NOAA Honor Awards Recognize Leadership, Initiative, and Creativity
Genevieve Contey
NOAA Office of Communications
April 22, 2009 — Life-saving tornado warnings and wildfire forecasts. Pioneering studies of satellite imagery. Innovative solutions for restoring habitats at the Hudson River Superfund site. Advances in the protection of essential cod habitats, endangered sea turtles and dolphins.
These are just some of the diverse achievements recognized at the 2008 NOAA Honor Awards held April 7 at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C.
NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and National Weather Service Director Jack Hayes congratulate NWS’ Yan Xue, one of the NOAA Bronze Medal Award winners for 2008.
Photo credit: NOAA.
NOAA Director of Workforce Management Eddie Ribas officiated at the ceremony, which recognized more than 300 employees for their outstanding contributions to the agency. As the audience gathered, the names of 63 NOAA employees who earlier received 2008 Commerce Gold and Silver Awards were scrolled on projection screens flanking the stage.
NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco bestowed the Bronze Medal Award — the highest form of honorary recognition for exceptional service given by NOAA — to 231 staff members representing all line offices and a variety of grade levels and job functions. The under secretary also conferred 15 Distinguished Career Awards for long-term career achievements. In addition, the 12 most recent Employee/Team Members of the Month were honored for their contributions.
Dr. Lubchenco addressed the award recipients group, underscoring her appreciation for their exceptional service and stressing the need for all employees to continue to work together to deliver the agency’s vital services.
“NOAA’s greatest asset is its people,” said Dr. Lubchenco. “The NOAA personnel we honor today understand [their] responsibility to the nation and have demonstrated their willingness and ability to go well-beyond expectations in its service.”
Learn more about the criteria for Honor Awards selection by visiting DOC’s online Performance Management Handbook section on Recognition. To view a descriptive listing of all the 2008 Honor Award recipients, check out the official Honor Awards program brochure.