As delineated in numerous
diplomatic cables describing each one, achievement awards recognize specific service over the previous year in a specific field or job category. The majority of the awards include a certificate, signed by the
Secretary of State and a cash bonus. The cash bonuses range from zero to $10,000. Many of the awards were sponsored by private donors, who are often formerly members of the Foreign Service, but the nominations for the awards still go through the Department of State’s awards committee each year.
Secretary's Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs The award recognizes individual excellence in the development, negotiation and/or implementation of national policy and solutions to counter country-specific, regional and/or global nonproliferation, counter-proliferation, political-military,
arms control, verification, and/or noncompliance challenges facing the United States. The winner receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and a $10,000 stipend and the runner-up receives a signed certificate and a $2,000 stipend.
Award for Excellence in Labor Diplomacy The award recognizes Civil and Foreign Service personnel who emphasize the importance of labor diplomacy in promoting the values and ideals of American democracy abroad and illustrate the variety of tasks Labor Officers perform. The winner receives $10,000 and a certificate signed by the Secretaries of State and Labor. The runner-up receives $2,500 and a certificate signed by the Secretaries of State and Labor. ===
James A. Baker III –
C. Howard Wilkins, Jr. Award for Outstanding
Deputy Chief of Mission=== This award is presented annually to a Deputy Chief of Mission who demonstrates the proficiency, creativity, and overall capacity to serve effectively as Deputy Chief of Mission and as Chargé d'Affaires in the Ambassador's absence. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $5,000. This award is made possible by C. Howard Wilkins, Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands, and is named to honor him and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III. ===
Warren Christopher Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Affairs=== This award, initiated in 1997 and named in honor of former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, recognizes sustained excellence and initiative in the substantive policy areas of oceans, the environment, and science; democracy, human rights, and labor; population, migration, and refugees; and international narcotics and crime. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. ===
Civil Service Secretary of the Year=== This annual award recognizes the high standards of performance which characterize the work of Civil Service Secretaries in the department and abroad. It is granted annually to one Civil Service Secretary whose performance is judged by a selection committee to exemplify most clearly these high standards. The recipient receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. In addition, the recipients’ names are placed on a plaque in the department.
Charles E. Cobb Jr. Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Development This award, made possible by the support of former Ambassador to Iceland,
Charles E. Cobb, is presented to career members of the Foreign Service serving in an ambassadorial appointment for noteworthy success in developing trade between other nations and the United States. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000.
Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service The
Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service is presented to a Non-Career Ambassador who (a) has used private sector leadership and management skills to make a significant impact on bilateral or multilateral relations and (b) has done so in a manner that best reflects the foreign service culture of uncommon commitment in carrying out United States foreign policy through proactive diplomacy. The award is made possible by the generosity of
Sue M. Cobb, former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica. The honoree receives a certificate signed by the Secretary. The honoree's Embassy and the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute each receive $5,000. The first recipient was
David C. Mulford in 2007.
Ryan C. Crocker Award for Outstanding Leadership in Expeditionary Diplomacy This award was established by Secretary
Hillary Clinton to honor Career Ambassador
Ryan C. Crocker, former ambassador to Lebanon, Kuwait, Pakistan, and Iraq, and first Chargé at the reopened U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. The award recognizes those who excel in the most challenging leadership positions overseas. The winner, if an employee of the agencies covered by the Foreign Affairs Manual, receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. In accordance with 3 FAM 4813.2(c), the winner, if a member of the military, may only receive the certificate. ===Robert C. Bannerman
Diplomatic Security Employee of the Year=== Named after the first person in charge of the predecessor agency that eventually became the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in 1985, this award is presented to a member of the Civil or Foreign Service serving in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security for outstanding contributions in support of the Bureau's mission. The recipient receives a cash award of $10,000 and a certificate signed by the Secretary of State.
Special Agent Daniel E. O'Conner Memorial Award for Excellence in Site Security Management The award is named in honor of Daniel E. O'Connor, who died in the terrorist bombing of
Pan Am Flight 103 over
Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. The award recognizes superior professional performance and outstanding leadership in the challenging field of site security management.
Director General’s Award for Impact and Originality in Reporting This award is conferred in recognition of the high standards that characterize the Department's reporting, analysis, and advocacy efforts. The recipient receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State, $10,000, and an engraved desk pen set. The recipients’ names are engraved on a plaque that is permanently displayed in the department. ===
James Clement Dunn Award for Excellence=== This award was established in 1980 to recognize exemplary performance in the Department of State at the mid-career level. It is made possible by an endowment from the
Vincent Astor Foundation and is named, at the request of the donor, in memory of Ambassador James Clement Dunn. Ambassador Dunn retired from the Service in 1956 with the rank of Career Ambassador. The recipient receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. The James Clement Dunn Award for Excellence recognizes leadership, intellectual skills, managerial ability, and personal qualities that most fully exemplify the standards of excellence desired of officers at the mid-career level.
