A senior executive in the federal government and former U.S. Navy officer has been awarded "the highest honor career civil servants can receive," the U.S. Department of Energy announced recently.
Carmelo Melendez, director of the DOE's Office of Legacy Management, (LM) was given the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Service by President Joe Biden, the DOE announced Jan. 24. The Presidential Rank Awards Program, established in 1978, recognizes select Senior Executive Service professionals "for exceptional performance over an extended period," the announcement states. Melendez was one of 233 recipients of 2022 Senior Executive Service awards, the LM reports.
"The award recognizes Melendez’s sustained accomplishments within LM, leading to future public health and environmental benefits, vital connection to underserved communities, and cost savings in the tens of millions of dollars," the DOE announcement states.
LM manages former nuclear-weapons production sites once the Office of Environmental Management has completed cleanup of radioactive and other toxic waste to oversee any remaining environmental or human issues "from soil monitoring to benefits distribution for former contract workers," according to AllGov.
“This is both a tremendous honor and an incredibly humbling tribute, because it belongs to many influential people in my life — family, friends, colleagues, and mentors — who believed in me and taught me that anything is possible with determination and teamwork,” Melendez said in the announcement.
Among Melendez’s achievements are “validating public health challenges at more than 4,000 abandoned defense-related uranium mines, including hundreds in tribal nations; expanding nationally recognized interpretive centers to engage the public; beneficial reuse of environmentally remediated lands; , advocacy for $300 million in funding to address contaminants in residential areas; and protecting the pensions of more than 7,000 former government workers, resulting in reduced future liabilities by $200 million and $47 million in funds returned to the U.S. Treasury,” the LM reports.
Kiran Ahuja, director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management which announced the awards in November, said federal employees work daily to solve the country's concerns, develop technologies that improve millions of lives, "and ultimately, achieving the seemingly unachievable on behalf of the American public."
“This year’s Presidential Rank Awards reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s support for hardworking civil servants who exemplify strength, integrity, industry, and a relentless commitment to public service through their exceptional leadership, contributions, and accomplishments,” Ahuja said in the release.
