Federal worker wins kudos from Good Housekeeping

Good Housekeeping magazine celebrated the good works of 10 government employees at its fourth annual Awards for Women in Government ceremony. The Awards for Women In Government recognize 10 women working at all levels of government. Partners in the awards ceremony include the Council for Excellence in Government, the Partnership for Trust in Government and the Center for American Women and Politics. The only federal award recipient, Air Force Col. Ann Testa, will receive $2,500 for organizing more than 400 volunteers to renovate hundreds of homes at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu. "It is important to recognize the huge diversity of women who are making a difference in our society," said Ellen Levine, editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping. "In a year with so much political turmoil, it was refreshing to see the overwhelming number of courageous women who have passionately persevered in their public service careers." The big winner was Detective Lori Gaglione of Milwaukee, who developed a program that helps catch sex offenders. Under Gaglione's program, DNA taken after a woman is sexually assaulted is matched against the DNA of felons when they enter the criminal system. Gaglione will take home $25,000. Other winners include Louisiana State Sen. Paulette Irons; New Jersey State Sen. Diane Allen; Nevada State Assemblywoman Marcia de Braga; California State Sen. Martha Escutia; Myra Ching-Lee, an epidemiological specialist from Hawaii; Elaine Zimmerman, executive director of Connecticut's Commission on Children; Nancy Cobb, director of policy and planning for Indiana's Family and Social Services Program; and Margaret Patten, a colonel with the Baltimore City Police Department. The 10 Women In Government Award recipients are profiled in the July edition of Good Housekeeping.