Nominate an outstanding public servant for the 2025 Service to America Medals®

The Partnership for Public Service is accepting nominations for the 2025 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals® program, the premier awards ceremony for career federal employees. 

Why nominate? 

The backbone of our federal government is the more than 2 million career employees who work across the country to serve the public. Yet for many Americans, this vital work remains a mystery. 

The Sammies recognizes career civil servants who improve our lives for the better. If you know a federal employee who demonstrates innovation, strong leadership and a passion for public service, then help us shine a spotlight on their accomplishments. By doing so, you support our efforts to improve the public perception of government and inspire future generations to consider careers in federal service. 

Who can be nominated? 

Nominees must be career civilian federal employees of the executive branch of the U.S. government. We welcome nominations for individuals and teams. 

Nominators can be anyone—federal employee or not, friend or family member, supervisor or employee. Self-nominations are not accepted. 

What are the categories? 

• Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement: Recognizes a federal employee who has led significant and sustained achievements in the federal government. Nominee must have worked in public service for at least 20 years as a career federal employee as of Jan. 1, 2025. 

• Emerging Leaders: Recognizes young federal employees who have made an important contribution early in their professional careers. Nominee must be 35 years old or younger as of Jan. 1, 2025. 

• Safety, Security and International Affairs: Recognizes a federal employee for a significant accomplishment in fields such as civil rights, cybersecurity, law enforcement, emergency preparedness and response, border security, counterterrorism, defense and military affairs, intelligence or diplomacy.  

• Management Excellence: Recognizes a federal employee for demonstrating superior leadership and management through a significant contribution to the nation that exemplifies efficient, effective and results-oriented government.  

• Science, Technology and Environment: Recognizes a federal employee for a significant contribution to the nation in activities related to areas such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, digital services, economics, energy, IT, meteorology, resource conservation and space. 

What makes a strong Sammies nomination? 

• Simple: Explain the nominee’s role in achieving the stated accomplishment without using insider jargon or acronyms.  

• Attention-grabbing: Capture the reviewer’s attention in the first few sentences with bold statements about what the nominee has done.  

• Impactful: Articulate how the nominee’s work benefits our nation. Sometimes a good human-interest story—either about the nominee or the community they serve— helps advance the nomination.  

• Strong endorsements: We recommend including an agency head or senior leader who can endorse the nominee, even if the two do not have a personal relationship.  

• Quantified: If possible, include figures that demonstrate the significance of the nominee’s work or accomplishments, such as the number of participants or recipients, or the amount of money or energy saved. 

The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2025 Service to America Medals is Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. Finalists will be announced during Public Service Recognition Week in early May, and the winners will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in the fall of 2025. 

Catherine Wilson is a senior communications and programs manager at the Partnership for Public Service. She leads the strategic planning and execution of various signature events, including the annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals.

Abraham Amaya is a digital marketing manager at the Partnership for Public Service, shaping and implementing digital strategies for the organization's various programs and initiatives.