Government Leadership at its Best: Meet the 2021 Teddy Award Winners
From introducing autonomous vehicles in the national parks to defending space, these leaders exemplify excellence.
Earlier this week, Government Executive unveiled the 2021 class of inductees into the Government Hall of Fame, Today, we announce the winners of the annual Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Awards. They are an all-star team of top federal performers in five categories: Visionaries, Directors, Pathfinders, Defenders and Partners.
The Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at a virtual gala broadcast on Oct. 21. A series of broadcasts highlighting the Teddy winners will follow starting Oct. 25. Sign up now to get updates on the proceedings.
Register for the Hall of Fame broadcast
In the meantime, meet the winners of the 2021 Teddy Awards:
VISIONARIES
Winners in this category have a proven ability to generate new ideas and new approaches to addressing critical issues. They’re genuinely creative in their approach, and eagerly take on big problems. At the same time, they’re adept at working within government constraints to achieve lasting success.
Steven Suder
National Alternative Transportation/Multi-modal Program Lead, National Park Service
Suzanne Shirley
Director of Community Engagement and Fellowship, Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem, Veterans Affairs Department
DIRECTORS
This category’s honorees have earned the support and enthusiasm of their teams and leveraged it to achieve demonstrable results. These leaders put a premium on employee engagement, goal-setting and program management. In short, they are the people who make things work for current and future employees and don’t shy away from a challenge.
Pauline Nunez
Project Coordinator, Denver Region, U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce Department
Carolyn Vines Sapla
Acting EEO Officer/Supervisory Attorney, Bureau of Prisons
PATHFINDERS
These winners bring the best information technology solutions available into the federal sphere. For some, that involves exploring the application of leading-edge technologies to government. For others, it means implementing currently commercially available products and services to solve specific problems. In both cases, the end result is driving down cost and increasing the efficiency of government operations.
Sylviane Haldiman
Associate Deputy Commissioner, Office of Systems, Social Security Administration
Kanitra Tyler
Supply Chain Risk Management Service Owner, Office of the Chief Information Officer, NASA
DEFENDERS
This category honors those individuals who have stood out in the effort to protect the United States. Winners have demonstrated sustained achievement in advancing the country’s security interests at home and abroad. These range from managing a critical military program to transforming the tools our soldiers and intelligence community leaders use to do their jobs.
Scott Weidie
Branch Chief, Security Cooperation and Multinational Exercises, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Defense Department
Derek Tournear
Director, Space Development Agency, Defense Department
PARTNERS
Government can’t solve the pressing national challenges of the 21st century on its own. Agencies require the expertise and partnership of non-government partners and private-sector companies that have tailored their products and services for the federal market. This category recognizes significant, lasting achievements by government’s cross-sector partners in helping federal officials meet mission goals.
Gilman Louie
Chief Executive Officer, LookingGlass Cyber Solutions
Gina Adams
Senior Vice President for Government Affairs, FedEx