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Performance & Compensation
2005 Presidential Rank Awards
Distinguished Senior Professionals
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Robert E. Davis
Dr. Davis is recognized for his exceptional vision and outstanding leadership of scientific research aimed at controlling plant diseases caused by subcellular pathogens (viruses and viroids) and cellular pathogens (fungi and bacteria, phytoplasmas and spiroplasmas). He has achieved results that have had major impacts on the direction of research in agriculture and microbiology, and enhanced worldwide capabilities to control and prevent the spread of damaging crop diseases. Under his leadership, his team’s research has resulted in the discovery of new pathogens, in new knowledge of how plants resist disease, in new disease resistant plants, and in molecular tools that are used worldwide for disease diagnosis, pathogen detection and identification, and elimination of pathogens from plants. With exceptional visionary leadership he initiated and has led a forward-looking program in microbial genomics, resulting in new knowledge of spiroplasma and phytoplasma evolution, and he conceived and initiated a new research program that has resulted in the development of genetically modified plant viruses for the production of safe and effective vaccines to protect animal and human health.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
David J. Wineland
For nearly 30 years, Dr. David J. Wineland has pioneered and perfected the science of using lasers to cool ions (electrically charged atoms) to near absolute zero and to manipulate them with exquisite finesse for a wide variety of research supporting key applications in science, technology, and commerce. He has been a world leader for more than two decades in helping develop the science behind extremely accurate time and frequency standards, which underpin such technologies as the Global Positioning System (GPS) for precision navigation, wireless communications including cell phones, and precise synchronization of electric power grids distributed over thousands of miles. His work also has had enormous impacts on fundamental science, including many of the first direct experimental demonstrations of the strange quantum mechanical behaviors of individual particles, highly precise measurements of the effects of relativity, and precision measurement of the stability of fundamental physical quantities over periods comparable to the age of the universe, which has enormous implications about the formation and ultimate fate of the universe.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Joanne Simpson
(Retired) – Sr. Professional
NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center
Ms. Simpson’s career spans six decades, from field research abroad in the Tropical Pacific to satellite data at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Early in her career, she developed the first cloud model, discovered what makes hurricanes run, and revealed what drives the atmospheric currents in the tropics. During her 40’s and 50’s, she conducted unique weather modification experiments that continue to have an impact on meteorology today. For the past 24 years before retiring to Emeritus status with NASA, she lead efforts in cloud modeling and space-based meteorological experiments that continue to have an impact on meteorology today. She is the first female meteorologist with a Ph.D., she’s been granted membership to the National Academy of Engineering, awarded the Carl-Gustaf Rossby Award (the highest honor bestowed by the American Meteorological Society), presented with a Guggenheim Fellowship, and served as President of the American Meteorological Society.
PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION
William G. Beyer
Throughout his prestigious career at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, William Beyer demonstrated his commitment to public service in many ways. A natural leader and teacher, Mr. Beyer integrated legal and operational staff into a team that dramatically reduced the time required to process final benefit determinations. He also tirelessly sought to change ERISA and bankruptcy laws to better enable PBGC to protect America's pensions. His outstanding contributions in this regard led to many improvements to PBGC's pension insurance program and included the Single Employer Pension Plan Amendments Act of 1986, the Pension Protection Act of 1987, the Retirement Protection Act of 1994 and the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994. Equally important were Mr. Beyer’s many victories in litigation, including a landmark ruling that validated the PBGC’s claim of $2.2 billion rather than the opposition's assertion that the claim should not exceed $500 million.
Joseph H. Grant
Using his quiet leadership style to its full effect, Joseph Grant has contributed significantly to PBGC’s reputation as a customer-focused, results-oriented corporation. His efforts have reduced the time it takes the Corporation to calculate and pay pension benefits, at a time when the Corporation is processing payments for record numbers of pension plan participants. He has led initiatives to automate PBGC systems, including a contact center that centrally handles all in-bound participant inquiries, a digital imaging system to eliminate the use of paper records for benefit processing, an automatic letter generation system to print and track all participant correspondence; and an electronic database for all participant payment records to allow for faster, more accurate and more auditable benefit payments. By building relationships and sharing information with other Federal agencies, Mr. Grant has reduced the paperwork participants have to complete to claim their benefits and has enabled thousands of participants to reduce their health care costs through implementation of the Health Coverage Tax Credit.
Distinguished Executives
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
W. Ron DeHaven
Dr. W. Ron DeHaven is recognized for his outstanding leadership to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as Deputy Administrator for Veterinary Services. Dr. DeHaven fast-tracked national plans for animal identification for disease control purposes, a massive collaborative effort with affected industry that will assist prompt eradication of livestock and poultry diseases. With direct oversight from Dr. DeHaven, exotic Newcastle disease (END) was eradicated from the Southwest in less than a year with $175 million in emergency funding. To ensure continued eradication of the disease, Dr. DeHaven implemented a national surveillance plan for END. Additionally, Dr. DeHaven expanded E-government in Veterinary Services with improvements in disease tracking databases and an electronic listing of more than 5,000 individuals available to assist in emergency responses. Under Dr. DeHaven’s leadership, anthrax testing was expanded and relocated and the Veterinary Services’ labs provided assistance to the Department of Health and Human Services during the Washington, D.C. anthrax crisis.
Kevin Shea
Chief Operating Officer
United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Mr. Shea is recognized for his leadership and management of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Policy and Program Development Division. He provided the analytical and budgetary underpinnings for all of the Agency programs--securing over $1 billion in funding and analyzing and publishing over 200 rules--in FY 2003 alone. His vision, creativity, and strategic thinking shaped policies touching every sector of American agriculture, ensuring the health and worldwide marketability of U.S. agricultural products. His leadership helped employees make the transition from a strict disease prevention focus to a holistic approach to international trade. Thanks to his efforts, the Agency is now positioned to better help American farmers increase farm income through acquisition of lucrative new export markets.
Patrick C. McCaskey
Dr. Patrick C. McCaskey is recognized for his exemplary performance and inspired leadership, and for his stellar accomplishments as a national leader in the effort to enhance laboratory services in support of public health and food security. Dr. McCaskey’s pioneering leadership has enabled the Food Safety and Inspection Service to significantly enhance the capacity, capabilities, and credibility of its laboratories. As a result of Dr. McCaskey’s efforts, the American food supply has greater protection from food-borne agents and from intentional acts of terror.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Thomas L. Mesenbourg, Jr.
