Speaking to about 100 people in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom, Peter Williams, president of the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission, called the award ceremony’s association with GW one of its most important since it was founded in 1948.
The ceremony, held on June 6, honored 13 “outstanding federal employees,” including public servants working at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, Navy, Department of Justice, Air Force and Department of Labor.
The awardees, who have worked at government agencies for up to 15 years, were: Timothy Bunning, Scott Diddams, Christopher Soles, Ian Spielman, Philip Castle, Glenn Donovan, Kenneth Knapp, Erich Strassner, Lisa Blumerman, Renee Camacho, Gabriel Hiley, Kelly Lawson and Anthony Wilhelm.
Recipients are nominated by their federal agency and then selected from a pool of nominees based on their work performance. Leadership, community service and potential for continued excellence are also factors in the judging process, according to a GW release.
In his introductory remarks, GW President Steven Knapp noted that GW has hosted the awards 14 times in the ceremony’s 62-year history. Dr. Knapp said the university was particularly proud to host the event, because Dr. Flemming, LL.B. ’33, a former secretary of health, education and welfare under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is a GW alumnus.
Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, M.P.A. ’86, a 2010 recipient of GW’s Colin Powell Public Service Award, was scheduled to deliver a keynote address, but was unable to catch a flight from New Orleans due to inclement weather.
Dr. Knapp recognized several high-profile guests, including Mark Hughes, a university trustee and a Flemming commission member.
“I am also glad to see so many students from our public administration and public policy programs, as well as other George Washington students, alumni, faculty and staff,” Dr. Knapp said.
GW has been preparing students for public service careers since it was founded in response to George Washington’s educational vision, Dr. Knapp said.
“For a number of years now, much of that critically important work has been through our Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, which has sent hundreds of Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy students into government service at all levels, as well as into the nonprofit sector,” he said.
But, he said, many people today unfortunately believe that the private sector eclipses the value of public service. “The best answer to that kind of criticism, it seems to me, is precisely the women and men we are honoring this evening,” Dr. Knapp said. “And it’s significant that these distinguished public servants are being honored by leaders of the private sector who recognize their contributions and accomplishments.”
“We at George Washington University are proud and, in fact, a little bit humbled to be associated with one of the oldest federal government award programs, the only one sponsored entirely by the private sector,” he said.
The Flemming Awards website identifies GW as a sponsor, as well as premier sponsors Federal Management Systems, GEICO and Government Employees Health Association.
Dr. Knapp and Kathryn Newcomer, director of the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, awarded medals and certificates to the honorees.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Newcomer echoed Dr. Knapp’s enthusiasm.
“It’s such an honor. I so enjoy doing this, and I’m so glad GW became the home for the Flemming Awards,” she said. “It’s been a pleasure to work together for the past 14 years, and I look forward to the next 14.”
The 62nd annual Flemming Awards were presented by the George Washington University and the Flemming Commission, in cooperation with the National Academy of Public Administration.