Every day, federal employees meet pressing public needs—developing medical treatments, defending our national security, supporting underserved communities, caring for our veterans, protecting the environment and more.
Yet for many Americans, this vital work remains a mystery. They notice government when it fails, but not when it succeeds.
We shed light on these untold success stories, recognizing the anonymous public servants who drive government’s most significant accomplishments and work tirelessly to protect our health, safety and well-being. In so doing, we build public trust in government and underscore the critical role it plays in our democracy.
Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals®
For more than 20 years, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals® have been the premier awards program recognizing innovation and leadership in the federal government. Considered the “Oscars” of government service, the Sammies highlight the myriad ways our government improves our daily lives and moves our country forward.
Since its inception in 2001, the Sammies have honored more than 760 public servants for their accomplishments.
Each year, the Partnership helps people and organizations across the country recognize the important work of public servants, the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees.
Public Service Recognition Week 2024 was observed from May 5-May 11, 2024. Visit our site for resources, event recaps, videos and more.
“Profiles in Public Service” tells stories about unsung public servants who drive government’s most important accomplishments. Our guests include federal employees and those who benefit from their leadership to demonstrate what federal services and support mean for communities across America.
On Sept. 11, the 23rd annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals® gala took place in Washington, D.C., to honor exceptional public servants who are dedicated to serving our nation. At the gala, the Partnership presented its 2024 Spirit of Service Award to the co-founders of “A Starting Point,” Chris Evans, Mark Kassen and…
Although they often go unnoticed, public servants are the heartbeat of our nation. That was the message conveyed at “Honoring Public Service: The Untold Stories,” an event hosted by The Washington Post to mark the launch of its new series spearheaded by best-selling author Michael Lewis. “Who Is Government?” serves as a reminder to understand…
On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the Partnership or Public Service hosted the 23rd annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals® at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. This year’s ceremony—livestreamed through Cox Media’s YurView platform—recognized 25 outstanding individuals and teams working in 20 different agencies and subcomponents. Fittingly, the…
The Partnership for Public Service’s 2024 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals®—often called the “Sammies”—celebrates exceptional public servants who keep our nation running. This year, we showcased some of our 2024 finalists in the “Sammies Virtual Series,” a four-part LinkedIn Live event featuring several Service to America Medals nominees. Improving the customer experience First, we…
This year, two finalists for the Partnership for Public Service’s 23rd annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals® program demonstrated innovative strategies for implementing large-scale federal legislation. Recognizing these honorees builds on the Partnership’s Major Investments program, which aims to identify and document promising practices for equitably and efficiently distributing federal funds to communities…
Following the decision by several major media outlets, including the Associated Press, to call the presidential election, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier on former President Donald Trump’s election as the 47th president of the United States: “Congratulations to former President Donald Trump on his…
Expanded offerings made possible with support from Amazon Web Services WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today announced it is working with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to expand its Agency Performance Dashboard, which features information about the operations, workforce and organizational health of 24 major federal agencies. The enhanced dashboard, hosted on the…
The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from its president and CEO, Max Stier, on the passing of founding board member Joel Fleishman: “We mourn the passing of Joel Fleishman, an extraordinary man and founding member of Partnership for Public Service’s board of directors whose energy, enthusiasm and leadership created…
Washington, DC — The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today announced that its executive vice president, James-Christian Blockwood, will depart the organization after four years. Blockwood has been named the next president and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and will begin in that role in January 2025. “James-Christian’s leadership…
Nancy Alcantara, Shannon Rebolledo and Justin Uphold of the Department of Labor will be honored as Federal Employees of the Year for their investigation of child labor law violations. WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today announced its 2024 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal® winners, a group of extraordinary public servants…
