Contact Jordan LaPier Director (202) 495-3320 jlapier@ourpublicservice.org PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCES 2019 SERVICE TO AMERICA MEDAL FINALISTS May 5, 2019 “Oscars” of government service honor federal innovators from across government FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2019 CONTACT: Onamé Thompson 202-775-6898 WASHINGTON – The nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service today announced the 2019 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (Sammies) finalists – 26 federal employees and teams from more than 20 federal agencies and 15 states as well as Washington, D.C. and Haiti. TheSammies have earned a reputation as the premier awards program recognizing America’s best in government. On Thursday, May 9, the finalists will be honored at a breakfast on Capitol Hill as part of Public Service Recognition Week. Among those scheduled to make remarks are Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.); Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross; Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie; and Office of Personnel Management Acting Director and Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director for Management Margaret Weichert. “Following the longest government shutdown in history, it’s imperative that we celebrate and recognize the important and critical work of our nation’s civil servants,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. “The 2019 Service to America Medalsshowcase our remarkable federal workforce who serve the public good and address many of the country’s greatest challenges.” The 2019 finalists’ achievements include pioneering and perfecting a modeling program that predicts where people lost at sea will be found, cutting search and rescue times and saving thousands of lives; implementing facial recognition systems that simplify and fortify airport security; developing a way to quickly locate and assist chronic healthcare patients who are at risk of losing life-sustaining equipment due to widespread power outages; and uncovering and prosecuting the largest bribery and corruption scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy. Other finalists include those who have revolutionized scientific research and our understanding of the long-term effects of concussions in veterans and athletes; transformed the historic Kennedy Space Center into a globally distinguished multiuser launch site for government and commercial space exploration; discovered six different genetic origins of kidney cancer and provided the foundation for the development of targeted therapies that have saved thousands of lives; and strengthened our nation’s defenses against nuclear and radioactive threats by developing performance standards and tests for detection systems that screen nearly 7 million cargo containers entering U.S. seaports each year. A complete list of the 2019 Service to America Medal finalists is attached. Each finalist is a contender for one of our seven Service to America Medals, including the newly renamed Paul A. Volcker Career Achievement Medal, which honors Paul Volcker, a devout public servant who, over three decades, served two terms as Federal Reserve chairman, headed two non-partisan Commissions on the Public Service and spearheaded sweeping overhauls of the federal government. The naming of this award was made possible through the generous support of Ray and Barbara Dalio and The Volcker Alliance—a nonpartisan organization that advances effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens. “We are thrilled that the Sammies Career Achievement Award has been renamed to honor the Volcker Alliance’s chairman and founder, Paul A. Volcker,” said Thomas W. Ross, president of the Volcker Alliance. “Mr. Volcker’s nearly thirty years of service in the federal government was defined by his belief that government should be responsive to its citizens and accountable for delivering on its promises. We hope that this award will elevate and acknowledge the significant contributions of other dedicated citizens who strive for excellence in public service.” Other medal categories include Science and Environment; Safety and Law Enforcement; National Security and International Affairs; Management Excellence; and Federal Employee of the Year. All 26 finalists are eligible for the Service to America Medals People’s Choice Award. Beginning Friday, May 10, members of the public can vote online for the federal employee they believe has made the most significant contribution to the American people. The People’s Choice winner will be announced at a Partnership event on July 18. Medal recipients will be announced and honored on October 16, 2019, during an awards gala at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. In addition, the Partnership will present its second annual private-sector Spirit of Service Award to Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the 108th Mayor of New York City. Designed to shine a spotlight on individuals outside the federal workforce who have made significant contributions to public service, Mayor Bloomberg will be recognized for the positive impact he has made through his leadership in business, government and philanthropy, and for the countless lives he has improved through his national and international support of programs benefitting the arts, education, the environment, government innovation and public health. The Service to America Medal recipients will be chosen by a prestigious selection committee that includes Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.); Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.); former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt; Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton; Chairman