In a ceremony at the Pentagon today, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks and Performance Improvement Officer and Director of Administration & Management, Ms. Jennifer C. Walsh, honored Department of Defense 2023 Presidential Rank Awards recipients.
The Presidential Rank Award (PRA), established by statute, is one of the highest awards bestowed upon career Senior Executive Service and senior professionals by the President of the United States. Nominees face a long and rigorous evaluation period focused on those who have made significant and lasting contributions to their agencies in delivering mission-critical solutions, providing excellent customer service, and being good stewards of taxpayers' dollars. The process includes an extensive on-site evaluation and analysis process. Just being nominated is considered a recognition of sustained exemplary performance over multiple years.
"Year after year, and through a gauntlet of challenges, this year's honorees have risen to the occasion and delivered on critical national security priorities," said Deputy Secretary of Defense Hicks. "They've led teams with purpose, brought out the best in their teammates, and broken down institutional barriers and inertia to expand the capacity and effectiveness of the Department."
Two categories of PRA are available: 'Distinguished' rank for leaders who achieve sustained extraordinary accomplishments, and 'Meritorious' rank for leaders with sustained accomplishments.
Fifteen Department of Defense employees received the award in 2023, having been selected from among the highest-performing career executive and senior professional achievers across Federal service.
The Department of Defense 2023 PRA recipients are:
**Distinguished Executive**
- Christine M. Condon
- Deputy Chief Information Officer (Resources & Analysis)
- Department of Defense Chief Information Officer
- Laura K. Cooper
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia)
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Policy)
- Paul D. Cramer
- Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (Installations) (Retired)
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Sustainment)
- Anne J. McAndrew
- Deputy Comptroller (Program/Budget)
- Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
- Michael D. Payne
- Principal Deputy Director
- Cost Assessment & Program Evaluation
**Distinguished Senior Professional**
- Douglas S. Brungart
- Senior Research Scientist (Auditory Science)
- Defense Health Agency
**Meritorious Executive**
- Rebecca S. Beck
- Director, Enterprise Solutions and Standards
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service
- Catherine L. Contreras
- Executive Director, Aviation Contracting & Acquisition Management
- Defense Logistics Agency
- Roger S. Greenwell Sr.
- Director, Enterprise Integration & Innovation/Chief Information Officer
- Defense Information Systems Agency
- David E. Johnson
Regional Director Central Retired
Defence Contract Audit Agency
David R Kless
Deputy Commander DLA Energy
Defense Logistics Agency
Kim R Laurance
Assistant Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Office Of The Undersecretary Of Defence Comptroller
Steven J Morani
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Of Defence For Sustainment Logistics
Office Of The Undersecretary Of Defence Acquisition And Sustainment
Shirley L Reed
Director Emerging Capabilities And Systems
Defence Finance And Accounting Service
Brandi C Vann
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Of Defence Nuclear Chemical And Biological Defence Programs
Office Of The Undersecretary Of Defence Acquisition And Sustainment
