Secretary of the Interior Norton Presents Awards for Outstanding Service and Valor at 62nd Honor Awards Ceremony

WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today presented more than a hundred awards to employees, volunteers and partners of the U.S. Department of the Interior at the 62nd Department Honor Awards Convocation.

"Those being honored today have made all of us proud. They have gone beyond the decision to serve. They have made their choice their calling," Secretary Norton remarked in opening the ceremony in the Sidney Yates Auditorium.

"For some, the choice was made in a heartbeat. They stepped up into a firestorm or jumped into a rescue. Others spent decades in service: Doing more than required - day after day, year after year."

The Secretary lauded individuals from across all Interior agencies today including park rangers, geologists, firefighters, information managers and private citizens and volunteers who heeded the call of duty.

The various categories of awards covered those who have shown courage in danger and dedication in service as well as employees who made exceptional efforts of public conservation and invaluable behind-the-scene contributions. A number of the awards recognized those who have made conservation contributions through the 4C's - communication, consultation and cooperation all in the service of conservation. Others were honored for exemplary service to increase diversity throughout the department.

The Secretary of the Department of the Interior has made conserving our Nation's natural resources one of the Department's top priorities. In so doing, she has introduced an innovative philosophy known as "The Four C's" - Communication, Consultation, and Cooperation, all in the service of Conservation.

The Four C's Award is established to recognize a Department of the Interior employee, or a group of employees who demonstrate exceptional contributions, methods, and efforts to promote the Secretary's initiatives.

Overall, an individual or group nominated for this award has demonstrated excellent communicative relationships with all stakeholders involved in decisions that concern our Nation's natural resources, creating win-win situations for stakeholders, as well as for the environment. The individuals or groups also have balanced working relationships with all stakeholders, including: Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments; private landholders, and private sector businesses, enabling the Department to make sustainable, environmentally and economically sound decisions concerning natural resource conservation.

The list of awards presented today follows.

Conservation Service Award Recipients

The Conservation Service Award is granted to individuals or groups who are not employed by the Department, but who have performed outstanding and direct service to the Department of the Interior. It is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a private citizen or group by the Secretary. A special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary are presented to the recipients.

Sponsored by:

Colorado Farm Bureau and Colorado U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of Natural Resources
George T. Baxter U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Temple-Inland Forest Products Corporation U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Werner Braun National Park Service
Task Force Operation Indian Rocks National Park Service
Bonnie C. Carroll U. S. Geological Survey
John M. Hill U. S. Geological Survey
Georges Creek Watershed Association U. S. Office of Surface Mining and U. S. Geological Survey

The Secretary's Four C's Award Recipients

The Secretary's Four C's Award is granted to a Department of the Interior employee, or a group or team of employees who demonstrate exceptional contributions, methods and efforts to promote the Secretary's initiatives. An individual or group/team nominated for this award must demonstrate excellent communicative relationships with all stakeholders involved in decisions that concern our nation's natural resources, creating win-win situations for stakeholders, as well as for the environment. A special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary are presented to the recipients.

Joint Ventures: Partners in Stewardship Conference
Core Planning Team
National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Reclamation, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Indian Outreach Team
Minerals Management Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management

Lake Havasu Fisheries Improvement Program
Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

John Carlucci,Office of the Solicitor and Daniel Sparks U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

4C's, Partnerships and Collaborative Action Team
Robert J. Lamb, Co-chairman Office of the Secretary and Brian O'Neill, Co-chairman National Park Service

Barrens Topminnow Project
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Pacific Islands Conservation Partnership Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

North Carolina Sandhills Conservation Partnership
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Share the Beach Sea Turtle Volunteer Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Park Flight Migratory Bird Program Team
National Park Service

Susan A. Stewart
Bureau of Land Management

Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region
Minerals Management Service

Gulf of Mexico Protected Species Team
Minerals Management Service

Watershed Assistance Team
Virginia Project
Office of Surface Mining

Charles C. Schwartz
U.S. Geological Survey

Donna N. Myers
U.S. Geological Survey

Rip S. Shively U.S. Geological Survey
and Dennis D. Lynch
U.S. Geological Survey
Choke Canyon Dam and Reservoir
Flooding Events Operation
Bureau of Reclamation

Western Colorado Area Office
Shortage Sharing Team
Bureau of Reclamation

Distinguished Service Award Recipients

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honorary recognition an employee can receive within the Department of the Interior. It is granted for an outstanding contribution to science, outstanding skill or ability in the performance of duty, outstanding contribution made during an eminent career in the Department or any other exceptional contribution to the public service. Recipients receive a special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary along with an engraved gold Distinguished Service medal and a gold lapel pin.