Assistant Director for Economic Programs
U.S. Census Bureau
Mr. Mesenbourg has provided exceptional leadership over the Bureau of the Census economic statistics programs. These programs include the Economic Census, the cornerstone of the Nation’s economic statistics, and almost one hundred current surveys including eleven principal economic indicators. As Assistant Director, Mr. Mesenbourg has been an innovator, establishing programs that measure e-commerce sales, document business expenditures on information technology, and profile the fast growing services sector of our economy. In developing these new programs, he was proactive seeking advice from government officials, statistical agencies, business organizations, the economics profession, and businesses that would be supplying the information. Mr. Mesenbourg has directed the most significant expansion of economic statistics in twenty years and policy makers and business decision makers will benefit from his achievements.
Mary C. Pleffner
Mary Pleffner received the Distinguished Rank Award for phenomenal service as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of the Economic Development Administration (EDA), becoming the single most influential career executive within the entire organization. Following introduction of the President’s Management Agenda by President George W. Bush, Ms. Pleffner immediately position herself to become the career senior executive responsible for its implementation. She led an organization-wide reorganization, which is expected to save taxpayers approximately $875,000 in salaries and expenses; implemented initiatives to create a leading-edge electronic communications environment; and revamped EDA’s budget request process.
Barbara A. Retzlaff
Director of Budget
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration
Barbara Retzlaff serves as the Departmental Budget Officer for the Department of Commerce. In addition to managing all aspects of Commerce’s $5.5 billion budget, she is responsible for implementing the budget and performance integration initiative under the President’s Management Agenda. Ms. Retzlaff displays exceptional skill and ability in working with interested stakeholders to understand their perspectives and accomplish shared objectives. She has been exceedingly effective in ensuring that the Department and its budgetary needs are, without fail, appropriately represented. Equally important, however, she has been instrumental in restructuring budget activities across the Department to incorporate long-range strategic planning and performance measurement. Through her untiring efforts, strategic planning, program performance, and budgetary decision making are now effectively linked throughout Commerce and its 13 bureaus. As a result, the Department is better equipped to ensure that its budgetary resources are spent as intended and that meaningful results are achieved.
James L. Taylor
Director for Financial Management and Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration
As the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Commerce, James L. Taylor is integrally involved in implementing the financial management initiative under the President’s Management Agenda. He has brought about dramatic improvements in the Department’s financial management practices and processes through a rare blend of professional skill and personal commitment. He works collaboratively with bureau managers to develop and implement sound financial management policies and procedures, and oversees the preparation of the Department’s annual consolidated financial statements. As a result of his efforts, the Department has received five unqualified audit opinions in an as many years and eliminated all material weaknesses. After an unwavering endeavor on Mr. Taylor’s part, adequate internal controls are now assured, accounting and financial systems that are compliant with federal laws and regulations are in place, accurate and timely financial information to support sound business decisions is available, and, overall, the financial integrity of the Department has been guaranteed.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Howard G. Becker
Mr. Howard Becker has served the Department of Defense (DoD) and the nation with distinction, successfully spearheading an impressive list of accomplishments during his career that has culminated in a dramatic transformation of the Department in response to September 11, 2001. As the Deputy Director, Administration and Management, and in his dual-hatted position as Director, Washington Headquarters Services, Mr. Becker has been instrumental in posturing the Department to secure the homeland and meet the challenges presented by the Global War on Terrorism. He orchestrated efforts to transfer functions and resources to stand up the new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, and to optimize the organization of DoD intelligence activities. Under his leadership, significant advances were made in the communications and decision support capabilities provided to the Secretary of Defense and in DoD’s ability to meet humanitarian and reconstruction challenges in Iraq. Mr. Becker’s vision, personal initiative, analytical abilities, and attentive stewardship of resources contribute to his reputation as a trusted and respected senior leader in the Department.
Linda J. Furiga
Dr. Linda Furiga is recognized as a visionary and dynamic leader who continually strives for financial excellence in the service of mission support within the Department of Defense. She has enabled the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to acquire and effectively use the resources necessary to sustain all contingency and peacetime operations while simultaneously creating and executing a sound financial strategy to maintain investment in key logistics business modernization projects. She has championed cost reduction techniques that are significantly reducing the costs DLA customers incur for support and exhibited exemplary leadership in DoD financial management reform. Dr. Furiga’s stellar performance has greatly enhanced DLA’s ability to support the warfighter at reduced cost to the taxpayer and has earned her this distinguished recognition.
Sara V. Groeber
As the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Civilian Personnel Policy, Sara V. (Ginger) Groeber, has spent almost 25 years in selfless service to the Department of Defense. Ms. Groeber is responsible for the enactment of what the President of the United States called “landmark reforms, the most ambitious of their kind in a quarter-century” that will transform the personnel system for Department civilians into a 21st century, world class system. Under Ms. Groeber’s leadership, marketing the Department as the “employer of choice” in the Federal Government moved to the forefront with the establishment of a Defense Applicant Assistance Office to educate job seekers. Ms. Groeber guided the Defense Leadership and Management Program as the Department’s premier professional development program for senior civilian employees. She is a consummate and talented professional who has given distinguished service to the Department of Defense.
Glenn F. Lamartin
Director of Defense Systems
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
Dr. Lamartin has spearheaded the Department’s fundamental shift to a decision-making process focused on building capability and not just systems. Dr. Lamartin and his directorates are responsible for technical and programmatic evaluation, and functional oversight, of DoD strategic and tactical programs; institutionalizing Capability Area Reviews, roadmaps, and in-context reviews as decision-making tools for the Department’s senior leadership; and for ensuring good systems engineering discipline is incorporated in all DoD acquisition programs. Dr. Lamartin is the Department’s preeminent authority on over 70 separate major defense acquisition programs. He has re-invigorated systems engineering throughout the Department by promulgating new policy and providing clear guidance on its implementation. He is actively involved in organizational and personnel development, having served on the Office of the Secretary of Defense Executive Resources Board Merit Staffing Committee. He has created formal development positions in each office he has supervised. Each year, he also sponsors civilians from the Services’ executive development programs, Presidential Management Interns, and/or junior military officers to work in his office.