Equal Employment Opportunity Award This annual award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments (by a Foreign Service or a Civil Service employee) in furthering the goals of the Department's EEO program through exceptionally effective leadership, skill, imagination, and innovation in extending and promoting equal opportunities for all employees. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. ===
Cordell Hull Award for Economic Achievement by Senior Officers=== The Cordell Hull Award for Economic Achievement by a Senior Officer is made possible by former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore,
Steven J. Green. It recognizes outstanding contributions by a senior level State Department employee in advancing U.S. interests in the international economic field. The recipient of the award receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. The award is given based on the quality of the nominee’s overall contribution in advancing U.S. international economic relations and objectives; documented economic leadership, advocacy, analytical, reporting or negotiating skills, or a combination thereof; and creative thinking influencing economic policy formulation. ===
Leamon R. Hunt Award for Management Excellence=== This award is given to a Department of State officer serving in a management position who has made notable contributions to the efficiency and quality of services at post. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary and $10,000.
Swanee Hunt Award for Advancing Women’s Role in Policy Formulation These awards specifically recognize achievements in the area of promoting women as participants in the political and economic processes or as policy shapers. An annual stipend of $10,000 will be given in two awards of $5,000 each: one to a Foreign Service or Civil Service employee and one to a Foreign Service National at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Foreign Service National of the Year Award The FSN of the Year Award is given in recognition of the value to the U.S. Government through special contributions made by Department of State Foreign Service National (FSN) employees hired under direct hire appointments and personal service agreements at U.S. diplomatic posts abroad. Annually, each Regional Bureau nominates one candidate, which is the Bureau FSN of the Year winner. Each winner's outstanding performance is recognized via a bureau award consisting of a signed certificate, and cash award. The individual selected as Department FSN of the Year receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and a cash award of $10,000. The remaining five Regional Bureaus winners/runners up will receive a certificate signed by the Assistant Secretary of their respective Regional Bureau and a cash award of $2,500. The following factors will be considered by each Regional Bureau in selecting its nominee, and by the department's panel in selecting the FSN of the Year. Outstanding achievement in any one of the areas listed below, or combination thereof, may justify selection. • Significant contributions which support understanding of American foreign policy interests overseas. • Outstanding examples of liaison with host country officials and others, which facilitated the work of American officers or goals of the mission. • Exceptional initiative in the defense of U.S. property or colleagues or American citizens. • Performance of assigned duties that were clearly instrumental in the achievement of major mission goals and objectives that without success would have been uncertain or seriously delayed. • Special effectiveness in bridging national differences which enhanced the introduction of American staff members into professional, cultural, or personal relationships with host country nationals and contributed to effective representation. • Personal or professional courage in difficult, demanding or hardship situations. ===
Sean Smith Innovation in the Use of Technology Award=== This award is presented to an exceptional employee in the Foreign Service or the Civil Service serving domestically or abroad except those with specific job responsibilities for the management, development, implementation, or support of computer technology. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000.
Linguist of the Year Award This award is presented to a member of the Foreign Service who demonstrates unusual mastery of a world or difficult language while studying at the
Foreign Service Institute. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary and $10,000.
Frank E. Loy Award for Environmental Diplomacy This award, established as a legacy to the department and its employees by
Frank E. Loy, former Under Secretary for Global Affairs, recognizes achievement in international environmental affairs, including advancement of U.S. interests, analysis and policy development, integration into overall U.S. diplomacy efforts, and interaction with the public and private sectors. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $5,000.
Thomas Morrison Information Management Award This award is presented to an exceptional employee of the Foreign Service or the civil service (except
Senior Foreign Service and senior executive service) in the information management field, serving domestically or abroad. The award consists of a certificate signed by the secretary of state and $10,000.