of the USAA Board Lester Lyles; Microsoft Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood; The Volcker Alliance President Thomas W. Ross; Partnership Co-founder Ronnie F. Heyman; FORTUNE CEO Alan Murray; Fox News Channel Anchor Martha MacCallum; Georgetown University President Jack DeGioia; Motion Picture Association of America Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin; Author Michael Lewis; and other leaders from government, academia, media, the private sector and philanthropic community. The premier and national sponsors for the 2019 Service to America Medals include Mrs. Ronnie F. Heyman and Family, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Chevron. Since its inception in 2002, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals program has honored more than 500 outstanding federal employees. More information about the program and the 2019 finalists is available at servicetoamericamedals.org. During the past 18 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to making the federal government more effective for the American people. We work across administrations to help transform the way government operates by increasing collaboration, accountability, efficiency and innovation. Visit opswebdev.wpengine.com to learn more. Follow us on social @RPublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more. 2019 SAMMIES FINALISTS PAUL A. VOLCKER CAREER ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL FINALISTSThis medal recognizes a federal employee for leading significant and sustained accomplishments throughout a federal career of 20 or more years. Arthur A. Allen Oceanographer U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Search and Rescue New London, Connecticut Pioneered and perfected a modeling program that predicts where people lost at sea will be found, cutting search and rescue times and saving thousands of lives during a 35-year career William K. Boyes, Ph.D. Environmental Health Scientist Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development Research Triangle Park, North Carolina Conducted important research on the harm that commonly used chemicals have on eyesight and the central nervous system, leading to new standards to protect the public from overexposure to these toxic substances Michael G. Kozak Senior Bureau Official Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Washington, D.C. For nearly five decades, helped shape foreign policy to protect U.S. interests abroad and advance democracy and human rights around the world Ann McKee, M.D. Chief of Neuropathology Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Boston Healthcare System Boston, Massachusetts Revolutionized scientific research and our understanding of the long-term effects of concussions, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, in veterans and athletes Venkatachalam “Ram” Ramaswamy, Ph.D. Director, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Princeton, New Jersey Developed a state-of-the-art modeling system to enhance understanding and prediction of global climate and provide earlier and more accurate forecasts of severe weather events, helping save lives and property MANAGEMENT EXCELLENCE MEDAL FINALISTSThis medal recognizes a federal employee or team for a significant accomplishment that exemplifies efficient, effective and results-oriented government. Victoria Brahm Medical Center Director Department of Veterans Affairs, Tomah VA Medical Center Tomah, Wisconsin Restored the quality and safety of a broken health care center for veterans that had become notorious for unsafe medical practices, excessive opioid use and a toxic work environment Robert Cabana and the Kennedy Space Center Senior Management Team Director, John F. Kennedy Space Center National Aeronautics and Space Administration Kennedy Space Center, Florida Transformed the historic Kennedy Space Center into a globally distinguished, multiuser launch site for government and commercial space exploration, helping preserve our country’s leadership in this important field Osama El-Lissy Deputy Administrator, Plant Protection and Quarantine Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Washington, D.C. Created a highly effective plan that led the United States to become the first and only country to eradicate the pink bollworm, saving cotton growers tens of millions of dollars annually Shannon Sartin and Team Executive Director, Digital Service at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Digital Service Washington, D.C. Led the development of digital tools to make it easier for Medicare patients to access their electronic health records and for doctors to receive payment for the quality, not the quantity, of the care they provide Paul Shute, Christopher Aragao and David Enright Chief of Operational Innovation (Shute); Supervisory Veterans Service Representative (Aragao); Management Analyst (Enright) Department of Veterans Affairs Washington, D.C. (Shute); Providence, Rhode Island (Aragao); Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Enright) Dramatically cut the time and manpower needed to make decisions on service-related mental health claims for veterans, helping tens of thousands of individuals each year receive their benefits faster NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS MEDAL FINALISTSThis medal recognizes a federal employee or team for a significant accomplishment in fields such as border security, counterterrorism, defense and military affairs, intelligence, nuclear nonproliferation, diplomacy, foreign assistance and trade. Kara L. De Castro Management Analyst National Nuclear Security Administration