Presidential Rank Award Winners for Distinguished Service
Some recipients may have changed jobs or retired since awards were announced in 2007.
David M. Altwegg
Deputy for Agency Operations
Missile Defense Agency
Pushed development of metrics for ballistic missile defense acquisition.
Frank J. Anderson Jr.
President, Defense Acquisition University; Director, Human Capital Initiatives, Office of the Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics
Defense
Reorganized DAU, modernized its business and learning infrastructure while updating curricula. Drafted the agency's first human capital strategic plan.
Michael F. Bauman
Senior Analyst to Commander, Training and Doctrine Command; Director, TRADOC Analysis Center
Army
Was chief architect of military operations analysis designed to transform the Army.
Lucille B. Beck
Chief Consultant, Rehabilitation Services Group, Office of Patient Care Services
Veterans Affairs
Theresa C. Bertucci
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Homeland Security
Led development of agency's first financial action plan to drive long-term management improvements that led to a fiscal turnaround.
Bruce J. Bowen
Assistant Director of Training
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Established special security, inspection, and environmental and safety programs for FLETC. As its deputy associate undersecretary, he helped set up the Transportation Security Administration and its training programs.
Charles W. Clark
Chief, Electron and Optical Physics Division, Physics Laboratory
National Institutes of Standards and Technology
Established world-class nanoscale physics facility and a quantum information test bed to advance data encryption.
Kenneth C. Clayton
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service
Agriculture
Provided direction for programs that facilitate the marketing of agricultural products through certification services, regulatory programs and dissemination of market data.
Joseph C. Conaty
Director, Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Education
Created division and managed grant programs to improve student achievement and teacher knowledge. Worked with state agencies to implement No Child Left Behind initiatives.
James F. Devine
Interior
Led collection of drill core data and seismic profiles on the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Pioneered use of Earth science to aid emergency management and public health.
Olga M. Dominguez
Assistant Administrator, Office of Infrastructure and Administration
NASA
Earned energy program distinction through international collaboration, including project with Portugal on pollution prevention.
Philip A. Gambino
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Social Security Administration
Led multiyear drive to improve and expand online services and developed a strategy to publicize those services, doubling traffic to the agency's Web site.
Alan Garscadden
Chief Scientist, Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate
Air Force
Advanced warfighter capabilities in aerospace power, propulsion, hypersonics, laser physics, combustion and plasma sciences.
Linda D. Garvin
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management
Health and Human Services
As co-leader of Shared Services Center, managed human resources, acquisition policy, facilities, and financial and strategic planning for agencies across government.
Susan Elizabeth George
Science Adviser, Chemical and Biological Countermeasures Division
Homeland Security
Developed strategy for chemical and biochemical countermeasures and response to biological attacks. Led development of civilian biothreat-agent monitoring program.
Stacey L. Gerard
Chief Safety Officer and Assistant Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Transportation
Promoted technologies and performance measures that reduced incidents associated with the nation's liquid and gas pipelines.
Peter A. Gnoffo
Senior Computational Aerothermodynamicist, Research and Technology Directorate
NASA
Studied the aerothermodynamics of space vehicles, including the Shuttle Orbiter Return to Flight program.
Richard L. Greene
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Population, Refugee and Migration Bureau
State Improved worldwide refugee assistance and admissions programs, focusing on people displaced by conflict. A key figure in government's global humanitarian leadership campaign.
Howard K. Gruenspecht
Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration
Energy
As chief operating officer, provided analysis on energy and environmental issues to senior officials, Congress and the public.
Charles E. Harris
Director, Research and Technology Directorate
NASA
Directed research of more than 40 NASA laboratories. Led investigations into space shuttle Columbia explosion.
Richard S. Haynes
Executive Director, Military Sealift Command
Navy
Oversaw the legal aspects of prototype development and electronic warfare. Helped the command absorb combat logistics ships.
Paul D. Irving
Assistant Director, Office of Administration
Secret Service
Directed financial, property and procurement systems, and policy coordination.
James J. Jukes
Chief, Legislative Reference Division
Office of Management and Budget
Met with Congress as executive branch's representative to clarify and reconcile the administration's public position on legislation.
Ingrid A.C. Kolb
Director, Office of Management Energy Led project and acquisition management in mission-critical areas, including oversight of $77 billion in real property.
Myron. K. Kunka
Associate Director, Business Enterprise
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Transformed agency's stovepiped business model by integrating acquisition, human resources, facilities, technology and logistics.
