2024 Finalist Tony Mento, Camille Otto, Hari Kalla Safety, Security and International Affairs Tony Mento, Camille Otto, Hari Kalla Provided critical coordination as well as technical expertise that led to the reopening of a major interstate highway in Philadelphia less than two weeks after a fiery gasoline tanker crash destroyed a bridge over an exit ramp.
2024 Finalist Trevor McAleenan, Michael Lane Safety, Security and International Affairs Trevor McAleenan, Michael Lane Spearheaded a cutting-edge investigation that led to the seizure and forfeiture of more than $3 billion worth of bitcoin, one of the largest financial seizures in the history of the U.S. government.
2024 Finalist Kyle Gardiner Emerging Leaders Kyle Gardiner Played a leading role in streamlining burdensome government forms, shifting how federal agencies collect information and ensuring deserving recipients receive public benefits.
2024 Finalist Matthew S. Borman Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Matthew S. Borman Led pivotal efforts to impose export controls on U.S. adversaries to deny them access to critical American technology that could be used for military purposes.
2024 Finalist Mike Schmidt and the CHIPS Program Team Management Excellence Mike Schmidt and the CHIPS Program Team Implemented a multibillion-dollar program to supercharge the U.S. semiconductor industry that will increase domestic production of chips that are vital to our everyday life and strengthen American manufacturing and national security.
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 Judy Woodruff Spirit of Service Award Judy Woodruff An iconic journalist who champions public service, public servants and a more effective government.
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.
2021 Winner Michelle Daniels, Charles D. Eldridge, Ryan E. Jones and the Office of Public and Indian Housing Foster Youth to Independence team Management Excellence Michelle Daniels, Charles D. Eldridge, Ryan E. Jones and the Office of Public and Indian Housing Foster Youth to Independence team Created an innovative program offering housing assistance and social services to young people aging out of foster care to prevent them from becoming homeless and to provide an opportunity for self-sufficiency.
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.
2022 Winner Josh Josa People's Choice Award Josh Josa Leveraged U.S. resources and influence to promote educational opportunities in developing nations for children and youth with disabilities.
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.
2021 Winner Evan R. Kwerel, Ph.D. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Evan R. Kwerel, Ph.D. Pioneered the use of competitive spectrum auctions to allocate the public airwaves for sound, data and video transmissions, helping fuel the digital revolution while adding more than $200 billion to the government’s coffers.
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.
2022 Winner Darren Walker Spirit of Service Award Darren Walker A philanthropic leader and innovator working to build a more equitable and just world.