Margaret E. Myers
Dr. Margaret E. Myers serves the Department of Defense (DoD) and the nation with distinction, and has achieved a notable list of accomplishments during her career. As the Principal Director for the Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO), Dr. Myers demonstrated extraordinary leadership in establishing the Department’s CIO as a valued change agent in the DoD transformation. Her accomplishments have directly enabled the improvement of the warfighting readiness of our forces, while saving hundreds of millions of dollars. As just one example, the Enterprise Software Initiative, which she champions, has accrued more than $2B in cost avoidance since its inception in 1998 and is now the model for the Federal SmartBuy initiative. Dr. Myers leads in a proactive, customer-focused manner consistent with the DoD CIO vision and values, effectively communicating CIO issues across the Department to obtain buy-in and ensure effective implementation of key initiatives.
Department of the Air Force
Susan A. O’Neal
Ms. Susan A. O’Neal serves the Department of Defense (DoD) and the nation with distinction, and has achieved a notable list of accomplishments during her career. Following the attacks of 9/11, Ms. O’Neal refocused the actions and activities of her staff and obtained critical resources to fight the war on terrorism and fostered the Air Force Installations and Logistics vision of a network centric enterprise capable of meeting the National Security needs of the nation in the 21st Century. As the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Susan A. O’Neal is a significant contributor to the transformation of Air Force and DoD logistics. She is a respected senior leader and provides strategic resource guidance, performs critical program assessments, and conducts execution reviews of annual budgets and assets valued at nearly $100 billion. Ms. O’Neal’s executive abilities are pivotal in the promulgation and implementation of crucial National Security plans and policies.
John M. Gilligan
Mr. John Gilligan serves the Department of Defense (DoD) and the nation with distinction, and has achieved a notable list of accomplishments during his career. As the Air Force Chief Information Officer, and previously Chief Information Officer for the Department of Energy, Mr. Gilligan guided these organizations to achieve improved effectiveness by leveraging information technology. He skillfully coordinated the Year 2000 rollover for the Department of Energy and the nation’s energy sector. Mr. Gilligan spearheaded efforts in the Air Force to improve internal information technology efficiency and improve support to deployed forces by fielding the Air Force Portal and web-based tools. He has worked across the Federal Government to leverage common architectures and systems solutions. Mr. Gilligan has consistently been at the forefront of applying innovative concepts to the acquisition and management of the largest and most complex information systems for the Federal Government.
Department of the Navy
Peter M. Murphy
Since his appointment as the Counsel for the Commandant twenty years ago, Mr. Murphy has served six successive Commandants, and elevated the position of Counsel to a level unparalleled within Government service. He has provided sage advice and assistance to the Commandant, the Assistant Commandant and five Deputy Commandants in the areas of acquisition business law, environmental and land use law, civilian personnel law, ethics, and standards of conduct. Mr. Murphy's demonstrated extraordinary leadership provided him the opportunity to shape the legal community and Marine Corps in which he served, motivating peers and subordinates toward the end goal of a well-trained workforce. Mr. Murphy's superb advice, in-depth knowledge of Government operations, acute vision and exceptional degree of personal integrity continually guided countless Marine Corps' initiatives through the technical aspects of statutory and regulatory law, and the practical considerations of political sensitivities. Political appointees, General Officers and Senior Executive Service members routinely looked to Mr. Murphy as the "go to" leader, whose counsel on numerous critical issues was always well grounded by years of seasoned experience.
Pasquale M. Tamburrino, Jr.
Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Resources, Requirements and Assessments)
Mr. Tamburrino serves as the Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Requirements, and Assessments. In this capacity, he is the Chief of Naval Operations’ senior civilian advisor on all issues pertaining to the formulation of the Department of the Navy’s long-term budget and program formulation strategies. His portfolio encompasses program planning and budgeting for every major shipbuilding, aircraft, and weapons program and budget oversight in excess of $115B per year. Mr. Tamburrino has served as a change agent throughout his entire federal career. He has been at the forefront of the Navy’s drive to improve efficiencies, increase service levels, and reduce low value added efforts. He has spearheaded initiatives across the full spectrum of Navy business operations that have generated in excess of $20B of cost avoidance and savings. Mr. Tamburrino has also been a major leader in the Navy’s Submarine Force. He was at the forefront of the design and construction of our Nations’ latest class of nuclear powered submarines, e.g., the Virginia Class and SEAWOLF Class. These vessels are the first warships to be completely designed in digital environment and built via a fully integrated Navy and Industry effort. The Virginia Class submarine was delivered on time and far exceeded all expectations n terms of capability. Finally, Mr. Tamburrino translated White House direction to convert the Nation’s four oldest TRIDENT Ballistic Submarines to Guided Missile Submarines as part of the military’s 21st Century transformation. In less than one years’ time, Mr. Tamburrino was able to create a program from little more than an idea to a full-scale engineering project valued at $4B. The speed at which the project was fully engineered, properly priced, and placed into action is unprecedented for programs of comparable size. The program is currently performing on time and within budget.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
John F. McGrath
Mr. McGrath is the Senior Director in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, where he manages a variety of outreach activities aimed at parents, educators, community and business leaders, and the general public. He also oversees the Department of Education’s recognition programs for schools and students, and he leads the Department’s efforts to promote partnerships between local schools, parents, businesses, and faith communities. He has been honored for his sustained and successful efforts to transform the Department of Education into a more citizen-centered agency, and specifically for creating or re-tooling a number of information programs to better serve families. Among these are: Education News Parents Can Use, a monthly, live television program carried on cable and broadcast channels in some 400 communities as well as on national networks such as The Learning Channel and The Dish Network; The Achiever, a semi-monthly newsletter with some 240,000 readers; the Information Resource Center, home of 1-800-USA-LEARN, which last year answered more than 200,000 telephone, email and written inquiries about education; and the Helping Your Child series of publications, with more than 11 million copies requested since the series’ debut in 2002.
Mark R. Carney
Mark Carney has displayed a unique talent for bringing together diverse organizations together to promote better government. Over the last five year’s he has done a great deal to further the agenda of the U.S. Chief Financial Officers Council, while rebuilding the Department of Education’s management credibility with the Congress and Central Agencies. His leadership has resulted in sustained, trustworthy stewardship of taxpayer dollars at Education and fostered improved financial management throughout the federal government.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Robert K. Dixon
Dr. Robert K. Dixon is recognized for his outstanding leadership and exemplary public service in domestic and international energy and environment policy development and implementation. Noteworthy are his contributions in the advancement of international science and technology cooperation, climate change negotiations and technology transfer, development of a U.S. and global hydrogen economy, and public-private partnership development and implementation. Among his many achievements, Dr. Dixon successfully led an interagency effort to develop, establish and implement the U.S. championed International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) public-private partnership with energy and economic Ministries from 15 countries and the European Union (EU). The IPHE was designed to advance the President’s goal of U.S. leadership in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. He is also recognized for his superior leadership and vision while serving as the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary with responsibility for managing Office’s $400 million energy technology research and development budget. Dr. Dixon’s expertise and contributions are recognized globally by Heads of State, cabinet level officials, ambassadors, and leaders of international organizations (e.g., United Nations, International Energy Organization).
