News United States Air Force
 Senior Air Force civilians presented Presidential Rank AwardsPublished July 6, 2018
                        
                        
                        Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
                **WASHINGTON (AFNS) --**
                Nine senior civilians were recognized during the annual Presidential Rank Awards Ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, July 6, 2018.“Each of you has developed deep competence in your area of expertise,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, who presided over the ceremony. “You’re recognized and respected for that by your peers, your subordinates and by other leaders in the Air Force and the Department of Defense.”Presidential Rank Awards recognize extraordinary achievements by career executives in Federal service. These awards recognize the top individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to their agency and the federal government.In addition to delivering meaningful results, nominees must demonstrate the highest level of leadership competencies including leading change and leading people. Extraordinary executive leaders model these critical abilities by taking on some of the most difficult organizational challenges as well as developing a strong and diverse workforce for the 21st century.“There are a lot of people who want to work for and with you,” Wilson said. “You create high performing teams dedicated to something that’s important, something that’s beyond each of us as individuals.”The awards feature two categories: distinguished and meritorious. Nominations are evaluated by boards of private citizens and approved by the president.The full list of those honored during the ceremony can be found below:**Distinguished Senior Executive:**Patricia YoungDistinguished Senior ExecutiveExecutive director, Air Force Material CommandWright-Patterson Air Force Base, OhioRandall WaldenDistinguished Senior ExecutiveDirector and program executive officer, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office,Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air ForceJoint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C.David DrakeDistinguished Senior ExecutiveTechnical advisor for Information Technology,Communication and Information Directorate,National Air and Space Intelligence CenterWright-Patterson AFB, Ohio**Meritorious Senior Executive:**Andrew CoxMeritorious Senior ExecutiveDirector, Space Security and Defense ProgramAir Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, ColoradoC. Douglas Ebersole (Retired)Meritorious Senior ExecutiveExecutive directorAir Force Research laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OhioD. Mark PetersonMeritorious Senior ExecutiveChief financial officer/comptrollerU.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FloridaSteven WertMeritorious Senior ExecutiveProgram executive officer for Battle Management,Air Force Life Cycle Management Center,Hanscom AFB, MassachusettsRobert BussianMeritorious Senior ExecutiveSpecial advisor for Innovation IntelligenceSystem Support office,Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.**Meritorious Senior Level Professional:**Kenneth BarkerMeritorious Senior Level ProfessionalTechnical Advisor for Systems EngineeringAFLCMC,AFMC,Wright-Patterson AFB, ColoradoSecretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson 



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