Photo credit: www.govexec.com
TenaVel T. Thomas and Other Honorees Recognized with Arthur S. Flemming Award
TenaVel T. Thomas, who grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands, has always admired Neil Armstrong, and now she shares a notable distinction with him: both are recipients of the prestigious Arthur S. Flemming Award, which has celebrated exemplary federal employees for the past 75 years.
“It’s incredibly overwhelming to have my name associated with his,” Thomas expressed. When she shared the news of her award with her father and mentioned Armstrong as a previous recipient, he joyfully remarked, “Oh my God, my daughter’s walking on the moon!” Thomas humorously corrected him, saying, “Not quite, but it’s a nice connection.”
Armstrong was a Flemming awardee in 1969, the very year he made history as the first human to set foot on the moon. Thomas serves in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency and is notably the first member of the Department of Homeland Security to receive this honor.
Her impactful work includes leading a specialized unit focused on human trafficking and initiating a center at John F. Kennedy International Airport. This facility efficiently processes a significant number of asylum seekers. While immigration remains a contentious topic, Thomas emphasized the dedication of CBP officers in serving the American public, stating, “We serve the American people, regardless of the administration. We take an oath to do our duties every day, and all CBP employees perform their roles valiantly.”
On Wednesday, November 13, Thomas will be recognized alongside eleven other federal employees at a ceremony coordinated by the National Academy of Public Administration in collaboration with the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at George Washington University.
Dr. Kathryn Newcomer, a professor and president of the Flemming Awards Commission, described the awards as akin to the “EGOT” of public service, which symbolizes the highest accomplishments one can achieve in this field. “Government does so much for people, yet many harbor negative feelings towards it. Trust in government has declined, primarily due to discussions centered around failures rather than highlighting the dedicated work of many unsung heroes,” she noted, stressing the importance of recognizing such individuals through the Flemming awards.
Newcomer also shared insights into the selection process, revealing that each year, there are typically 50 to 75 nominations, and the choice of recipients undergoes three levels of judging.
The awards are named after Arthur Flemming, who served in various capacities under multiple U.S. presidents, including as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during the Eisenhower administration. Flemming was also the chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission for nearly a decade and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton.
“Flemming was ahead of his time in addressing issues related to racial, gender, and age inequities, despite the lack of terms like ‘ageism’ during his era,” Newcomer remarked. “He is a personal hero of mine.”
Another recipient of the award, Dr. Douglas Morton, developed the Amazon Dashboard at NASA, utilizing satellite data to monitor deforestation and forest fire events, furnishing real-time information for stakeholders. “My research has essentially looked at how human activities affect forests, particularly as climate change intensifies,” he explained, emphasizing the essential role of satellite data in observing the Amazon rainforest.
Morton began his scientific career studying monkey habitats but shifted his focus to larger environmental patterns through satellite data. “I realized I needed to understand the broader implications of habitat change due to human activity,” he noted.
Dr. Lorenzo Leggio of the National Institutes of Health, another Flemming award winner, investigates addiction treatment after originally concentrating on liver diseases. He observed that while many focused on the liver damage from alcohol abuse, the underlying addiction was often overlooked. “This recognition prompted me to shift my focus from the liver to the brain,” he explained.
Leggio’s current research investigates the interactions between brain functions and the body, particularly the “gut-to-brain” connection. “Our everyday experiences illustrate this communication—when we feel upset, we may experience discomfort in our stomach rather than our brain,” he elaborated. “This underlines the importance of understanding this interaction to create innovative addiction treatments.”
He highlighted the diverse achievements among this year’s Flemming award recipients, showcasing the varied opportunities available within the federal government to positively impact citizens’ lives. “This truly reflects the dedication of individuals striving to improve society as a whole,” he concluded.
Source
www.govexec.com