Award for Excellence in International Security Affairs This award specifically recognizes individual excellence in the development, negotiation and/or implementation of national policy and solutions to counter country-specific, regional and/or global nonproliferation, counter-proliferation, political-military, arms control, verification and/or noncompliance challenges facing the United States. A signed certificate and stipend of $5,000 will be awarded to the Foreign Service employee and the Civil Service employee respectively, whose contributions best meet the selection criteria. The runner-up Foreign Service employee and Civil Service employee would each receive an award of $1,000 and signed certificate. The selection panel will determine award recipients on the basis of the following criteria: • The quality of the employee's contributions to the development, negotiation and/or implementation of strategies and programs to advance United States' nonproliferation, counter-proliferation, political-military, arms control, verification and/or compliance agenda. The impact of the employee's efforts will be a primary consideration in this regard. • Demonstrated leadership, initiative and creativity in creating sustainable and effective approaches to meet specific State Department priorities in one or more of the areas specified above. Demonstrated excellence in developing accessible and representative contacts (e.g., within relevant governments, military organizations, multilateral institutions, NGOs, academia, elites and/or the media) and successfully engaging them to advance the U.S. agenda in one or more of the areas specified above. • Demonstrated excellence in reporting on and/or analyzing foreign attitudes as they affect U.S. policy in one or more of the areas specified above and using this information and analysis to advance U.S. priorities. • Demonstrated success in working effectively with colleagues in other bureaus and agencies, foreign government officials and representatives from international organizations, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to achieve U.S. Transformational Diplomacy objectives in one or more of the areas specified above. ===
Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy=== This award recognizes significant contributions in the field of public diplomacy and the special qualities that reflect the integrity, courage, sensitivity, vision, and dedication to excellence that were so highly exemplified in the life of Edward R. Murrow, the Director of the United States Information Agency from 1961 to 1964. The winner of the award receives a plaque presented during the commencement exercises at the Fletcher School, Tufts University. The winner also receives $10,000, which is presented at the annual Departmental Awards Ceremony held at the State Department. Selection will be based on the nominee's: • Integrity of character and adherence to firm standards of truth and principle; • Outstanding performance and good judgment under stressful conditions; and • Creative use of communications skills with foreign audiences.
Office Management Specialist of the Year Award This annual award recognizes the high standards of performance which characterize the work of Foreign Service Office Management Specialists in the department and abroad. It is granted annually to one Foreign Service OMS whose performance is judged by a selection committee to exemplify most clearly these high standards. The recipient receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. In addition, the recipients’ names are placed on a plaque in the department. ===
Arnold Lewis Raphel Memorial Award=== This annual award is named in honor of Ambassador Raphel and recognizes the special qualities that he brought to both U.S. diplomacy and the work of the Foreign Service. The award is granted to an individual in international affairs who embodies the special human qualities and extra effort put forth by Ambassador Raphel to promote and develop the people around him, especially entry-level officers. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000.
Luther I. Replogle Award for Management Improvement This award was made possible by an endowment established by
Luther I. Replogle, former American ambassador to Iceland. It is granted to an employee of the Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development who has made an outstanding contribution to management improvement. The recipient receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000. ===
Mary A. Ryan Award for Outstanding Public Service=== This award recognizes achievement and extraordinary leadership in the provision of services to U.S. citizens domestically as well as abroad. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000.
Herbert Salzman Award for Excellence in International Economic Performance This award is made possible by
Herbert Salzman, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. It recognizes outstanding contributions in advancing U.S. international relations and objectives in the economic field. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $5,000.
Rockwell Anthony Schnabel Award for Advancing U.S.-EU Relations The Rockwell Anthony Schnabel Award for Advancing U.S.-EU Relations was initiated in 2004 and named in honor of former Ambassador Schnabel, recognizes outstanding efforts in advancing U.S. policy objectives through cooperation with the EU. The winner of the award receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State, and $5,000. Selection will be based on: • The quality of the nominee’s overall contribution in advancing US policy objectives through cooperation with the European Union (EU); • Conceptual thinking influencing economic or political policy formulation; and • The candidate’s ability to foster good US-EU relations with contacts working within institutions of the EU, within EU member states or within EU candidate states.
Barbara M. Watson Award for Consular Excellence This award is made in recognition of outstanding contributions to consular operations. The award consists of a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000.
Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award This award is presented to the department employee who most exemplifies the late Ambassador's commitment to peace and the alleviation of human suffering caused by war or civil injustice. The recipient receives a certificate signed by the Secretary of State and $10,000.
David E. Foy Memorial Award for Excellence in Facility Management The award is named on behalf of David E. Foy, who was killed by a car bomb in Karachi, Pakistan, in March, 2006. The award recognizes the recipient's achievements in the field of facilities management and is presented to the individual whose facility management program demonstrated exceptional leadership, sound management practices, and furthered the goals of the mission and OBO.
Foreign Service Construction Engineer of the Year Award The award recognizes the recipient's achievements in the field of construction management and considers the following factors: projects supported by the nominee, accomplishments in the field of construction management, actions taken on the job or in the community that exemplify the positive spirit that all FSCEs should strive for, and extenuating circumstances that the nominee managed effectively.
Value Engineering Achievement Award The Value Engineering Awards Program is an acknowledgment of exemplary achievements and encourages additional projects to improve in-house and contractor productivity. Award winners from each DoD component are eligible for selection in the following five categories: program/project, individual, team, organization, and contractor. Additional "special" awards are given to recognize innovative applications or approaches that expand the traditional scope of value engineering use. ==Service Awards==