Air Force officials accepting nominations for public administration award Published Nov. 30, 2009 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials are now accepting nominations for the 6th Annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. This award recognizes non-managerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives. To be eligible, nominees must have three to 10 years of civilian federal service by Dec. 31, 2009. Nominees can be serving in any functional area and will be evaluated on their commitment to public service and demonstration of personal and professional integrity. Nomination deadlines will be determined by individual major commands, field operating agencies and direct reporting units. This award was created to promote, perpetuate and recognize the contributions similar to those manifested by David O. Cooke during his nearly five decades of federal service with the DOD. During his time in civil service, he was widely recognized as a public official promoting a cooperative spirit among DOD leadership and improving DOD operations. For more information on this and other Air Force award programs, visit AFPC's secure "ASK" site or call the Total Force Service Center at (800) 525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.