Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Office of Personnel Management this week convened in Des Moines a panel of 12 citizens, including Iowa State Senators Pat Ward and David Johnson, to consider nominations for an elite award given to federal employees.

Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board reviewed the accomplishments of nominees -- career members of the Senior Executive Service (SES), and the Senior-Level (SL) and Scientific and Professional (ST) communities -- for the 2004 Presidential Meritorious Rank Award with the Bush Administration's goals and criteria for sustained accomplishment in the management of federal programs and services.

Following a review of the panel's work, OPM Director Kay Coles James will send her recommendations to President George W. Bush, who will make the final selections and announce the award recipients later this year.

"The 12 volunteers from Iowa who have honored their country through service on the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board exemplify the meaning of government ‘for the people and by the people,' " said James. Appointees to the board came from the state, corporate and other sectors of the community. "They are participants with the Bush Administration in recognizing the very best among our federal civil servants who have chosen a noble calling -- public service. I thank these men and women for their service and their integrity."

Second only to the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Service, the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Service is a high honor bestowed upon career federal employees. The award recognizes members of the career SES, SL and ST communities, the federal government's top cadre of managers and senior professionals, who have a consistent record of integrity, industry and commitment to public service. Members of these communities manage many of the nation's most vital programs in defense, intelligence, the environment, energy, agriculture and others.

The SES, SL and ST are comprised of 7,300 dedicated employees out of a federal work force of 1.8 million, and members are highly valued for their management, leadership and technical skills. And while they are small in numbers, an even smaller population is recognized each year with a Rank Award.

Nominees for the award must demonstrate a commitment to public service and possess a record of extraordinary leadership that is recognized at the agency level or acknowledged on a national or international level. Nominees are evaluated against meaningful and balanced criteria that have been adjusted to reflect the evolution of government services and the increasing complexity of federally managed programs. Successful nominees must demonstrate a record of achievement in:

o Leading Change

o Leading People

o Being Results Driven

o Possessing Business Acumen

o Building Coalitions/Communications

Members of the SL and ST communities are evaluated under different criteria, including technical leadership in the professional community and noteworthy improvements in the quality and efficiency of the civil service.

Over the next few months, additional Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Boards will meet across the country to consider nominees for the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award.

Members of the Presidential Rank Award Meritorious Review Board are:

o Sara L. Eide, Executive Director, Iowa Catholic Conference

o David Fisher, Chairman & CEO, Onthank Company

o Jeffrey L. Goodman, Attorney, Goodman & Associates, P.C.

o Kim Gordon, Executive Director, Iowa Right to Life Committee

o Carol Ann Jensen, Senior Legislative Analyst, Iowa Senate Republican Caucus Staff

o David Johnson, Iowa State Senator

o Peter Matthes, Staff Member, Senate Republican Caucus

o Julie McGarvey, Private Citizen

o Katie Roth, Partner, Merit Resources, Inc.

o Barbara Smith, Executive Director (Retired), Blank Park Zoo Foundation

o Dr. Serena Stier, Psychologist

o Pat Ward, Iowa State Senator