2021 Finalist C. Mark Eakin, Ph.D. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement C. Mark Eakin, Ph.D. Led the development of a satellite-based monitoring system that provides accurate forecasts and early warnings to environmental officials worldwide at a time when rising ocean temperatures threaten the health of coral reefs.
2021 Finalist Mary Frances Matthews Management Excellence Mary Frances Matthews Reduced the lengthy backlog of disability appeals for veterans by 87% in two years, providing long-awaited decisions on benefits to thousands of individuals.
2021 Winner Reem M. Ghandour, DrPH Science, Technology and Environment Reem M. Ghandour, DrPH Transformed and revitalized a national survey on children’s physical, emotional and developmental health, providing timely and insightful data to state and federal policymakers.
2023 Finalist Zachary Johnson Safety, Security and International Affairs Zachary Johnson Played pivotal role in responding to radiological threats caused by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as well as securing the relocation of Department of Energy partners in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
2022 Finalist Scott Busby Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Scott Busby Designed and oversaw landmark efforts to advance human rights overseas and hold violators accountable.
2022 Winner Dr. H. Clifford Lane, M.D. Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Dr. H. Clifford Lane, M.D. Conducted pioneering work to combat HIV/AIDS that has saved countless lives, organized breakthrough clinical trials for Ebola in Africa and helped establish medical guidelines to treat COVID-19 during the pandemic.
2022 Finalist Nathan R. Newbury, Ian Coddington, Ph.D., Kevin Cossel, Ph.D. and team Science, Technology and Environment Nathan R. Newbury, Ian Coddington, Ph.D., Kevin Cossel, Ph.D. and team Developed a revolutionary system to detect methane gas leaks from oil and gas production facilities as well as identify other pollutants that are major contributors to global warming.
2022 Finalist Diana Bianchi, M.D. COVID-19 Response Diana Bianchi, M.D. Initiated critical clinical research to understand the medical implications of COVID-19 on underserved populations, including pregnant women, children and people with disabilities.
2021 Finalist Gary Washington Management Excellence Gary Washington Led a technology transformation at the Department of Agriculture, dramatically increasing efficiency, productivity and security, and improving service to the public.
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.
