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The 2025 nomination period is now closed! Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership

Stay tuned for more information about the nominees and award ceremony in the coming weeks!

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About the Award

Since 1978, the Roger W. Jones Award has honored and recognized federal career executives for the Senior Executive Service who have demonstrated dedication to superior leadership in achieving their agency's mission and nurturing future managers.

Award recipients are not only committed to mission success, but also inspire those they lead, consistent with the career of the extraordinary public servant for whom the Award is named.

Roger Jones (February 3, 1908 - May 28, 1993) served seven U.S. presidents over four decades, including tours as Deputy Secretary of State, Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

He extolled the importance of public administration and service, stressing the need to provide professional education for public managers.

Nomination Criteria

The criteria for this prestigious award for active federal career executives (members of SES) are demonstrated exceptional capabilities in the following areas:

  • superior leadership which has resulted in outstanding organizational achievements
  • a strong demonstrated commitment to develop the careers of people who will serve as managers and executives in the future federal service, contributing to the continuing excellence of government

Any career civilian employee of the executive branch of the U.S. government or member of the uniformed services who has at least three (3) years of service as of June 30, 2024, and who is not retirement eligible, may be submitted for nomination for the Roger Jones Award.

Presidential appointees, other administration appointees, and career civil service agency heads (acting or permanent) are invited each year to submit nominations of career executives responsible to them who have demonstrated outstanding executive leadership.

Award Presentation

Recipients of the Roger W. Jones Award will be honored in a ceremony hosted by American University.


Roger W. Jones Award Selection Committee 

Dr. Patrick Malone
Director, Key Executive Leadership Programs; Roger W. Jones Award Committee Chair, School of Public Affairs, American University

David S. C. Chu
President, Institute for Defense Analyses; Co-Chairman, Transition 2017, National Academy of Public Administration

Lillian Cheng
Chief Counsel, Bureau of the Fiscal Service

Patricia Cogswell
Partner, Guidehouse & Former National Security Executive

Tyra Dent
Executive Director, African American Federal Executive Association

Ed Deseve
Co-Chairman, Transition 2017, National Academy of Public Administration; Executive in Residence, Brookings Executive Education; former Special Adviser to the President

Terry Gerton
President and CEO, National Academy of Public Administration

David Mader
Civilian Sector Chief Strategy Officer, Deloitte

Bob Tobias
Distinguished Practitioner in Residence; Former Director, Key Executive Leadership Programs

Reginald Wells
Executive-in-Residence (Retired), Key Executive Leadership Programs, School of Public Affairs, American University