Service to America finalists announced

Thirty-three federal employees are finalists for the 2012 Service to America Medals for their outstanding achievements in a range of fields including health, national security, disaster management and law enforcement.

“The Service to America Medal finalists epitomize the true spirit and value of public service,” said Max Stier, president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for Public Service, the organization behind the awards. “Their stories showcase the good that our public servants do each and every day behind-the-scenes on behalf of the American public.” The Partnership will hand out medals in nine categories at an annual gala in Washington on Sept. 13.

Winners receive cash awards ranging from $3,000 to $10,000.

The 2012 finalists were selected from among more than 400 nominations and represent several agencies and departments across government, including Agriculture, Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Justice, and Veterans Affairs. Twenty-eight finalists are from the Washington area; others work in Atlanta, Houston, Utah and Germany.

The honorees’ achievements include:

• Developing an innovative rehabilitation program to help wounded warrior amputees lead active lives and potentially return to duty
• Preparing staff at U.S. embassies and consulates to protect and evacuate Americans caught in uprisings, wars and natural disasters
• Overseeing the cost-effective acquisition and procurement of military equipment for warfighters
• Reducing homelessness among veterans by 12 percent in one year
• Leading a governmentwide campaign against bullying
• Recovering thousands of historical documents stolen from the National Archives
• Creating an electronic system to track medical treatment of disaster victims and to monitor emerging health threats
• Studying ways to prevent and treat the growing epidemic of type 2 diabetes in children

Click here for a full list of finalists.