WASHINGTON - Public Affairs Officer Rebekah E. Carmichael of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Jersey was one of 243 members of the Department of Justice recognized by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director’s Awards Ceremony today in Washington, D.C.
The District of New Jersey was one of 44 districts represented at the ceremony which was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.
In his prepared remarks, Attorney General Holder told the awardees said, “Locally, nationally, and internationally, you represent the very best that this Department has to offer. Your work embodies our ongoing commitment - not merely to win cases, but to do justice; to protect our fellow citizens from crime, violence, and terrorism; to empower the most vulnerable among us; and to uphold the rule of law."
EOUSA Director Monty Wilkinson echoed those sentiments, saying to the recipients, “You have persevered, and remained focused and motivated - achieving remarkable results in work that makes a difference in the lives of citizens across our great country. The vast scope of your collective accomplishments is nothing short of exceptional."
Since her arrival in the District of New Jersey in the spring of 2010, Ms. Carmichael has enhanced the professionalism of the Public Affairs Office and worked with the media to keep the public well-informed about the important work of the office. Her thoughtful recommendations to the U.S. Attorney on opportunities to speak or write publicly on issues of concern in New Jersey and nationwide have raised awareness of the office’s work, as well as promoted its outreach efforts to the state’s diverse communities.
“Rebekah has worked tirelessly to improve our communication with the public we serve about the office’s critically important law enforcement mission," U.S. Attorney Fishman said. “Her professionalism, messaging ability, excellent writing and editing skills, work ethic and devotion to her job ensure that the public is fully informed about the scope of our office’s mission and the extraordinary success of the dedicated lawyers and support staff who carry it out."
Ms. Carmichael’s reputation for excellence in the DOJ public affairs community resulted in her appointment to a six-month detail (September 2012-March 2013) as the senior public affairs specialist and on-record spokesperson for the Criminal Division in Washington. She was responsible for fielding and responding to media inquiries, developing communications plans, enhancing relationships with news media and other stakeholders, and succinctly explaining and advocating official positions.
Ms. Carmichael is routinely called upon by public affairs officers in other districts for guidance on media-related matters, and played a significant role in developing the public affairs officer training course at the National Advocacy Center in South Carolina, where she regularly serves as an instructor. In 2013, she led the District of New Jersey’s entry into social media, starting its first Twitter feed, which now has more than 1,100 followers.
Ms. Carmichael and Christina DiIorio Sterling, of the District of Massachusetts, are the first-ever recipients of the award for Superior Performance in Public Affairs.
EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.
14-318
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
