Black-tie affair honors government's top senior executives

The government's top senior executives were honored with the nation's highest award for civil servants Thursday evening at the State Department. Fifty-three members of the Senior Executive Service received the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive at a black-tie banquet at the State Department. White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. was the guest speaker at the dinner, which was sponsored by the Senior Executives Association. Senior management officials at federal agencies nominate executives for the awards, while panels of private citizens choose the winners. The panels' selections then go to the President for his approval. The award is limited to only 1 percent of the approximately 6,000 career members of the Senior Executive Service. The 2000 winners have saved the government an estimated $86.9 billion. For example, William H. Reed, director of the Defense Contract Audit Agency, saved the government more than $20 million over three years by improving audit processes. G. Martin Wagner, associate administrator for governmentwide policy at the General Services Administration, was responsible for a legislative initiative that improved federal travel regulations, which will save Uncle Sam an estimated $800 million per year. And Rose C. Crum-Johnson, regional administrator for the Health Care Financing Administration in Atlanta, Ga., saved the government $31 million by establishing an anti-fraud unit that recovered funds from suppliers who had submitted fraudulent claims. The Defense Department boasted the most award winners, with 13 career executives from throughout the department receiving top honors. The Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive carries with it a cash award of 35 percent of an executive's salary. An additional 287 senior executives were also awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive, an honor that is limited to 5 percent of the career SES. Meritorious executives get 20 percent bonuses. For a complete list of the 2000 Presidential Rank Award Winners, click here.