Nominate an outstanding fed for the Sammies
It's time to vote for feds who made a difference in 2011.
Know a top-notch fed who deserves a few minutes in the limelight? Now you have the chance to nominate a public servant whose exceptional contributions not only impressed their peers but made a difference in addressing the needs of the nation.
The Partnership for Public Service yesterday announced that nominations are open for the 2012 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, also called the Sammies. The awards highlight feds who made significant contributions to the nation, and honorees are chosen based on their commitment and innovation, as well as how their work dealt with the needs of the country.
Federal employees are “too often overlooked and underappreciated,” which makes the Sammies important, said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. "By honoring these outstanding public servants, we give America's unsung heroes the long overdue thanks and recognition they deserve."
In 2011, the Federal Employee of the Year medal went to Paul Hsieh, a research hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, who helped convince federal officials that the containment cap on a ruptured deep-water oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was working, which ended the environmental disaster.
Ann Martin, senior intelligence research specialist in the Office of Trend and Issue Analysis at the Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, whose work with Mexican officials helped disrupt money laundering from illegal U.S. drug sales also received top honors in the form of the 2011 Call to Service Medal. And a third winner, “medical detective” William Gahl who serves as director of the Undiagnosed Diseases Program at the National Institutes of Health, snagged the 2011 Science and Environment Medal for bringing together specialists to diagnose mysterious diseases for long-suffering patients.
All career civilian federal employees are eligible, and anyone can submit a nomination at servicetoamericamedals.org through Jan. 18, 2012.
While you're thinking of feds to nominate, don't forget that nominations for FCW's 2012 Federal 100 awards program are still open through tomorrow, Jan. 6. Nominate outstanding government or contractor employees by clicking here.