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 view the
profiles of recent winners.
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:
