Secretary Mayorkas Honors Over 800 DHS Employees for Service
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas paid tribute to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workforce during the 2022 Secretary’s Awards. In various regional awards ceremonies, Secretary Mayorkas recognized 876 employees from all 9 components and DHS headquarters across 26 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Vietnam. The Awards lead up to May’s Public Service Recognition Week.
“There is no higher calling than public service. The individuals we recognize today exemplify the best of our Department and the best of public service,” stated Secretary Mayorkas, “I am grateful for their service to our nation and proud to recognize their extraordinary accomplishments.”
The Secretary's Awards recognize recipients for excellence in the following categories:
Exceptional Service Gold Medal: as the highest honor conferred by the department, this award recognizes leadership or service that has made a significant impact on national or international security;
Meritorious Service Silver Medal: the award is the department's second-highest distinction, honoring exceptional leadership, superior public service, or unusually significant contributions to the protection of the homeland;
Award for Valor: awarded for extraordinary acts of valor performed either on- or off-duty by both civilians and military personnel are eligible;
Award for Leadership Excellence: recognizes a leader or team who embodies the department's core values of integrity, vigilance, and respect as well as who puts employees first and inspires and motivates others;
Award for Innovation: honors individuals or teams that use innovative strategies and enterprise-wide approaches to support a department's mission;
Award for Team Excellence: presented to units within the department (be it a component, a division, an office, or a section) that have demonstrated exceptional results in operational areas such as law enforcement, aviation, cybersecurity, border patrol, hiring, acquisition, and information technology;
Champion of Equity: exemplifies the department's commitment to diversity through outstanding leadership and innovation; and,
Award for Volunteer Service: honors personnel who volunteer as part of non-profit or community service programs receive this award.
Winners this year supported efforts to combat cybercrime; prevented tragedies worldwide; helped ensure the democratic process of voting; and coordinated a national vaccination campaign to help end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Select recipients include:
Yolanda Jackson, Federal Coordinating Officer at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who received the Champion of Equity Award;
Julie Brewer, Innovation and Collaboration Executive Director the department’s Science and Technology Directorate, and Thomas Sullivan, U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division Chief were honored with the Leadership Excellence Award; and,
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Flood Response Capability Team and the National Threat Assessment Center were honored with the Innovation Award.