Secretary of State lauds high-performing senior executives

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton honored award-winning senior federal executives on Thursday night, saying their collective efforts to improve government operations saved agencies $49 billion.

In an address at the 25th annual Senior Executives Association Professional Development League Distinguished Rank Awards Banquet, Clinton said she had "long admired the dedication of the people whose names rarely, if ever, make it into any headlines, but who are the backbone, the nervous system, the intelligence of our government year after year."

"President Obama and I not only recognize your outstanding achievements," Clinton said, "but all the ways that you inspire your colleagues as mentors and leaders."

The event, held in the diplomatic reception rooms at State Department headquarters, honored the winners of the 2009 Presidential Distinguished Rank Award for superior service. Only 1 percent of the Senior Executive Service's membership is eligible to receive the honor. One percent of executives in Senior-Level and Scientific or Professional positions can receive the rank of Distinguished Senior Professional.

"Every day, we know we see headlines about things involving the federal government," Clinton said. "But it's rare that we honor and recognize the individuals who actually put the policy into action, who make our government run."

"When you're in political life as a member of Congress, you can come up with all kinds of good ideas," she added. "You get the legislation passed, and then you just have to assume somebody else is actually going to implement it. And those somebody elses are all of you and your colleagues across our government."

The State Department has posted video of Clinton's speech.