Federal 100 nominations close Dec. 23

For a quarter-century, FCW’s Federal 100 awards have honored the women and men who go far beyond their assigned duties to make federal IT better. And if you know individuals who you believe should be among the 2014 Federal 100, it’s time to visit FCW.com/fed100 and get moving on their nominations!

I could make an argument about the importance of celebrating the good amid all the criticism of government; I even have the perfect news hook in the form of this past weekend's deadline for HealthCare.gov fixes. Or I could point out, as I have before, that budget pressures and poisoned politics make the great work being done in federal IT all the more impressive.

But no one who reads FCW needs to be reminded of those realities. You know how hard it is to drive real change, and you know people who rise to the challenge every day. So make sure the rest of our community knows about them, too.

Not sure what it takes to make the Federal 100? Here are five points to remember:

1. Anyone in the federal IT community is eligible: career agency employees, political appointees, contractors, academics, association experts, even members of Congress (though legislators would likely fare better in the judging if they first fund the rest of fiscal 2014).


2. The award is for individual accomplishments in 2013.


3. Federal 100 winners go above and beyond, whatever their level or rank. A fancy job title is not required, and just doing one’s job well is not enough.


4. You are allowed to make multiple nominations. Do so early and often.


5. Impact matters. The judges need to know not only what a nominee did, but also what all that work accomplished.

The deadline for submissions is Dec. 23. Please go to FCW.com/fed100 for more information, and get started today on your nominations.