Paul Michael Golan
Chief Operating Officer
Office of Environmental Management
(Currently, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, EM)
Mr. Paul M. Golan is recognized for his exceptional leadership, vision and innovation in changing the Department of Energy’s approach to cleanup from risk management to risk elimination. Serving at the forefront of performance-based contracting in the Department of Energy since the mid-1990s, he pioneered pay-for-performance contracts at the Rocky Flats site which resulted in accelerated cleanup from the year 2035 at a projected cost of $30 billion to a 2006 completion date at a cost of less than $6 billion. These contracts shifted significant performance risk and accountability to the private sector by stipulating payment only when specified objectives were met and included performance measures for contractors and federal managers. Since becoming the Chief Operating Office of the cleanup program, Mr. Golan has re-negotiated or re-competed each major cleanup contract resulting in a decrease of the cleanup program by 38 years and a cost-savings of over $50 billion. His achievements also include his critical role as the Source Selecting Official for the Idaho Closure Project which will accelerate closure of the Idaho National Laboratory by more than 20 years.
James S. Hirahara
(Retired) Director, National Nuclear Security Administration Service Center
National Nuclear Security Administration
Mr. James S. Hirahara is recognized for his exceptional leadership, vision and innovation in developing and administering the Department’s first ever performance-based business concepts which transformed the way that the agency manages some of its most challenging contracts. During the 1990s, Mr. Harahara successfully negotiated and administered several five-year extensions to major research and development contracts with the University of California to manage and operate national laboratories at Livermore and Berkeley, California using a new approach which moved the Department away from oversight based compliance reviews and audits to oversight focused on performance results. This effort yielded a cost-savings of $25 billion and was lauded by a National Performance Review Team Benchmarking Study Report under the auspices of the Vice President at that time as a “best-in-class leader in performance measurement”. Mr. Hirahara is also credited with playing a pivotal role in the Department’s establishment of the currently instituted streamlined performance-based business oversight concept. First implemented at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to fix “broken” management operations, including procurement, property and human resources, these areas today are considered best in class among departmental components. This extraordinary achievement merited Mr. Hirahara’s receipt of the Vice President’s Hammer Award.
Michael A. Kilpatrick
Deputy Director
Office of Independent Oversight and Performance Assurance
Mr. Michael A. Kilpatrick is recognized for his exceptional leadership and contributions instrumental to the Department of Energy’s safeguards and security, cyber security, emergency management, and environment, safety and health programs. Among his many achievements, he provided invaluable direction and oversight in the evaluation of the agency’s counterintelligence polygraph screening programs, a major Departmental initiative which received Congressional and nation-wide review. Through his commitment and innovation, this effort successfully resulted in a mandatory screening population reduction from over 20,000 employees and contractors to approximately 4500, and a cost-savings of millions of dollars. In his current role as Deputy Director for Independent Oversight and Performance Assurance, Mr. Kilpatrick is also credited with successfully leading the Department’s headquarters and field installation oversight activities, including the National Nuclear Security Administration, to assess the adequacy and adherence of major components to existing safeguards, security, environment and health policy and requirements, and providing comprehensive assessment results with recommended courses of action to alleviate potentially hazardous conditions for employees and the public. Mr. Kilpatrick is a recognized expert in his field and is credited with developing the Department’s first ever “integrated safety management” concept, designed to systematically integrate safety into management and work practices at all organizational levels. This innovation received national acclaim and serves as the framework for the Department’s current Safety Management System Policy.
John R. Sullivan
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Business Administration
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Mr. John R. Sullivan is recognized for his exceptional leadership and vision in the development of innovative, new business policies, systems and strategies that have substantially enhanced program planning and execution, along with corporate decision-making throughout the Department of Energy. Currently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Business Administration in the Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), he directs the development, implementation and management of all business strategies, plans and corporate management systems for the Office’s programs annually funded at approximately $1.3 billion. Among Mr. Sullivan’s many achievements, he successfully led the development of a Management Action Plan that included analytically based solutions to a number of complex management and operational problems which had plagued the Office for years. The Plan included 18 areas of improvement, primarily addressing program/project management, management of the Office’s approximately 520 Federal staff and its resources, and activities involving the Department’s national laboratories. The resultant implementation yielded a cost-savings of millions of dollars and received national acclaim for its “rigor and comprehensiveness”. Mr. Sullivan is also recognized for pioneering the concept of an EERE Project Management Center which, for the first time, will provide a full-service project management capability. The Center includes adoption of best practice business and project management techniques, resulting in more efficient operations and yielding staffing and funding economies.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Thomas A. Gustafson
During his distinguished career with the Department of Health and Human Services, Thomas Gustafson has been resolute in ensuring that Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries have access to quality health care and the claims-payment operations and payment systems promote prudent purchasing and prevent unnecessary expenditure of taxpayers’ funds. As the Deputy Director, Center for Medicare Management, within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Mr. Gustafson directs a staff of 400 individuals who have responsibility for paying over a million providers $225 billion in services for 35 million Medicare beneficiaries. Under his exemplary executive leadership, CMS designed and implemented an operationally-ready payment system capable of sorting 100 million outpatient department claims a year into clinically-relevant grouping and making payments calibrated to reflect the resources used by efficient providers. This transformation gives hospitals much stronger incentives to control costs, yielding long-run savings for taxpayers and it results in $1 billion in annual savings to beneficiaries. In the research and demonstration arena, Mr. Gustafson was the agency’s lead in designing and implementing the New York Graduate Medical Education Demonstration. This project explores the ability of teaching hospitals to sustain their service missions while using smaller number of Medicare-subsidized interns and residents. Mr. Gustafson completed difficult negotiations with representatives of the New York hospitals and obtained the necessary approvals with unprecedented speed to achieve timely launch of the project. The number of participating hospitals exceeded expectations, and the project led to Medicare saving $600 million. Mr. Gustafson ensured that the demonstration was designed so it could be replicated elsewhere and later the design was adopted by Congress for hospitals in other states.
