About the Academy

The National Public Service Awards

2009 Awards Timeline
Nominations Due October 12, 2008
Finalists Selected Mid December 2008
Winners Selected Mid January 2009

NPSA Links: Background | NPSA 2008 Selection Committee |

The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) proudly established the National Public Service Awards (NPSA) to honor individuals who make outstanding contributions and whose accomplishments can be viewed as models of public service within and outside the work environment. The National Public Service Awards Program recognizes individuals who exhibit the highest standards of excellence, dedication, and accomplishment over a sustained period of time and who are creative and highly skilled career managers at all levels of the public service.

The best way to get a sense of the contributions that can lead to a nominee being chosen for the award is to look at the list of past winners, and view accomplishments of the recent winners (see the above links).

There is detailed information on the last three years' winners, a listing of all past winners, and nomination criteria. Though the criteria may sound like those of, for example, an agency public service award, they are far more rigorous. For example, occasionally someone will be selected who has spent much of their career in one organization, but it is rare. That individual's contributions would have to have made a substantial impact on agency program, policies or processes, perhaps in a way that affected stakeholders throughout the country.

Nominations are solicited from the public service community throughout the country, and may come from any source. ASPA or NAPA membership is not a requirement for nominators or nominees. The six-page nominations are accepted throughout the year, but must be received by each year's established closing date. A distinguished committee will review nominations and select award recipients. The annual award ceremony is held during ASPA's National Conference.

A Steuben crystal eagle is presented to as many as five individuals who have spent a significant portion of their careers as public service practitioners.

Award Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Award winners are selected from all levels of public service - local, state, and federal governments, international, and public service nonprofit organizations. Awards are not made by category, so there could be, for example, two county winners and no winners from a state government. While individuals may hold a position in academia or a nonprofit organization, all recipients must have made significant contributions as career public servants in at least one level of government. Nominees holding elected office will be evaluated on the basis of their careers in public service, excluding time served as an elected official. Legislative branch staff are eligible, however, legislators without public management experience should not be nominated. Nonprofit organizations are those with a service delivery mission.

NPSA winners will be those who have, on a sustained basis, done some or all of the following:

• Made a profound difference in improving service to the public
• Been willing to take risks to achieve change
• Fostered a more democratic society
• Served as a champion of social equity
• Changed the way a governmental organization operates so that it better achieves its goals
• Achieved substantial savings in government operations
• Developed a cadre of other government leaders

Previous nominees may be renominated provided they meet the provisions of this announcement and their nominations are updated to include their latest achievements.

Rosslyn Kleeman Keeper of the Flame Award

The "Keeper of the Flame" Award was established in 2000 as a regular special recognition award for "an individual who has continued to provide public service after their official retirement from the profession." The physical memento is a candlestick. In establishing the new award, the NPSA Executive Committee recognized that many individuals retire from their career positions and continue to serve the public in other volunteer or paid positions. Often, these active retirees become very directly involved in their local community, working with civic or nonprofit organizations.

In 2003, this award was renamed the Rosslyn S. Kleeman Keeper of the Flame Award, in honor of the woman who has chaired the NPSA Selection Committee for many years. Roz Kleeman exemplifies the concept of continuing to serve for many years after her official "retirement."

Nominations for the Keeper of the Flame Award will follow the timeline and other requirements of the National Public Service Awards. Those who have retired from their public service career as of the nomination deadline will automatically be considered for the Keeper of the Flame Award. The Selection Committee has the option of awarding up to two Keeper of the Flame Awards.

Submission Instructions

All nominations must use the format outlined here. The format has changed from that of recent years.

A cover lever from the nominator must accompany the nomination.

The nomination itself may be no more than six pages (including the one-page summary of accomplishments and any attachments) and may be supplemented by up to five letters of endorsement (at least two are required).

Letters of endorsement may be signed by more than one individual.

Content of the Nomination Itself

1) General Information (this does not count as one of the six pages)

a) Name, address, daytime phone, title, and organization of the nominee.
b) Name, address, daytime phone, title, and organization of the nominator.
c) Names, address, and phone numbers of three references who can evaluate the nominee's achievements. Please note which aspects of the nominee's accomplishments the individual can address.

2) The text of the nomination should begin with a one-page summary of the accomplishments that the nominator believes makes the nominee worthy of a National Public Service Award.

This is the ONLY piece of information that will be sent to the Screening Committee, which is charged with reviewing all nominations and thus developing the list of finalists from which the Selection Committee will choose winners.

3) Detailed information on specific accomplishments. This should comprise the bulk of the nomination. This could include discussions of creative and innovative programs to which the nominee has made a major contribution. What are the major impacts of the nominee's work as a public manager or program leader? In essence, show how he/she "made a difference."

4) Brief summary of positions held and educational background.

5) Civic, community, and professional involvements conducted outside of the work environment (if none, state none).

6) Examples of a few other awards received (need not be comprehensive)

**numbers 3-6 (above) would be expressed in no more than five pages**

Submission Information

All components of the nomination must be received by the October 12, 2008 deadline. Materials received after that date will not be provided to the Screening Committee, but will be submitted for the next year's awards. Nominations must follow the format provided.

Self-nominations are not accepted.

Please send 12 complete copies to:
National Public Service Award
c/o NAPA
900 7th Street, N.W., Suite 600
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-347-3190 (Ext. 3008)

Inquiries may be sent to the address above or to:
Fax: (202) 393-0993 (Faxed nominations will not be accepted.)
E-mail: npsa@napawash.org (Emailed nominations cannot be accepted.)