Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Linda M. Springer today convened a 12-member panel from across the nation's capital region to consider final nominations for the 2008 Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive and Senior Professional. The review panel is composed of distinguished business executives, educators, retirees, and community leaders.

"Exceptional leadership in the Federal Government is essential to deliver results for the American people" said Springer. "Through the hard work of these panelists, we not only recognize those who have excelled in this effort, we also set an example for future leaders to aspire to."

The Presidential Rank Award is the highest professional honor for career Senior Executive Service (SES) members and senior career employees.  Panelists will review accomplishments of nominees - career SES and senior level employees who have a sustained record of exceptional professional, technical, and/or scientific achievement.

The evaluation criteria includes: the ability to lead change and people, being results driven, having business acumen, the ability to build coalitions/communications, and having stature in a professional field. Awardees receive a cash award of 20 percent of their base salary. Only five percent of the career SES and senior level career community may receive this rank.

This panel is the final of four slated to meet and consider nominees for the 2008 Meritorious Rank Award. After today's panel, Director Springer will send her recommendations to President George W. Bush, who will make the final selections and announce the award recipients later this year.

Members of the 2008 Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board for the Washington, DC area are:

Ms. Brooks Allgood Armandroff, Community Volunteer

Ms. Allison Cryor DiNardo, President, King Street Wireless

Mr. James S. Green, Retired, Office of Personnel Management

Dr. Doris Hausser, Retired, Office of Personnel Management

Ms. Susanne Howard, Principal, The McCormick Group Inc.

Ms. Heather Layman, Hill and Knowlton

Ms. Harriet Melvin, Quinn Gillespie and Associates

Mr. Andrew Olivastro, Vice President, Edelman Public Relations

Ms. Maeve Rigler, Securus Capital LLC

Mr. Kenneth von Schaumburg, Of Counsel, Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A.

Mr. Stanley E. Taylor, Vice President of Metropolitan Relations, George Mason University 

Mr. Michael J. Zarchin, Principal, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

Our mission is to ensure the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce. OPM supports U.S. agencies with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools, guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work force performance.