021 Winner Callie I. Higgins, Ph.D. Emerging Leaders Callie I. Higgins, Ph.D. Invented a groundbreaking technology to detect and remedy microscopic flaws that threaten the safety and reliability of 3D–printed products, potentially revolutionizing the medical, plastics, coatings, optics and additive manufacturing fields.
2021 Finalist Gregory M. Ruiz, Ph.D. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Gregory M. Ruiz, Ph.D. Played a major role over three decades highlighting the environmental harm caused by the marine transport of invasive species, resulting in a federal reporting system, enforcement policies and improved shipboard management practices.
2021 Finalist Jay Barlow, Ph.D. Science, Technology and Environment Jay Barlow, Ph.D. Played an influential national role in monitoring and managing marine mammals by creating new survey methods and technology to protect and save the lives of whales, dolphins and other species.
2021 Finalist Sherry Hunt, Ph.D. and the Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit Science, Technology and Environment Sherry Hunt, Ph.D. and the Hydraulic Engineering Research Unit Pioneered critically needed design techniques to rehabilitate and strengthen thousands of aging dams across the United States, limiting potential failures that could lead to the loss of life and property.
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 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.
2022 Finalist Rupa Bhattacharyya Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Rupa Bhattacharyya Managed three separate victim’s compensation funds during a lengthy federal career, most recently revitalizing the fund that provides payments to those harmed by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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.
2022 Winner Krista Kinnard Emerging Leaders Krista Kinnard Ignited a technology transformation at the Department of Labor by automating repetitive administrative processes, saving time and money, and creating greater efficiencies.
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 Winner Cynthia A. Newberg Science, Technology and Environment Cynthia A. Newberg Played an instrumental role internationally and in the U.S. to curb the use of hydrofluorocarbons, incredibly potent greenhouse gases that are major contributors to climate change.
2022 Finalist Craig McLean Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Craig McLean Played a critical role for decades in the exploration and mapping of the oceans which has provided insights into climate change, helped improve weather forecasting and led to a better understanding of marine life.
2022 Finalist Mark Reed, Valerie Hasberry, James Kaufmann Management Excellence Mark Reed, Valerie Hasberry, James Kaufmann Led the cleanup, restoration and enhanced security of the U.S. Capitol Building and grounds following the violent attack on Jan. 6, 2021, ensuring that the work of Congress could continue and the presidential inauguration could take place two weeks later.
2021 Finalist Brigitte C. Widemann, M.D. and team Science, Technology and Environment Brigitte C. Widemann, M.D. and team Developed a breakthrough medical treatment for children with inoperable tumors that cause disabling pain, disfigurement, blindness and motor dysfunction.
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 Lori Vislocky Emerging Leaders Lori Vislocky Developed and implemented a new system that enables authorities to quickly identify foreigners who pose a threat to national security or public safety before they travel to the United States.
2021 Finalist Stephen G. Jurczyk Management Excellence Stephen G. Jurczyk Oversaw the landing of a rover on Mars, two successful U.S. astronaut flights to the International Space Station and the planning to put the first woman and first person of color on the moon while leading NASA through the pandemic.
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 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 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.
2022 Finalist Steven Musser, Ph.D. Science, Technology and Environment Steven Musser, Ph.D. Championed the use of whole genome sequencing and a public database to identify foodborne diseases that sicken millions of people every year, enabling authorities to remove dangerous products more quickly from the marketplace and protect public health.
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.
2022 Winner Dr. Amanda Cohn, Anita Patel, Dr. David Fitter and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force COVID-19 Response Dr. Amanda Cohn, Anita Patel, Dr. David Fitter and the COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force Designed and implemented the plan to distribute hundreds of millions of lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines to states, localities and pharmacies nationwide while providing critical health information to the public.
2022 Finalist Brandon Wales Science, Technology and Environment Brandon Wales Protected government and commercial computer networks from highly sophisticated and damaging cyberattacks, safeguarding the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain and reducing the risks of devastating ransomware attacks.
2022 Finalist David Rader Emerging Leaders David Rader Led a critical initiative to monitor and prevent foreign investments in American technology companies that can be used by adversaries to gain an economic and military advantage over the United States.
