Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management yesterday convened in Bangor, Maine, a panel of 12 citizens to consider nominations for an elite award given to federal employees.

Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board reviewed the accomplishments of nominees -- career members of the Senior Executive Service (SES), and the Senior-Level (SL) and Scientific and Professional (ST) communities -- for the 2004 Presidential Meritorious Rank Award with President George W. Bush's goals and criteria for sustained accomplishment in the management of federal programs and services.

"I sincerely appreciate the service of panel members in Bangor who have participated in the selection process to recommend candidates to President Bush so that he can recognize the men and women in our federal civil service whose work directly contributes to the vitality and security of America," said OPM Director Kay Coles James. Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board represent state, corporate and other sectors of the local community. "The panel's important work honors this Administration's efforts to create a government that is citizen-centered and results-oriented. I also want to express my appreciation to Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who accepted OPM's invitation to help us identify potential panel members. Senator Collins is a strong defender of the American civil service and the high standards of federal employee excellence."

Following a review of the panel's work, James will send her recommendations to President Bush, who will make the final selections and announce the award recipients later this year.

Second only to the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Service, the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Service is a high honor bestowed upon career federal employees. The award recognizes members of the career SES, SL and ST communities, the federal government's top cadre of managers and senior professionals, who have a consistent record of integrity, industry and commitment to public service.

Members of these communities manage many of the nation's most vital programs in defense, intelligence, the environment, energy, agriculture and others.

The SES, SL and ST are comprised of 7,300 dedicated employees out of a federal work force of 1.8 million, and members are highly valued for their management, leadership and technical skills. And while they are small in numbers, an even smaller population is recognized each year with a Rank Award.

Nominees for the award must demonstrate a commitment to public service and possess a record of extraordinary leadership that is recognized at the agency level or acknowledged on a national or international level. Nominees are evaluated against meaningful and balanced criteria that have been adjusted to reflect the evolution of government services and the increasing complexity of federally managed programs. Successful nominees must demonstrate a record of achievement in:

o Leading Change

o Leading People

o Being Results Driven

o Possessing Business Acumen

o Building Coalitions/Communications

Members of the SL and ST communities are evaluated under different criteria, including technical leadership in the professional community and noteworthy improvements in the quality and efficiency of the civil service.

Over the next few months, additional Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Boards will meet across the country to consider nominees for the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award.

Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board are:

o Mary Adams, Private Citizen

o John Bott, Program Director, Director of Publications, The Spurwink Institute

o John Bragg, President, N.H. Bragg & Sons

o Nicholas Eremita, Brigadier General (Retired), U.S. Air Force

o Nichi Farnham, Private Citizen

o D. Loren Fields, Music Teacher, Lawrence High School

o Julie Green, Director of Public Affairs, Husson College

o Donald Lewis III, Operations Manager, Nyle Corporation

o Jane Madigan, Banker

o Robert Mahlman, Professor, University of Maine

o Scott Story, Sheriff, Waldo County Sheriff's Office

o Tim Woodcock, Attorney, Eaton Peabody

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.