Richard J. Jackson
Richard J. Jackson, M.D., M.P.H.: During his nine years as Director of CDC's National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Dr. Jackson provided management oversight in long-term planning for many national, international, and local environmental health issues especially in the area of emergencies, child health, and disease related to natural and human-made chemicals. His work on emergency preparedness resulted in the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile successfully deploying for the first time in response to the September 11 terrorist events in New York City and Washington, D.C. Under his leadership, NCEH established a bioterrorism emergency preparedness grant program in 9 states, New York City and Washington, D.C., to provide money and technical assistance for emergency preparedness activities, including assessment, plan development and mock exercises. Dr. Jackson published and disseminated the first two National Reports(s) on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals which documented, as have no other reports in the past, the importance of refraining from smoking in the presence of children. In addition, complementary programs have been set up in five states. Over the last several years he has become convinced that the design of the "built environment"--buildings and cities, roads and neighborhoods-- is a core environmental health issue. He has written and taught extensively on these issues. He currently serves in the office of the CDC Director on assignment to the State of California as the State Health Officer and Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Health Services.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Joseph J. Angelo
Associate Program Director for International Activities, Program Oversight, and Research and Development (Director, Standards Directorate), Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection, U.S. Coast Guard.
Mr. Angelo has made sustained outstanding contributions to the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and the nation by superb leadership of domestic and international initiatives that greatly improved maritime security, ballast water management, and maritime risk assessment. His leadership inspired the International Maritime Organization to adopt a new, global security code for shipping, ports, and port facilities that will significantly deter maritime terrorists risks for the United States and other nations worldwide. This was accomplished in a single year's time--record-breaking by international practices--to address the new security demands of the post 9-11 environment. When the United States adopted domestic legislation (the Maritime Transportation and Security Act of 2002), to implement the new international standard, he helped lead the Coast Guard effort to issue six new domestic federal rules to improve the security of vessels, port facilities, ports, and outer continental shelf platforms. His outstanding leadership in the international arena is repeatedly sought out by maritime leaders of the world and has brought tremendous respect and esteem to the United States and the Coast Guard.
J. Richard Berman
Assistant Inspector General for Audits
Mr. Berman is widely recognized for his exceptional leadership in the federal audit community and for his contributions to improvements in federal programs and financial management in government. During his 40-year federal career, he has served as Chief of Audit at the Interstate Commerce Commission, Director of Audit and Cost Analysis overseeing construction of the Alaska gas pipeline, and 17 years as an Assistant Inspector General for Audits at the United States Information Agency, the Department of State, and, since its creation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At DHS, he organized and manages a staff of over 200 auditors, overseeing one of the largest and most complex reorganizations in the Federal Government. He and his staff have identified major management challenges and issues facing the Department and conducted penetrating audits of programs that are essential to the Department’s operations and the President’s management agenda. His audits have covered such topics as aviation security, including airport screener performance, container and seaport security, Coast Guard mission performance, first responder and disaster assistance grant programs, controls over billion dollar procurements, and the Department’s financial controls and systems. Largely as a result of his work, the Office of Inspector General is viewed as an active and valuable participant in the future of the Department.
Douglas M. Browning
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was created on March 1, 2003, as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As Deputy Commissioner, CBP, Mr. Douglas M. Browning successfully led efforts to define the agency’s new priority mission and merge 42,000 personnel and authorities of the former Customs Service; Immigration and Naturalization Service; Border Patrol; and the Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Service into CBP.
Mr. Browning led efforts to expand membership in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a joint CBP/business initiative to increase cargo security while improving the flow of legitimate trade and lawful travelers. C-TPAT is the largest government/private partnership to arise from 9/11.
Mr. Browning also led the development of the Container Security Initiative (CSI) to prevent or deter weapons of mass destruction from entering the United States in shipping containers and to ensure the security of global maritime shipping. CSI is now operational in 35 foreign ports in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.
Kay Frances Dolan
Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer
Kay Frances Dolan’s sustained, outstanding accomplishments over the past few years have positioned her as a governmentwide thought-leader in major human capital innovation. First, as head of human resources at the Federal Aviation Administration during their monumental reform of agency personnel systems, then to her work championing enterprise leadership approaches and technology at Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service, and finally to her current challenges at the helm of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) human resources modernization. Most recently, Ms. Dolan served as co-lead, with OPM, of a large design team composed of DHS managers and employees, human resource (HR) experts from DHS and OPM, and representatives from the agency’s three largest unions. This redesign of core HR processes, systems and services is one of the most visible projects undertaken in the formation of Homeland Security and is anticipated to be a cornerstone for future government-wide Civil Service reform.
Gregory L. Giddens
Deputy Program Executive Officer, Deepwater Program Executive Office, U.S. Coast Guard
Mr. Giddens made superb and noteworthy contributions in the leadership and management of the Integrated Deepwater Systems Procurement, the largest and most innovative acquisition in the Coast Guard's history. The procurement will extend over 20 years and recapitalize all core Coast Guard aviation, vessel, and command and control assets and capabilities operating 50 miles or more offshore. The deepwater contract is a critical step in modernizing the Coast Guard to meet current and future mission needs. Mr. Giddens was instrumental in designing the contract's unique performance-based system of systems methodology. In consonance with the President and Department of Homeland Security's guidance, Mr. Giddens directed flexibility and innovation at every turn; he is a steward of excellence and relentless advocate of productivity. A highly sought-after expert, he is regarded as a leading edge professional in the area of acquisition reform.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
W. Hord Tipton,III
In 2002, Mr. Tipton was selected by the Secretary of the Interior as the Chief Information Officer for the Department of the Interior. In less than two years, he has completely revitalized the Information Technology program in Interior through his distinguished leadership. He has served in numerous key positions within the Department of the Interior. He started his career with Department of the Interior in 1979 as Deputy Director for Office of Surface Mining’s Southeast Regional Office. He led the startup of the then newly enacted Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. He provided initial guidance and policy for the Office necessary to implement the Act. Many of Mr. Tipton’s policies remain in place today.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
John C. Keeney
John C. Keeney, Principal Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division has been a leader and mainstay of the Department of Justice for more than fifty years. Mr. Keeney is a charter member of the Senior Executive Service and is recognized for his legal expertise, resourcefulness and decisive measures on organized crime and racketeering, public corruption, and the Federal government’s use of electronic surveillance and witness security protection programs, among other matters. He provides legal and policy guidance at the highest levels and offers thoughtful, critical intervention in many complex and difficult situations. Over the years, Mr. Keeney has been a principal liaison between career and political appointees, ensuring that new policy goals and priorities are effectively incorporated into the operations of the Criminal Division. He has demonstrated throughout his career his resolute commitment to reshaping the Department of Justice to effectively meet the challenges in law enforcement. Mr. Keeney has left an enduring imprint on the law enforcement community, and on the federal civil service itself, not only through the many remarkable achievements he has realized on behalf of the Department of Justice, but through the many fine attorneys and executives whose careers he has guided and shaped.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Vincent J. Chaverini
Mr. Vincent Chaverini manages a staff of over 300 with an annual recurring budget of close to $300 million, and ongoing projects of nearly $1 billion. His management runs the gamut from management of more than 100 domestic Department facilities to management of our far-flung overseas school program to several major renovation and construction projects to overall responsibility for emergency preparedness for all domestic Department employees. Vince has built a quality and enthusiastic team in Operations. In response to 9/11 he leased 400,000 square feet of office space for Diplomatic Security, located space for the G8 planning commission saving the Department $1 million, negotiated a lease modification for the privatization of INTELSAT, and created a cafeteria-eatery recognized by the Federal Times as the #1 Federal Government cafeteria. Vince has established himself as the essential partner in virtually every State Department diplomatic initiative currently underway.