Mary E. Lacey
Executive Officer, National Security Personnel System
Defense
Led implementation of civilian human resources management system.
Jan P. Lane
Director, National Pollution Funds Center
Coast Guard
Oversaw $1 billion fund to respond to oil spills and compensate injured parties. Directed funding to clean up pollution after national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
Patrick P. Leahy
Acting Director
U.S. Geological Survey
Mobilized support after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, coordinated planning for avian flu threat and promoted customer-oriented operations.
Daniel R. Lehman
Director, Office of Project Assessment
Energy
Directed launch of billion-dollar scientific research facilities on time and on budget.
John W. Lightbody Jr.
Senior Facilities Officer, Physics Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
National Science Foundation
Oversaw construction of international physics research facilities and managed university researchers in 10 subfields of physics.
Patrick M. McLaughlin
Financial Manager, Chief Resource Officer for Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
Navy
Managed institutional changes and preparations for military campaigns. Developed objectives for rebuilding fleet, fighting war on terror and integrating operations with other services.
Steven T. Miller
Commissioner, Tax Exempt/Government Entities
Internal Revenue Service
Oversaw agency that regulates more than 3 million tax-exempt entities-including charities, churches and hospitals.
Elaine S. Oran
Senior Scientist for Reactive Flow Physics, Naval Research Laboratory
Navy
Led researchers in study to mitigate dangers and to improve the efficiency of energy sources, propulsion and directed explosives.
William H. Reed
Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency
Defense
Directed the auditing of nearly 10,000 companies worldwide, saving more than $15 billion in contracting costs. Led audit assistance related to Iraq reconstruction, the 2001 World Trade Center attack and Hurricane Katrina.
Matt Reres
Deputy General Counsel of Ethics and Fiscal Policy
Army
Garry B. Richey
Executive Director, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center
Air Force
Transformed the Air Force supply process and implemented initiative to improve warfighter support by incorporating best practices of industry and academia.
Michael G. Ryschkewitsch
Deputy Director, Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA
Directed scientific, programmatic and financial management of space missions, including the Hubble Space Telescope and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Mary F. Santonastasso
Director, Division of Institution and Award Support, Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management
National Science Foundation
Oversaw policy development, management and systems for $19 billion in grants and cooperative agreements with academic and research institutions.
Alan R. Shaffer
Director of Plans and Programs, Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering
Defense
Patricia R. Sheikh
Director, Foreign Agriculture Service
Agriculture
Helped increase U.S. agricultural exports and address barriers to trade. Brought diplomatic skills to foreign policy efforts, including reconstruction and assistance in Iraq and Afghanistan.
James F. Sloan
Assistant Commandant, Intelligence and Criminal Investigations
Coast Guard
Directed operations and oversaw intelligence in support national security missions.
Allan R. Somoroff
Deputy Commander, Naval Air Systems Command
Navy
Responsible for developing, purchasing, testing and servicing aircraft, weapons and equipment. Led command's largest-ever restructuring.
Ray E. Spears
Deputy Chief of Staff
Environmental Protection Agency
Led smooth transition between administrations, diversity, work life and green initiatives.
Deborah J. Spero
Deputy Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection Homeland Security
Cynthia Z. Springer
Executive Director, Administrative Resource Center, Bureau of Public Debt Treasury
Consolidated IT functions. Established program to allow third-party verification of employee and contractor identification.
Steve Thompson
Senior Executive Manager, California and Nevada Operations Office, Fish and Wildlife Service Interior
Oversaw endangered species programs, and managed wildlife refuges and hatcheries.
Alfred G. Volkman
Director, International Cooperation, Office of the Undersecretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Defense
Orchestrated the development and production of the Joint Strike Fighter with seven allies, which garnered billions of dollars in investments.
Kerry N. Weems
Deputy Chief of Staff
Health and Human Services
Led launch of financial management system and consolidation of information technology services. Helped shape policies for bioterrorism and pandemic threats.
Gary L. Winkler
Chief Knowledge Officer
Army
Worked to transform the Army into a network-centric and knowledge-based enterprise, directing information policy, acquisition, programs and personnel. Collaborated with federal agencies, industry and academia on best practices.
Dana D. York
Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service Agriculture
Created human capital strategy to address retirement wave, and bolster training and leadership development. Automated field office processes and expanded Web site to provide information to conservation specialists.
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