Office of the Secretary
John K. Peterson

Office of the Solicitor
Robert H. Moll
Richard J. Woodcock

Fish and Wildlife Service
Roger L. Banks
G. Donald Weathers

National Park Service
Catherine A. Damon
Gary W. Easton
J. Lynn Smith
William C. Walters

Minerals Management Service
Donald W. Hill
Richard Defenbaugh
Charles J. Schoennagel , Jr.
Richard L. Wilhelmsen

U.S. Geological Survey
David M. Boore
William J. Carswell
Tyler B. Coplen
Michael A. Domaratz
Gary L. Fairgrieve
Arlen W. Harbaugh
David P. Hill
John M. Klein
Thomas P. Miller
Charles E. Ogrosky
Lawrence C. Rowan
Donald A. Singer
Robert E. Stewart, Jr.
Donald A. Swanson
Gail A. Wendt

Citizen's Awards for Bravery Recipients

The Citizen's Award for Bravery is granted to private citizens for heroic acts or unusual bravery in the face of danger. Recipients have risked their lives to save the life of a Departmental employee or the life of any other person while on property owned by or entrusted to the Department of the Interior. A special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary are presented to the recipients.

Sponsored by:

Tim Bromelkamp National Park Service
John R. Dowling National Park Service
Kevin Dowling National Park Service
Fred Esparza National Park Service
Vann Johnston National Park Service
Gil Rocha National Park Service
Kevin Douglas Scheirer National Park Service
Karen Welden National Park Service

Valor Award Recipients

The Valor Award is presented to Department of the Interior employees who have demonstrated unusual courage involving a high degree of personal risk in the face of danger. The act of heroism is not required to be related to official duties or to have occurred at the official duty station. Recipients receive a special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary and an engraved gold Valor award medal.

Trevino D. Stevens, Jr. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Scott C. Cooke Bureau of Land Management
Dale D. Johnson Bureau of Land Management
Thomas Troy Schnurr Bureau of Land Management
Dan Burgette National Park Service
Christopher J. Burke National Park Service
William Collup National Park Service
Steven Elenburg National Park Service
Michael Fedorko III National Park Service
James M. Gavin National Park Service
Dan Fangen-Gritis National Park Service
Chris Harder National Park Service
Craig Holm National Park Service
Richard J. Larrabee National Park Service
Leo Larson National Park Service
Talmadge Magno National Park Service
John McConnell National Park Service
George Montopoli National Park Service
Gregory P. Muller National Park Service
Michael J. Sanger National Park Service
Jim Springer National Park Service
Martin Vidak National Park Service
Joe P. Alcon Bureau of Reclamation
Kevin R. Lister Bureau of Reclamation
John B. McKinney Bureau of Reclamation
Richard P.K. Melim Bureau of Reclamation
Charles E. Stevens Bureau of Reclamation
Jose M. Velasquez Bureau of Reclamation
K. Samuel Fishel U. S. Geological Survey
Scott P. Sorber U. S. Geological Survey

Unsung Hero Award Recipients

The Unsung Hero Award is a Departmental award designed to recognize Interior employees who have made valuable behind-the-scene contributions to the Department. Bureaus and offices recognize their Unsung Heroes throughout the year and forward up to five nominations to the Department annually for consideration for their Bureau/Office's Departmental recipient.

2003
Jacqueline Balaga Office of the Solicitor
Charles J. (Jim) Winter U. S. Geological Survey

2004
Jacqueline Johnston Office of the Secretary
Adam Pierre Office of the Solicitor
Wendall M. Galvan Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians
Edward Darlington Fish and Wildlife Service
Jane C. Anderson National Park Service
Rodney Tang Bureau of Reclamation
Bruce W. Presgrave U.S. Geological Survey
Barbara Holloway Bureau of Land Management
Kathryn O'Toole Office of Surface Mining

Secretary's Diversity Award Recipients

The Secretary's Diversity Awards recognize and honor individual employees or groups of employees who have demonstrated exemplary service and/or have made significant contributions within the Department of the Interior in its efforts to substantially increase diversity at all levels.

Award for Employee Achievement
Ivette Torres U. S. Geological Survey

Award for Management Achievement
Thomas Ferranti National Park Service

Award for Partnership Achievement
The Inner City Youth Institute Bureau of Land Management

HEALTHIERFEDS Award Recipients

The HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge is a government-wide initiative to promote physical activity and healthier habits among federal employees. The 2004 Challenge was from October 4 to December 10, 2004. These awards recognize those bureaus with the highest percentage of their employees completing the challenge, and the bureaus' points of contact for their dedication and significant contributions.

Fish and Wildlife Service

Office of Surface Mining

Mark Davis Office of the Secretary
Olivia Ferriter Office of the Secretary
Kim Thorsen Office of the Secretary
William Sinclair Bureau of Indian Affairs
Mary Sites Robic U. S. Geological Survey
Shenee Turner Bureau of Reclamation
Terry Pierce Bureau of Land Management
Staci Atkins Minerals Management Service
Patricia Hairston Office of Surface Mining
Tom Ross National Park Service
Kimm Slayton U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service