Executive Orders

Executive Order 10717--The President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service

Source: The provisions of Executive Order 10717 of June 27, 1957, appear at 22 FR 4632, 3 CFR, 1954-1958 Comp., p. 380, unless otherwise noted.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Government Employees' Incentive Awards Act, approved September 1, 1954 (68 Stat. 1112), and as President of the United States, it is ordered as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established an honorary award for the recognition of distinguished service by civilian officers and employees of the Federal Government. The award shall be known as the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, and shall consist of a gold medal, the design of which accompanies and is hereby made a part of this order, suspended on a ribbon of appropriate material and color, and accompanying appurtenances. Each medal shall be suitably inscribed, and an appropriate citation shall accompany each award.

Sec. 2. (a) The President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service shall be presented by the President to civilian officers or employees of the Federal Government for the best achievements having current impact in improving Government operations or serving the public interest. These achievements shall exemplify one or more of the following:

(1) Imagination in developing creative solutions to problems of government.

(2) Courage in persevering against great odds and difficulties.

(3) High ability in accomplishing extraordinary scientific or technological achievement, in providing outstanding leadership in planning, organizing, or directing a major program of unusual importance and complexity, or in performing an extraordinary act of credit to the Government and the country.

(4) Long and distinguished career service.

(b) The importance of the achievements to the Government and to the public interest shall be so outstanding that the officer or employee is deserving of greater public recognition than that which can be accorded by the head of the department or agency in which he is employed. Generally, not more than five awards shall be made in any one year. Presentation of the award shall be made at such times as the President may determine.

[Sec. 2 amended by EO 10979 of Dec. 12, 1961, 26 FR 11937, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 499]

Sec. 3. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall advise and assist the President in selecting persons to receive this award. In performing this function, the Director shall carefully review nominations submitted pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of this Order and decide which of them, if any, warrant presentation to the President. The Director shall thereupon transmit to the President the names of those persons who, in the opinion of the Director, merit the award, together with a statement of the reasons therefore. Recipients for the award shall be selected by the President.

Sec. 4. The form and procedures for making nominations for this award shall be prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management in accord with the following principles:
(a) The Director shall be guided in the performance of this function by the provisions of Section 4504 and 4505 of Title 5 of the United States Code, and by additional criteria which the Director may prescribe.
(b) The Director shall not recommend any person for the award without the concurrence of the head of the agency in which that person was employed at the time of the achievement for which the award is recommended.
(c) Persons appointed by the President are not eligible for this award unless, in the opinion of the Office, they are currently serving in a career position.

[Secs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 deleted and new secs. 3 and 4 added by EO 12014 of Oct. 19, 1977, 42 FR 56105, 3 CFR, 1977 Comp., p. 150. Secs. 3 and 4 amended by EO 12107 of Dec. 28, 1978, 44 FR 1055, 3 CFR, 1978 Comp., p. 264]

Editorial note: An illustration of the award, which was attached to and made a part of Executive Order 10717, is printed in 3 CFR, 1954-1958 Comp., p. 381.