Washington, D.C. Led pivotal international programs to convert weapons-grade nuclear materials for civilian use and enhanced security cultures to guard against their mishandling and misuse Leticia Pibida, Ph.D. Physicist National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg, Maryland Strengthened our nation’s defenses against nuclear and radioactive threats by developing performance standards and tests for detection systems that screen nearly 7 million cargo containers entering U.S. seaports each year Ryan Shelby, Ph.D. Diplomatic Attaché and Foreign Service Engineering Officer U.S. Agency for International Development Port-au-Prince, Haiti Provided vital training and resources to help people in Haiti rebuild thousands of homes and roofs ripped apart by a Category 4 hurricane, making the structures safer and stronger to withstand future disasters John P. Wagner Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations Washington, D.C. Implemented facial recognition systems that simplify and fortify airport security, helping travelers reach their destinations faster while stopping suspected terrorists and others attempting to enter and leave the U.S. using false documents Kurt Yankaskas Program Officer, Noise Induced Hearing Loss Research Program Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research Arlington, Virginia Identified and implemented solutions to combat noise-induced hearing loss, which affects hundreds of thousands of sailors and Marines, and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year in treatments for veterans SAFETY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT MEDAL FINALISTSThis medal recognizes a federal employee or team for a significant accomplishment in fields such as civil rights, consumer protection, cybersecurity, transportation safety, worker safety, and emergency preparedness and response. Emily Banuelos and the Taxiway Tango Tiger Team Team Manager, Western Service Area Federal Aviation Administration, Runway Safety Group Des Moines, Washington Designed and implemented enhanced surveillance technology that warns when commercial aircraft are lined up to land on a taxiway instead of the intended runway, averting the potential for catastrophic accidents Kristen P. Finne Senior Program Analyst and Manager, HHS emPOWER Program Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Washington, D.C. Developed a system for first responders to quickly locate and assist 4.3 million Medicare beneficiaries who rely on life-sustaining, electricity-dependent medical equipment and are at risk during prolonged power outages Emily Joy Haas, Ph.D. Senior Research Behavioral Scientist, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Improved the health and safety of our nations’ mine workers by using behavioral science to influence the adoption of new technologies and practices that reduce their exposure to known hazards Jamie Rhome Storm Surge Specialist and Team Lead, National Hurricane Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service Miami, Florida Created a new forecasting model and warning system that more accurately predicts the deadly storm surge caused by hurricanes, saving lives by alerting residents sooner of the approaching danger James McWhirter, Mark W. Pletcher and the Navy Bribery Scandal Team Assistant Special Agent in Charge (McWhirter); Assistant U.S. Attorney (Pletcher) Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (McWhirter); Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California (Pletcher) Mission Viejo, California (McWhirter); San Diego, California (Pletcher) Uncovered and prosecuted the largest bribery and corruption scandal in the history of the U.S. Navy, resulting in dozens of federal criminal convictions and sanctions against numerous Navy officers SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT MEDAL FINALISTSThis medal recognizes a federal employee or team for a significant accomplishment in fields such as medicine, economics, energy, information technology, space, meteorology and resource conservation. Othmane Benafan, Ph.D. Materials Research Engineer National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Glenn Research Center Cleveland, Ohio Advanced the science and use of a special alloy that returns to its original shape after being heated, leading to groundbreaking technologies that enable safer, more efficient aviation and space exploration McMahan “Mac” Louis Gray Physical Scientist, Separations Materials Team Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Created a game-changing technology that removes carbon dioxide from power plant emissions and absorbs heavy metals, such as lead, from municipal water supplies Daniel B. Jernigan, M.D. Director, Influenza Division Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Atlanta, Georgia Led response efforts for dozens of disease crises, including Ebola, SARS and West Nile virus, while greatly improving our country’s ability to identify, prepare for and respond to inevitable flu pandemics W. Marston Linehan, M.D. Chief, Urologic Oncology Branch National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute Bethesda, Maryland Discovered six different genetic origins of kidney cancer and provided the foundation for the development of targeted therapies that have saved thousands of lives Christina A. Neal and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Team Scientist in Charge of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory U.S. Geological Survey Hilo, Hawaii Carefully monitored a large and sustained eruption of the Kīlauea Volcano in Hawaii and provided vital updates to protect residents, tourists and property from ash, lava and toxic fumes