GLICKMAN RECOGNIZES USDA'S PRESIDENTIAL RANK AWARD WINNERS
                                            Release No. 0323.97
                                                               
                                  Jim Petterson  (202) 720-4623
                                         jim.petterson@usda.gov
                                  Martha Cashion (202) 720-3310
                                        martha.cashion@usda.gov


GLICKMAN RECOGNIZES USDA'S PRESIDENTIAL RANK AWARD WINNERS

     WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today
recognized the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Presidential Rank Award
winners for FY96 at a special ceremony in the patio of the Department's Jamie
L. Whitten Building.

     "These individuals exemplify the best of top management in the
Department of Agriculture," Glickman said.  "It is through efforts of
employees such as these that USDA can look forward to a bright future.  I am
proud to have had the honor of working with such extraordinary leaders."

     The purpose of the Presidential Rank Award Program is to recognize and
reward career Senior Executive Service members who have demonstrated
exceptional performance over an extended period of time.  There are two
categories of awards.  The Distinguished Executive Award is given to no more
than one percent of the career SES government-wide population for sustained
extraordinary accomplishment in carrying out federal goals and policies.  The
Meritorious Executive Award is limited to no more than five percent of the
career SES government-wide population and is given for sustained
accomplishment.

     The USDA Presidential Rank Award winners for FY1996 and their citations
are as follows:

Distinguished Executive Awards

Stephen B. Dewhurst, Office of Budget and Program Analysis
     For outstanding skill, expertise, great breadth of experience, and
consistently outstanding performance in managing one of the most complicated
and diverse resource acquisition and allocation programs in the federal
government.

Terry L. Medley, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
     For contributions to the future of the nation's agriculture vitality and
economic competitiveness and for pioneering the development of a model
regulatory system for ushering in a new area in United States agriculture
technology.

Craig A. Reed, [then] Food Safety and Inspection Service
     For exemplary performance, leadership and contributions to improving the
management and delivery of agricultural services and meat and poultry
inspection to the nation.

Pearlie S. Reed, Natural Resources Conservation Service
     For outstanding leadership in management of the nation's natural
resources, his commitment to excellence in government, and accomplishments in
affirmative action.

                                
David G. Unger, [then] Forest Service
     For outstanding leadership in ensuring the wise and sustained use of
public and private land and water resources.

Meritorious Executive Awards

Henry A. Bauer, [then] Office of Information Resources Management
     For exemplary leadership in dramatically improving the efficiency and
cost effectiveness of computer and telecommunications support activities in
the Department of Agriculture.
Jerry J. Booth, Food Safety and Inspection Service
     For sustained exemplary performance of duties and outstanding
contributions to the nation's meat and poultry inspection programs.

Keith J. Collins, Office of the Chief Economist
     For superior contributions in formulating sound agricultural policies
and programs for the Department of Agriculture.

Kyle Jane Coulter, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service
     For outstanding leadership in shaping the Department of Agriculture's
mission, policies, and programs to strengthen higher education in the food and
agricultural sciences.

Thomas E. Hamilton, Forest Service
     For long-term outstanding leadership in positioning the Forest Service
to contribute significantly to the nation's renewable resource future.

Christopher Martin, Food and Consumer Service
     For outstanding contributions in effectively and innovatively
implementing agency goals through management excellence and fiscal
responsibility.

Arthur L. Shipper, Jr., Agricultural Research Service
     For outstanding leadership and management of the USDA Agricultural
Research Service North Atlantic Area.

Patricia F. Stolfa, Food Safety and Inspection Service
     For exemplary contributions in the Science and Technology Program,
performing the overall planning, coordination, direction and evaluation of the
scientific and laboratory programs of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.


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