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY
Evelyn A. Petschek
Commissioner
Tax Exempt and Government Entities Division
Internal Revenue Service
Evelyn A. Petschek is being recognized for her outstanding leadership in administering Federal tax programs and services that impact more than 3 million entities that comprise this nation’s $8 trillion tax-exempt sector. Since joining the Federal Government in 1990, Ms. Petschek has served in a variety of key executive positions at both the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), setting new standards for the delivery of taxpayer services and programs. She played a pivotal role during the massive restructuring of the IRS in the late 1990s, overseeing the design and development of the IRS’ Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) Division. TE/GE, the first operating division to be established in the new, modernized IRS, serves the tax administration needs of five distinct customer segments: employee retirement plans, exempt organizations, Federal/state/local governments, Indian Tribal governments, and tax exempt bonds. While serving as the first Commissioner of TE/GE from 1999 through mid-2004, Ms. Petschek successfully translated her vision into an operational reality dedicated to serving the unique, and, often, cutting-edge, needs of TE/GE’s diverse customer base. She proactively courted stakeholder participation early on and fostered a positive working relationship with the TE/GE community that continues to this day. Ms. Petschek is currently serving as the IRS Commissioner’s Chief of Staff, where she continues to exemplify the highest standards of organizational excellence.
Mary Beth Shaw
Director, Office of D.C. Pensions
Mary Beth Shaw displayed collaborative leadership and high level diplomacy in successfully transferring financial liability and pension benefits administration for certain groups of District of Columbia annuitants from the District Government to the Federal Government – groundbreaking and highly visible responsibilities that the Department acquired in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. As Treasury’s first senior executive in charge of this Presidential and Secretarial initiative, she created a credible, reliable and trustworthy relationship between senior officials and staff of the Treasury Department and the District. She prudently managed and invested over $4 billion in assets in three trust funds, delivered $455 million annually in retirement benefits to D.C. police, firefighters, teachers and judges, and consistently achieved unqualified financial statement audit opinions. She established a strong customer-focused environment, uniquely balancing the interests of the variety of stakeholders, and she introduced state-of-the art technology to provide accurate benefit calculations and payments to annuitants. These accomplishments, for which Treasury is widely recognized, continue to benefit the annuitants, the District, the Treasury Department and the American taxpayers, and taken together they comprise a model pension administration program and a model for positive Federal/District relations.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Lawrence A. Biro
Lawrence A. Biro is being recognized for his shared vision and systems approach to planning and execution. His focus on quality and efficiency and the establishment of a performance review process that provides interim reviews to re-examine operating strategies resulted in a 20% increase in third party collections; a 20% reduction in indirect costs to enhance direct patient care; and eliminated a waiting list of almost 27,000 veterans. Mr. Biro effectively balances the needs and resources of the organization to maintain and expand services for our nation’s veterans.
Kenneth J. Clark
Kenneth J. Clark, FACHE is recognized for his exceptional qualities of leadership, commitment, dedication, and excellence. Mr. Clark helped lead a system-wide re-engineering effort focused on improving health care service delivery and access for our nation’s veterans and their families, which resulted in the opening of over 200 clinics nation-wide. Mr. Clark consistently demonstrates his ability to overcome challenges while identifying opportunities for improvement in the organization and developing innovative approaches to healthcare service delivery.
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
John M. Streufert
John Streufert, Director of Information Resources at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), supervised computer technology support for 8000 employees at headquarters and 80 missions world-wide the past seven years with distinction. By independent surveys his technical team rated highest of any USAID service the last four years delivered with customer relationship management and system-wide sensors measuring reliability. Innovations of his tenure include remote administration of networks during emergencies; business software specially developed for developing countries with poor telecommunications, contract strategies to mitigate conflict of interest, high performance organization training, and highly rated federal IT security standing using continuous scanning of risks with monthly grades delivered to responsible managers. Before USAID, Mr. Streufert worked for the Departments of Agriculture and Navy in more than a dozen program management, technology policy, operations and budget roles.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Geoffrey H. Grubbs
Director
Office of Science and Technology
Geoff Grubbs is an extraordinarily talented and productive manager who delivers top-quality scientific information and technical regulations that substantially reduce discharges of water pollution into this nation’s streams, rivers, lake, and bays. Over the past four years, Geoff and his managers, engineers, statisticians, scientists, and economists produced national water pollution rules which eliminate more than 2.4 billion pounds of water pollutants annually from industry sectors such animal feeding operations and iron and steel manufacturing, to clean up and restore hundreds of polluted waterways. As a direct result of his leadership, EPA’s industrial water pollution regulatory program has emerged from court receivership dating back to the time that Gerald Ford was President.
