OPM announces 2008 Presidential Rank Award winners

President Bush has recognized more than 350 career federal executives for their outstanding leadership and longtime service to government.

"Winners of the prestigious Presidential Rank Award represent the cream of the crop within the federal executive ranks," Office of Personnel Management acting Director Michael Hager said in a statement announcing the 2008 awards. "Their professional dedication and commitment to excellence is helping to advance President Bush's agenda for enhancing federal government performance and creating a more effective civil service."

Of the 353 recipients, 61 career employees were named Distinguished Senior Professionals or Executives. That distinction is limited to 1 percent of the senior professional and senior executive corps.

The recipients will receive cash awards worth 35 percent of their base pay, which means a bonus of at least $40,063, since minimum base pay for senior executives is $114,468. Bonuses could be as high as $60,270 for top senior executives in agencies that have certified performance appraisal systems for SES members and the top salary for executives is $172,200. In agencies without certified systems, the salary cap is $158,500, and the highest bonuses will be $55,475.

The other 292 award recipients were named Meritorious Executives and Senior Professionals, an honor limited to 5 percent of the corps. They will receive awards worth 20 percent of their base pay, a minimum of $22,894, and up to $34,400 in agencies with certified appraisal systems, and $31,700 in agencies without them.

Defense and Homeland Security executives had another strong showing among winners. In 2007, Defense and the military departments alone had 16 Distinguished Executives and 71 Meritorious Executives. This year officials from the Homeland Security and Defense (including the armed services) departments won 18 of the Distinguished Rank Awards and 44 of the Meritorious Rank Awards.