Air Force senior execs honored with top awards

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Hanson
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Seventeen of the Air Force's top executive employees were recognized for career achievements during the annual Distinguished and Meritorious Presidential Rank Awards ceremony held April 30 in the auditorium of the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley honored top career members of the senior executive service, senior level, scientific and professional employees as well as Defense intelligence senior executive service and Defense intelligence senior level employees. They were recognized by President Obama for sustained extraordinary accomplishments.

While the nation leverages sophisticated technologies and weapons systems, the human element remains critical, Mr. Donley said during the ceremony.

"Today, there are 289 SES (executives) within the Air Force," the secretary said.  "As with any group, there are those who stand out from their peers."

Recipients of this award are chosen for being strong leaders, professionals and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength, integrity and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service, he added.

"There will never be a substitute for the authentic leadership and selfless devotion each of you exhibit every day," Mr. Donley said.

Recipients of the Air Force 2009 Distinguished Presidential Rank award are:
Dr. Siva Banda, senior scientist, control theory
Timothy Beyland, assistant deputy chief of staff, manpower and personnel
Bruce Lemkin, deputy under secretary for international affairs

Recipients of the Air Force 2009 Meritorious Presidential Rank award are:
Robert Corsi Jr., deputy administrative assistant
Audrey Davis, deputy assistant secretary for financial operations
Theodore Fecke, technical adviser, propulsion
Gerald Freisthler, director, engineering
Richard Genaille Jr., director of policy, international affairs
Dr. Brendan Godfrey, director, Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Dr. Brian Kent, chief scientist for sensors
Dr. Richard Linderman, senior scientist for advanced computing architectures
Arthur Myers, principal director, military community and family policy
John Over III, executive director
Paul Parker, deputy civil engineer
Curtis Rowland, senior intelligence engineer, data exploitation
Bobby Smart, director, policy, planning and resources
Debra Tune, deputy assistant secretary for logistics

As part of the award, Presidential Rank recipients, the top 1 percent of executives, receive a lump-sum payment of 35 percent of their annual basic pay. Meritorious Rank recipients, the top 5 percent, receive 20 percent of their annual basic pay. All recipients receive a framed certificate signed by the president.

For more information about the PRA Program go to www.opm.gov/ses/performance/presrankawards.asp.