NOAA Administrator's Award

The NOAA Administrator's Award is an award of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The award is granted by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, who serves concurrently as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The award, which may go to an individual or a group, is presented in recognition of significant contributions to NOAA programs. The award is presented to civilian employees of NOAA as a plaque and as a medal set to members of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Individual recipients of the award receive a monetary award of $5,000. Recipients of group awards split the monetary award evenly. Administrator's Award recipients are formally recognized at an award ceremony held annually.

NOAA Administrator's Award
Obverse of the medal for members of the NOAA Corps
Type	Honorary and monetary award
Awarded for	Significant contributions to NOAA programs.
Country	United States
Presented by	the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
Eligibility	Employees of NOAA and members of the NOAA Corps.
Service ribbon of the medal
NOAA Corps Order of Wear
Next (higher)	NOAA Corps Meritorious Service Medal[1]
Next (lower)	NOAA Corps Commendation Medal[1]

Evan Forde's NOAA Administrator's Award plaque

Award criteria

The NOAA Administrator's Award is granted to recognize recognition of significant contributions to NOAA programs. Eligible contributions must be in the areas of Equal Employment Opportunity, program management, scientific research, public service, engineering development, environmental conservation, policy development, administrative support, public affairs, and information systems.^[2] Nominations for the Administrator's Award are reviewed by the NOAA Incentive Awards Board (NIAB). During the board's review of the nomination the following factors are considered:^[3]

• The importance of the cited contribution, as well as the urgency of its need, to NOAA programs
• How unique and original is the cited contribution
• Did the cited contribution bring unusual credit to NOAA and Department of Commerce (DOC)
• Did the contribution result in an unusually important and clearly demonstrated improvement in a NOAA program
• In the case of nominated supervisors, did the cited contribution demonstrate significant leadership skills
• Did exceptional leadership, skill, ingenuity, or ability displayed in administration or performance of duties accomplish significant savings in money, time, staff resources, or equipment
• Creation or development of a major improvement in a service which results in a high degree of benefit to NOAA or DOC
• Successful implementation of new or improved policies in NOAA
• Exceptional skill and ingenuity in focusing on policy needs
• Contributions in engineering development in the areas of applied technology systems or equipment developed
• Important scientific research contributions
• Excellence in program and/or project planning which includes developing a clear concept based on mission requirements, developing a plan, including cost, schedule, and performance milestones, and the completion of predetermined milestones

Medal appearance

The NOAA Administrator's Award Medal is made of red brass with a matte finish. The medal is 32 millimetres (1.3 in) in diameter. It hangs from a ring suspension.^[4] The ribbon is 35 millimetres (1.4 in) wide primarily of forget-me-not blue. The edges are 8 millimetres (0.31 in) wide ultramarine blue, bisected by a white stripe of 1.6 millimetres (0.063 in).^[4] Subsequent awards are denoted by 5/16 inch gold award stars.^[2]

Notable recipients

• Harold E. Brooks^[5]
• Evan Forde^[6]
• Christopher Landsea^[7]
• Anita L. Lopez^[8]
• Michael S. Devany

References

1. "Department of Commerce and NOAA Award Ribbons". NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Archived from the original on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
2. "NOAA CORPS DIRECTIVES, Chapter 12, Part 7–Awards" (PDF). NOAA Corps Commissioned Personnel Center. p. 5. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
3. "Attachment to NAO 202-451, NOAA INCENTIVE AWARDS PROGRAM". NOAA Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
4. Unknown^{[permanent dead link]}
5. "Meet Harold Brooks". Meet Our Scientists. National Severe Storms Laboratory. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
6. "Evan B. Forde's Background Page".
7. "Hurricane Research Division Awards". Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
8. "Rear Admiral (lower half)(RDML) Anita L. Lopez bio". Omao.noaa.gov. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.