Margo T. Oge
Director
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Margo Tsirigotis Oge has used her extraordinary skills to pioneer new approaches, create lasting change in her agency, and achieve historic results for the environment and the health of the American people. She has been instrumental in establishing national environmental policy in the areas of pollution prevention, management of indoor air pollution and disposal of nuclear waste. Over the last ten years she has led the nation’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact from the transportation sector, which accounts for half of the air pollution in America. As the senior policy advisor to the Administrator on transportation issues, Ms. Oge led an EPA team of engineers, scientists, and economists that designed the policy and regulations that have dramatically reduced the environmental impact from the transportation sector. She has been the driving force on three of the most important achievements in the history of air pollution control: the programs for cleaner passenger vehicles, clean diesel trucks and buses, and clean diesel equipment such as bulldozers and tractors. Clearly, coalition building and communications have been the hallmark of Ms. Oge’s career. Her unique ability to reach out to stakeholders to help advance EPA’s agenda is unmatched. Due to Ms. Oge’s expertise in developing partnerships, the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Program became the first major mobile source regulation of its magnitude and complexity to escape litigation in recent history.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Anthony E.Costa
Mr. Costa is the Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. General Services
Administration's Public Buildings Service (PBS). He serves as the
Chief Operating Officer in charge of asset management and design,
construction, leasing, operations, and disposal for a real estate
portfolio of more than 339 million square feet in more than 8,000
public and private buildings accommodating over one million Federal
workers. Mr. Costa has twenty years of experience with the General
Services Administration. Prior to his recent appointment as the
Deputy Commissioner, he served as the Assistant Regional Administrator
for the Public Buildings Service in the National Capital Region
(NCR) where he lead a workforce of 1400 associates servicing an
inventory of more than 600 leased and government owned buildings
in the Washington, D.C. area. These buildings comprise 86 million
square feet of space and house 295,000 federal customers. He has
pioneered changes in the way the region conducts its business by
implementing numerous customer, asset, and business-driven initiatives
that more effectively manage the real estate portfolios. The result
has been the improved bottom line performance of NCR by more than
15 percent in the past two years through a combination of improving
revenues and reducing costs. In the midst of a strong business focus,
Mr. Costa has renewed the region's emphasis on good stewardship
of the 70 historic buildings and national landmarks in the region,
and has dramatically expanded contracting opportunities for small
and women owned businesses. Mr. Costa has also made great strides
in Human Capital Management for the region by empowering employees.
He has involved the workforce in decisions regarding the deployment
of limited resources, built teams to collaboratively find solutions
to asset management and customer service challenges, encouraged
a willingness to experiment in problem solving, rewarded excellence,
and created an environment that fosters continual improvement. Mr.
Costa has recently taken the lead as a member of a small group tasked
with establishing and implementing the human capital strategy for
the entire Public Buildings Service. The strategy will have far-reaching
impacts on GSA's customers by ensuring that GSA associates possess
the right skills to satisfy customers and recognizing and rewarding
superior customer service.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Orlando Figueroa
Deputy Associate Administrator (Programs)
Science Mission Directorate
Mr. Orlando Figueroa is the Deputy Associate Administrator (Programs) for the Science Mission Directorate of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Throughout his career, Mr. Figueroa has developed extensive experience in engineering, and is known throughout the aerospace community as a committed leader, a strategic thinker and an experienced manager. He is responsible for the development of the vision, strategies and objectives for the revitalization of the engineering capability throughout NASA. He established the Systems, Technology and Advanced Concepts directorate at the Goddard Space Flight Center to provide focus to systems engineering, early program formulation, technology needs, instrument management, and business opportunities. Prior to his recent appointment as Deputy Associate Administrator (Programs), he served as the Director, Mars Exploration Program providing overall leadership, direction and management of the successful implementation of the Mars Exploration Rover missions in an unprecedented amount of time.
Jon C. Harpold
Johnson Space Center
Mr. Jon C. Harpold (deceased), served as Director of the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at the Johnson Space Center. Mr. Harpold directed the Nation's human spaceflight operations activities in support of the Space Shuttle and International Space Station Programs as well as advanced operations planning for future NASA initiatives. Under his leadership, MOD trained astronauts and flight controllers, designed and planned each Shuttle mission and ISS flight increment, participated in commit to flight decisions, managed the flight execution of each mission, and supported vehicle upgrades and anomaly resolution issues. His considerable skill and experience allowed him to effectively manage this wide range of activities with a budget of over $400 million, and a workforce of over 480 civil servants and 3,000 contractor personnel in the U.S. and Russia. Mr. Harpold was known for his innovative solutions and effective management. He was a leader in creating government efficiencies and effective partnerships between contractors, civil servants and International Partners - enabling the space program to forge ahead. The groundwork he laid and the partnerships he forged serve NASA and the nation to this day.
James W. Kennedy
Director, John F. Kennedy Space Center
Upon being named Center Director, Mr. Jim Kennedy moved quickly to gain the trust of contractor management and has established himself as one who is concerned about the welfare of those who work at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). His leadership approach has been open and aims for consensus where possible. He created a Contractor Forum (Star Forum) at KSC that includes representatives from NASA and all contractor organizations to discuss issues of common concern. He opened the quarterly All Hands meetings to include civil service employees, contractors, and other Center tenants. In addition, Mr. Kennedy worked quickly and openly with representatives of the press, who have complimented him on the cooperative and cordial environment he has created. All of the above serve to eliminate barriers to effective communication. Such openness and caring have engendered the utmost respect and admiration for this leader of leaders.
David A. King
Director, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Mr. David A. King is the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA’s) George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. In this capacity, he manages one of NASA’s largest field centers responsible for a broad range of propulsion, space science and materials research and development work contributing to the Nation’s space program. Immediately preceding his current assignment, Mr. King served as MSFC’s Deputy Director. Before that he served as Director of Shuttle Processing at NASA’s, Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During his illustrious career, he has provided extremely effective leadership to a diverse spectrum of NASA space flight programs and projects. As a strong advocate of the President’s Management Agenda, Mr. King provides Agency oversight of all human resources and training information systems. Within hours of the Columbia tragedy, Mr. King was called upon to play a key role in NASA’s shuttle recovery operations in Lufkin, Texas where he was appointed Director of Recovery Operations. His devotion and determination and his exemplary ability to manage thousands of people across multiple disciplines were significant in the success of the debris recovery process. Through his efforts strong relationships were forged that brought together over 450 federal, state and local agencies and entities with over 25,000 responders to enable the recovery in a 100-day period. Under his leadership an environment was created that was void of the typical jurisdictional issues of one of this magnitude, enabling this overwhelming effort to be accomplished in a timely manner.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Thomas N. Cooley
Chief Financial Officer and
Director, Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management
Mr. Thomas N. Cooley is honored for his leadership and vision in managing key business processes for the National Science Foundation (NSF). In the dual role of Director, Office of Budget, Finance and Award Management (BFA), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr. Cooley leads an organization responsible for financial management, budget formulation and execution, award execution and management, grant and contract policy, and coordination of large research facilities activities in a dynamic environment.
