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USDA OFFICIALS RECEIVE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL RANK AWARDS

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the names of the 19 USDA career senior executives who received the 2004 President's Rank Award for exceptional long-term accomplishments.

"These outstanding USDA employees received this prestigious award because they are strong leaders who achieve results, demonstrate integrity and are committed to excellence in public service," said Johanns. "I applaud their efforts and innovative work that serve as a role model for all of us to improve the service we provide to the public."

There are two categories of rank awards: Distinguished and Meritorious. Award winners are chosen through a rigorous selection process. They are nominated by their agency heads, evaluated by boards of private citizens and approved by the President. The evaluation criteria focus on leadership and results. Each award recipient receives a cash award and a framed certificate signed by the President.

The 2004 President's Rank Award recipients are:

Distinguished Executive

W. Ron DeHaven, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - In recognition for his outstanding leadership on animal identification national plans for disease control purposes and for implementing a national surveillance plan to ensure continued eradication of exotic Newcastle disease.

Kevin Shea, APHIS - In recognition for his leadership, management, vision, creativity and strategic thinking which helped shape policies touching every sector of American agriculture, ensuring the health and worldwide marketability of U.S. agricultural products.

Patrick C. McCaskey, Food Safety Inspection Service - In recognition for his exemplary performance, inspired leadership and accomplishments as a national leader in the effort to enhance laboratory services in support of public health and food security.

Distinguished Senior Professional

Robert E. Davis, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) - In recognition for his leadership of team research to design and develop safe ways to protect plants from diseases that affect U.S. agriculture. His team also devises ways to use plants to produce new products, including effective vaccines to safeguard animal and human health.

Meritorious Executive

Richard D. Allen, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) - In recognition for his exemplary leadership contributions to NASS and the national and international agricultural and statistical communities. His efforts improved the quality and effectiveness of USDA statistical programs and increased awareness and knowledge of NASS both domestically and abroad.

Theodore O. Bell, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) - In recognition for his sustained, outstanding leadership and effective management and oversight of 15 domestic nutrition assistance programs.

Wilbert H. Blackburn, ARS - In recognition for his exemplary leadership, vision, unusual skill and outstanding management of ARS' Northern Plains Area, as well as for implementing programs that are team driven, results-oriented and meet the agricultural and environmental demands of the American people and the priorities and policies of the Administration.

Jack A. Blackwell, Forest Service (FS) - In recognition for his continued exemplary performance as a field line officer. With his ability to lead and produce results, he has consistently built organizations based on exceptional working relationships with employees, partners, legislators and other agencies.

Paul Chan, Economic Research Service - In recognition for his leadership, management, and motivational skills in enhancing the effectiveness of the agency's Information Services Division in meeting the changing needs of internal and external customers.

Louise Ebaugh, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) - In recognition for her exemplary leadership, outstanding management, unusual skill and vision in coordinating food and agricultural science financial assistance programs to strengthen research, education and extension.

Thomas J. Henneberry, ARS - In recognition for his long-term, outstanding administrative and exemplary program leadership and scientific contributions to agriculture, especially for his ecologically oriented research in support of integrated pest management and environmental improvement.

Edward B. Knipling, ARS - In recognition of his sustained exemplary leadership and management of ARS, the world's largest agricultural research organization, which has resulted in the advancement of the agency's mission to develop new scientific knowledge and technologies supporting policy making and program delivery by other Federal agencies, as well as serving farmers, consumers and other external customers within the food and agricultural system.

Ariel E. Lugo, Forest Service (FS) - In recognition for his exemplary leadership, management, scientific accomplishments in tropical forestry as well as for developing an internationally renowned program of research and outreach and developing and disseminating knowledge of scientifically sound practices that contribute to the sustainable use of tropical forest resources.

Sarah Jean Rockey, CSREES - In recognition for her exemplary public service and leadership in science and information technology. She oversaw the largest growth in competitive research, education and extension programming in the history of the USDA.

Ronald J. Vogel, FNS - In recognition for his outstanding leadership and effective management in administering the federal nutrition assistance programs.

Meritorious Senior Professional

Ronald F. Follett, ARS - In recognition for his highly productive research in the ARS, extensive publications, ability to guide and encourage broad areas of cooperative research, interactions with and assistance to users of research and overall understanding of science.

Joseph W. Glauber, Office of the Chief Economist (OCE) - In recognition for his contributions in formulating the overall policies and programs in OCE and for providing the Administration and the Congressional Budget Office with timely analyses and cost estimates of various disaster assistance and crop insurance proposals.

Cletus P. Kurtzman, ARS - In recognition for his outstanding scientific contributions and exemplary research leadership which includes developing genetic concepts and gene sequence databases that allow more precise determinations of genetic relatedness. He is a world authority on yeasts and other fungi.

Melvin T. Tyree, FS - In recognition for his scientific contributions and leadership to the discipline of plant water relations that are unequaled anywhere in the world. His creativity and research findings have profoundly influenced the work of many others globally.