Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals

The Sammy Medal

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, right, presents the National Security and International Affairs Medal to Michael Duncan, former deputy chief medical officer at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston at the 2011 Sammies gala in Washington.
Awarded for Making significant contribution to the country.
Country United States
Presented by Partnership for Public Service
First awarded Oct. 5, 2002
Official website Service to America Medals

The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, also known as “the Sammies,” honor stars of the Federal government workforce, highlighting the work of employees making significant contributions to the governance of the United States. The awards are considered "the Oscars” of American government service.[1] The Sammies accordingly celebrate excellence in the federal merit service.[2]

Selection Process

The Sammies are chosen from nominations collected each winter, and winnowed down to 32 finalists announced mid-spring of each year. The 32 finalists are assessed, and from their ranks, nine awardees are selected by early fall. The Sammy selection committee is composed of nationally-known journalists, political leaders, educators, and executives of large corporations. The eight awards cover the various sectors of federal public service.[3] Honorees are chosen for their commitment and innovation, as well as the impact of their work on addressing the needs of the republic. Awardees are announced each fall at a dinner and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.[4] The “Sammies” finalists are those federal employees confronting complex issues of governance, including environmental, national security, and economic challenges. One criterion of the award is to qualify from among a dynamic group of talented, bright individuals working on behalf of the American people.[5] The awards are organized and presented by the non-profit organization Partnership for Public Service.[6]

Awards’ Organizers

The awards have been presented annually since 2002 by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service.[7] In 2007, the Sammies held a second swanky ceremony at Cipriani on Manhattan's 42 Street. It was a high society affair, with 750 “A” list guests attending. Among the Sammy winners was that year was founder Samuel J. Heyman's long-time associate, Joseph Lieberman. At the Waldorf Astoria in 2006, Senator John McCain received a Sammy. And in 2005, the honoree was Hank Paulson, then at Goldman Sachs, and later the Secretary of the Treasury. According to news reporting, the Partnership for Public Service awarding the Sammies was conceived after Heyman discovered that a mere 3 per cent of Harvard University Law School students took public sector work at commencement. The figure was 30 per cent in the 1960s, when Heyman graduated from Harvard in 1963 to join the Robert F. Kennedy-run Justice Department. Heyman is from New York City and was active in the 1980s junk bond market, working in tandem with Michael Milken.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Stand-Out Public Servants Receive Coveted Service to America Medals at Washington, D.C. Gala; "Oscars" of Government Service Recipients Work in Washington, D.C., Colorado, Florida, California and Haiti (Sept. 16, 2010); see also Timothy B. Clark, Making a Difference, National Journal (Oct. 7, 2006).
  2. ↑ Gabrielle Maxey, Risky Business, The University of Memphis Magazine (Fall 2010); see also Marie Gilbert, "Hagerstown man one of 34 finalists for the 2011 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals", Herald-Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland)(Aug. 27, 2011) at 1 (reporting on the finalist Daniel P. Meyer from the Department of Defense).
  3. ↑ Service to America Medals Partnership for America, Washington Life Magazine (Dec. 2003).
  4. ↑ The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies)(Apr. 20,2011).
  5. ↑ Alumnus Shane Kelly honored with Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, Metro State Alumni & Friends (Oct. 1, 2010).
  6. ↑ Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class(SW/AW) Derrick M. Ingle, U.S. Navy Chief of Information Public Affairs, Navy Civilian Awarded Top Medal for Homeland Security (United States Navy Press Release)(Sept. 16, 2010).
  7. ↑ NOAA Press Release, Service to America Medal Awarded to NOAA's Dr. Susan Solomon (Sept. 16, Sept. 16, 2010).
  8. ↑ David Nason, Mystery man Heyman sheds no light on fiasco, The Australian (May 9, 2007).

External links

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