2021 Finalist David L. Boucher, Ph.D., John Lee, Ph.D., Daniel Wolfe, Ph.D. and the Ebola Medical Countermeasures Task Force Science, Technology and Environment David L. Boucher, Ph.D., John Lee, Ph.D., Daniel Wolfe, Ph.D. and the Ebola Medical Countermeasures Task Force Oversaw the research and development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostic tests that have been used to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Africa and avert the possibility of a pandemic.
2021 Finalist Edward Sisco, Ph.D. Emerging Leaders Edward Sisco, Ph.D. Devised a new method for crime laboratories to identify opioids and other drugs more quickly and safely, providing critical information to law enforcement while protecting lab employees from dangerous substances.
2021 Winner Kizzmekia S. Corbett, Ph.D., Barney S. Graham, M.D., Ph.D. Federal Employees of the Year Kizzmekia S. Corbett, Ph.D., Barney S. Graham, M.D., Ph.D. Conducted groundbreaking research that led to the development of highly effective vaccines in record time that are protecting hundreds of millions of people from contracting the deadly coronavirus that swept across the globe in 2020 and 2021.
2021 Finalist Paul Friday Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Paul Friday During six decades of federal service, invented, engineered and implemented systems that enabled the Census Bureau to more accurately tabulate and analyze data on paper census forms, speeding the process and saving millions of dollars.
2021 Finalist Virginia K. Busby, Dianne Garibotto, Camille Privett and the Economic Impact Payment team COVID-19 Response Virginia K. Busby, Dianne Garibotto, Camille Privett and the Economic Impact Payment team Expertly orchestrated the disbursement of hundreds of billions of dollars to tens of millions of people adversely affected by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
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 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 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 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.
2022 Finalist Antonio Rios Management Excellence Antonio Rios Instituted an innovative system that has reduced opioid addiction among federal employees receiving workers’ compensation benefits, while also streamlining and speeding up the process for filing claims.
2022 Finalist Mark Williams, Ph.D. Emerging Leaders Mark Williams, Ph.D. Documented how agricultural runoff containing nitrogen and phosphorous used in fertilizers migrate into and pollute waterways, prompting new farming conservation practices to protect the environment.
2022 Finalist Joseph Poux Jr. Science, Technology and Environment Joseph Poux Jr. Organized a series of global environmental law enforcement operations targeting marine pollution and hazardous waste dumping that uncovered thousands of violations and led to the prosecution of countless individuals, companies and criminal networks.
2022 Winner Barbara C. Morton Management Excellence Barbara C. Morton Built trust and a customer-oriented culture among veterans and their families seeking services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs by listening and responding to their needs.
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 Winner Ana B. Hinojosa, Eric Choy and team People's Choice Award Ana B. Hinojosa, Eric Choy and team Directed enforcement actions against companies seeking to import goods produced by forced labor in China and other countries as part of a broader human rights effort to curb modern-day slavery.
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.
2021 Finalist Mary D. Gibert Management Excellence Mary D. Gibert Successfully coordinated the federal assistance effort for the 2020–21 presidential transition in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a disputed election.
2021 Finalist William Hart-Cooper, Ph.D. Emerging Leaders William Hart-Cooper, Ph.D. Created novel formulations for disinfectants and packaging that break down into harmless substances after use, protecting human health and reducing environmental pollution.
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 Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Federal Employee of the Year Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Served as the government’s premier expert and spokesperson on infectious diseases during six presidencies, including taking a prominent role in seeking to protect the public from the highly contagious and deadly new coronavirus that swept through the country and the world in 2020.
2020 Winner Ira Pastan, M.D. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Ira Pastan, M.D. Discovered a new class of drugs that can successfully treat a rare form of leukemia and hold promise to be effective therapies for pancreatic and lung cancer as well as mesothelioma.
2020 Winner Beth Ripley, M.D., Ph.D. Science, Technology and Environment Beth Ripley, M.D., Ph.D. Created an interconnected, hospital-based 3D printing network that is assisting health care providers with medical procedures, reducing unnecessary surgeries and helping improve quality of life for veterans.
2020 Winner Neil C. Evans, M.D., Kathleen L. Frisbee, Ph.D., Kevin Galpin, M.D. Management Excellence Neil C. Evans, M.D., Kathleen L. Frisbee, Ph.D., Kevin Galpin, M.D. Developed vital telehealth options, mobile apps and digital services for veterans to receive health care virtually, while removing barriers to implementation through policy, regulatory and administrative changes.
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.
