FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	AG

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1998                                                                                                                                    (202) 616-2765

                                                                                                                                                                                 TDD (202) 514-1888




DOJ OFFICIALS RECEIVE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE





	WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Twelve Justice Department officials
received 1997 Presidential Rank Awards for their exceptional
performance in public service last year. 

	The Rank Awards, awarded last month, are given annually by
the President and the Vice President to a select group of the
Government's senior executives.  It bestowes the rank of
Distinguished or Meritorious Executive on the best career members
of the Senior Executive Service for sustained exceptional
performance as public servants.  The President awarded 63
Distinguished Executive Ranks and 224 Meritorious Ranks for
career excellence last year.

	The recipients of the Distinguished Ranks from the Justice
Department were:

		Stephen R. Colgate, Assistant Attorney General for
Administration, who manages the Justice Management
Division and oversees the administration of all 110,000
employees of the Department;




		Ronald W. Collison, Associate Commissioner for
Information Resources Management, Immigration and
Naturalization Service, who oversees all technological
initiatives utilized by the Service;




		Nancy B. Firestone, Deputy Assistant Attorney General
of the Environment and Natural Resources Division, who
supervises a staff of 125 and a budget of $8 million
within the Division;

	

	  	Kathleen M. Hawk, Director, Bureau of Prisons, who
provides leadership and coordination for the nationwide
network of federal correctional facilities;

	

		Neil H. Koslowe, Special Litigation Counsel, Federal
Programs Branch, Civil Division, who is responsible for
sensitive litigation in defense of Administration
policies;




		James S. Reynolds, Chief, Terrorism and Violent Crime
Section, Criminal Division, who oversees the design and
implementation of legislative and policy initiatives to
combat terrorism and violent crime; and,




		Gary R. Spratling, Deputy Assistant Attorney General
for Criminal Enforcement, Antitrust Division, who
oversees the Division's criminal program to meet the
challenge of prosecuting national and international
antitrust conspiracies.




	The recipients of the Meritorious Ranks from the Department
were:

		Martha L. Davis, General Counsel, Executive Office for
United States Trustees, who supports the Trustee
Program's enforcement of fiduciary standards and
prosecution of fraud;




		Michael F. Hertz, Branch Director, Commercial
Litigation Branch, Civil Division, who initiates civil
actions to recover moneys owed to the U.S. as a result
of fraud and losses resulting from bribery or
corruption of government officials;




		John C. Keeney, Deputy Assistant Attorney General,
Criminal Division, who oversees the operations and
activities of the Organized Crime and Racketeering
Section;




		Anthony C. Moscato, Director, Executive Office for
Immigration Review, who oversees the Administration's
goals of increasing effectiveness and efficiency across
the immigration system; and,




		Steven B. Schwalb, Assistant Director, Industries,
Education and Vocational Training, Bureau of Prisons,
who is responsible for the UNICOR Program and the
education and vocational training of the federal inmate
population.




	At a special ceremony at Washington's Constitution Hall in
recognition of the recipients, Vice President Gore said, "Each
day, the lives of millions of Americans are improved because you
work tirelessly for them.  You epitomize the very best in public
service."

     	The 7,000 career members of the Senior Executive
Service are the Government's key managers who work directly with
the President's top appointed officials.

	Distinguished Rank recipients receive an award of $20,000
and Meritorious Rank recipients receive awards of $10,000.

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