The Oscars for civil servants: Meet this year’s finalists

The Washington Post: New techniques to detect and stop terrorist-made explosives, a halt to the spread of a wildlife epidemic, a new generation of personal protective equipment to make construction workers safe, reduced medical errors — these are some of the accomplishments of the federal employees nominated for this year’s prestigious civil service awards, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.

Heyman was the founder of the Partnership for Public Service and served as chairman from its start in September 2001 until his death in November 2009. The Sammies honor him and the federal employees singled out for groundbreaking work. This is the competition’s 15th year.

Read article