Call for Nominations for the 2023 Secretary of the Interior Historic Preservation Awards

Deadline: June 7, 2024

Complete information on nominating a candidate.

Summary

The National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 110(h) of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306110) establishes the Secretary of the Interior annual award program to recognize outstanding contributions in historic preservation.

The Secretary's award is distinguished from other historic preservation award programs because it:

• is statutorily mandated as a Cabinet-level recognition;
• focuses on the accomplishments of individual employees whose work enhanced and/or improved historic preservation in their agency, state, tribal, or local government;
• and recognizes the contributions of employees at multiple levels of government.

The Secretary may present up to four awards annually, one for each level of government participating in the national preservation partnership program (federal, state, Tribal, and local) and each comes with a special citation and $1,000.

Status of the Secretary of the Interior Historic Preservation Awards

Nominations for the 2023 Secretary of the Interior's Historic Preservation Awards are now being accepted. The deadline for nominations is June 7, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

Detailed information on the nomination process, eligibility, and how nominations will be evaluated may be found below.

Who may nominate?

Anyone may prepare a nomination and nominate someone who meets the eligibility criteria.

We strongly encourage Federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and Certified Local Governments to nominate outstanding employees for this recognition.

Special Note to Federal Employees: Any work on a nomination must comply with applicable ethics laws and regulations. Your appropriate ethics office should be consulted for additional guidance. Also note that federal employees may also be required, at the discretion of the Department of the Interior, to recuse themselves from involvement in the review and approval process of nomination for which they provided support or assistance.

Who is eligible?

Officers and employees of Federal Preservation Offices, State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and Certified Local Governments are eligible for the award.  The officer or employee must have worked in the office for which they are being nominated at least part of the 2023 calendar year. The nominated work need not be limited to 2023.

All nominations submitted require a letter verifying that the candidates are not subject to any disciplinary action by their employer for violation of conduct standards, ethical standards, or any other applicable policies and/or Federal laws, rules or regulations.  Sample language is provided below for reference.

How are nominations evaluated?

Nominations are evaluated and given a numerical score based upon these four questions:

1. The nominee fulfilled the required preservation program responsibilities in an exemplary and outstanding manner. (20 points)

2. The nominee is credited with special achievements in fulfilling the required preservation program responsibilities. (20 points)

3. The nominee is credited with establishing/expanding/advancing historic preservation programs in their agency/state/tribe/community. (20 points)

4. The nominee's accomplishments and/or special achievements proved to be models for other preservation programs beyond their jurisdiction or served as a national model. (40 points)

What information needs to be in the nomination?

When the nomination period is open, the Department of the Interior encourages Federal agencies, State Historic Preservation Offices, Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and Certified Local Governments to nominate outstanding employees for this recognition. The Secretary may present up to four annual awards, one for each type of government agency (federal, state, tribal, and local). The Office of Acquisition and Property Management, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior will administer evaluation of nominations to select the winners.

The nomination must include:

1. Contact information (name, title, address, work phone, email address) for both the nominee and the nominator. 

2. A narrative statement (no more than three pages) that addresses the award criteria (i.e., explain how the nominee’s worked fulfilled and improved their preservation program responsibilities under the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act).

3. A candidate vetting letter.  This letter certifies, to the best of the nominator’s ability, that the candidate’s conduct is aligned with the high standards of this prestigious award and must include contact information for an individual at the nominee’s place of employment who can validate the information, if necessary. The following sample language is provided to assist with preparation of the vetting letter.

SAMPLE VETTING LETTER LANGUAGE

[Nominee’s Name] nomination for the Secretary of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Award included a review to ensure their performance and conduct is aligned with the professional and ethical standards worthy of this prestigious award.  If you have questions regarding [candidate’s] nomination, please contact [nominator contact information] or [representative of nominee’s place of employment contact information].

Please note that once nominees are selected for recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior for the award, they will be vetted in accordance with the same standards of conduct to which federal employees are held. The nominee’s employers may be asked about any disciplinary action taken by the employer for violation of conduct standards, ethical standards or any other applicable policies and/or federal laws, rules or regulations.

What is the primary criteria?

The award recognizes special achievements by employees of federal, state, tribal, and local preservation programs who have made outstanding contributions to the preservation of historic places. Nominees must be individuals whose contributions surpass the expected scope of their position, and whose creativity and expertise have significantly fostered the overall goals of the National Historic Preservation Act. The nomination should describe the significant achievements for which the employee is being nominated and how their accomplishments have helped the Federal Agency, State Historic Preservation Office, Tribal Historic Preservation Office or Certified Local Government fulfill and improve their preservation program responsibilities and/or requirements (cited below).

Federal Preservation Office program responsibilities and requirement can be found in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Federal Agency Historic Preservation Programs Pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act can be found at the Federal Preservation Institute. Also, see 54 U.S.C. 306101-306131.
 
State Historic Preservation Office program responsibilities and requirement can be found in the National Park Service’s "Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic Preservation Programs” and 54 U.S.C. 302303.
 

Tribal Historic Preservation Office program responsibilities and requirement can be found in “Appendix A, Historic Preservation Officer Responsibilities That May Be Assumed by Indian Tribes” on page 10 of the National Park Service’s "Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Application Instructions." Also, please see 54 U.S.C. 302702.
 

Certified Local Government program responsibilities and requirement can be found in the National Park Service’s “Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic Preservation Programs” and 54 U.S.C. 302502-302505.

How are nominations submitted?

Electronic nominations are required.  Please send your nomination, either in the body of an email or as an attached file to doihistoricpreservation@ios.doi.gov. Nomination packages must be delivered to this email address on or before June 7, 2024.  An awards announcement is expected in September 2024.

Past Winners

Federal Preservation Office Category

• Scott B. Shepherd, III, United States Air Force
• Robin D. Hawks, Ph.D., Bureau of Land Management
• John S. Wilson, Fish and Wildlife Service
• Beth L. Savage, General Services Administration
• Brian A. Jordan, Ph.D., Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
• James Van Ness, Department of Defense

State Historic Preservation Office Category

• Ruth L. Pierpont, New York State Historic Preservation Office
• Dan Elswick, South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office
• Ann L. Swanson, Idaho State Historic Preservation Office
• Dan W. Corson, History Colorado (State Historic Preservation Office)
• Melvena Heisch, Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office
• Judith Deel, Missouri State Historic Preservation Office

Tribal Historic Preservation Office Category

• Terry D. Cole, Choctaw Nation
• Bill Helmer, Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley
• Alan S. Downer, Ph.D., Navajo Nation
• Vernelda J. Grant, San Carolos Apache Nation
• Loretta Kelly-Jackson, Hualapai Tribe
• Suntayea Steinruck, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation

Certified Local Government Category

• Michael Leventhal, Arlington County, Virginia
• Michelle Pierce, Lake City, Colorado
• Dana N. Sigmon, Okmulgee, Oklahoma
• Esley Hamilton, St. Louis County, Missouri
• Nancy Hiestand, Bloomington, Indiana
• Monica Callahan, Madison, Georgia

Contact

For more information, please contact DOIHistoricPreservation@ios.doi.gov.