His accomplishments include overseeing the preparation of NSF’s award-winning annual Performance and Accountability Report, and NSF’s “green” President’s Management Agenda scorecard rating in financial management. His organization’s innovative efforts are frequently benchmarked and heralded as best practices by other agencies throughout government.
Mr. Cooley has been a vital contributor to numerous dimensions of NSF’s success as a business leader and role model among federal agencies, and he has done so with exceptional skill, professionalism, diplomacy and good grace, as well as with a lean staff and limited resources.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Ronald S. Battocchi
General Counsel
Mr. Battocchi has served as the General Counsel of the NTSB since 1999. In this capacity, he is the principal legal advisor to the Chairman and Board of the nation’s preeminent accident investigation agency. Mr. Battocchi’s career is long and truly distinguished. He started Federal service in 1974. From 1994 to 1999 he managed the day-to-day functions of the agency as it’s Deputy Managing Director. As an attorney, he has provided leadership for or personally litigated precedent-setting cases that have strengthened the NTSB’s ability to accomplish its mission. Examples include the special legislative status of cockpit voice recorders, prompt access to evidence, excluding non-qualifying participants in investigations and preserving the confidentiality of internal deliberative materials. His accomplishments in support of the NTSB accident investigation function have defined the legal framework for complex interrelationships of accident investigations under international and domestic law. Recently he was recognized for his assistance and responsiveness in support of the agency’s involvement in the investigative activities related to the 9/11 events.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Paul E. Bird
Director
Office of Human Resources
Mr. Bird is recognized for his exceptional leadership in providing strategic direction for a comprehensive nationwide human resources program that serves the unique needs of an agency with a highly technical mission. His strategic vision led to the development of a comprehensive set of flexible recruitment and retention incentives and programs that allow the agency to maintain its technical excellence despite an increasing number of staff members who are eligible for retirement. When the President’s Management Agenda was introduced, Mr. Bird became the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s champion for the strategic management of human capital, enabling program managers to recruit, develop, and retain the workforce they need to carry out the agency’s mission to protect the health and safety of the public and the environment.
William D. Travers
Regional Administrator
Region II
Dr. Travers is recognized for his exceptional leadership across a broad range of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulatory and administrative programs and activities. Dr. Travers has been at the forefront of the agency’s effort to respond to change and has demonstrated extraordinary leadership during major challenges to the agency’s regulatory program including leading the agency in achieving substantial progress toward a more risk informed and performance-based regulatory framework. Dr. Travers has demonstrated exceptional ability to lead and motivate staff throughout his career. An outstanding communicator and agency representative, Dr. Travers has built highly successful relationships with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, members of the public, and representatives of the nuclear industry, enlisting support that protecting the public health and safety is the agency’s highest priority.
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Keith J. Fontenot
Keith J. Fontenot is recognized for his exceptional performance throughout 22 years of Federal Service and particularly for his outstanding contributions to Health Financing, Social Security and Income Security policy.
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Stephen C. Benowitz
Mr. Stephen C. Benowitz is the Associate Director for Human Resources Products and Services, U.S. Office of Personnel Management. He is the senior executive responsible for the management and delivery of retirement and insurance programs for Federal employees, annuitants and their families; the personnel background investigation program that is vital to our Nation’s security; the Federal Government’s elite executive and management development centers and the Presidential Management Fellow Program; and for services to support Federal agencies through recruitment, development and management advisory services. He previously served as the Director of Strategic Management Planning and the Director of Human Resources for the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He was first appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1987 as Director of Personnel, U.S. Department of the Treasury. He has been recognized twice, in 1992 and 1997, with the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive.
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Francisco A. Marrero
District Director
Mr. Marrero has served the nation’s entrepreneurs with distinction in successively responsible positions. As a District Director, Mr. Marrero has been a leader in developing strategic plans that focus on promoting high-quality customer service, maximizing program operations, and setting ambitious goals that ensure excellence and deliver results. Through competent financial, human resources and technology management, Mr. Marrero has turned understaffed, unproductive offices into top performers. A recognized change agent, Mr. Marrero is credited with the genesis of a major revolution in SBA’s field office operations. In 2001, he initiated a pilot program to consolidate major backroom field functions into a few nationwide centers. Today, the pilot program serves as SBA’s blueprint for its “New SBA” initiative.
Thomas A. Dumaresq
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Dumaresq has been recognized as a change agent throughout his career. Upon his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, he identified and took actions needed to correct longstanding financial problems that adversely impacted agency operations. His major improvements have been recognized on the Financial Management, and Budget and Performance Integration elements of the President’s Management Agenda Scorecard. In 2001, Mr. Dumaresq was tasked to formulate SBA’s transformation initiatives under the President’s Management Agenda. After obtaining consensus from stakeholders, he set a process in motion that will fundamentally change the way SBA does business for years to come. He has served as a key advisor to the Administrator of SBA and other top executives on virtually all major Agency initiatives and activities because he creates “win-win” solutions in difficult situations. All of these achievements can be traced to Mr. Dumaresq’s key skill: getting people to work together toward a common goal.
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Felicita Sola-Carter
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources
Ms. Sola-Carter is a key adviser and strategist for the Social Security Administration on strategic human capital goals. Frequently called upon to address unpopular topics, champion change, and anticipate and solve problems, she has succeeded in developing a comprehensive strategy that has positioned the Agency to recruit, develop and retain the highest caliber workforce for the future. Her vision for leadership for the Agency served as a catalyst for the design of what has many times been called one of the best succession plans in the Federal sector. An ardent advocate and mentor for those who aspire to leadership positions, she nurtures team spirit, empowerment, and challenges others to be totally service-oriented, excited about change opportunities and to be good stewards for the public. She successfully revitalized the Agency’s training delivery methodology and launched a comprehensive strategy that moved the Agency to the forefront of innovative training system.
Dale W. Sopper
Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management
As the Social Security Administration’s Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management and the Chief Financial Officer, Dale Sopper’s responsibilities span several critical Agency programs including a comprehensive financial management program, acquisition and grants management, accounting policy and operations, internal controls, program quality assessment, and facilities, publications and logistics management programs. During his career, he has moved the Agency to the forefront of Federal financial management through his efforts to produce audited financial statements long before they were mandated, through his vigilance in recouping debts owed to the Social Security Trust Funds, and his vision for the direction in which the Agency needs to move to accomplish ever-more challenging public service goals. His accomplishments are directly attributable to the Agency receiving high marks from the Congress and other oversight bodies. His drive and selfless commitment to public service and the mission of the Social Security Administration are at the core of his numerous accomplishments.
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