The Department of the Interior awarded three Minerals Management Service (MMS) employees the Distinguished Service Award at the 66th Honor Awards Convocation on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The recipients are Cheryl Anderson, Theresa Walsh Bayani and Dr. Marshall Rose.
'The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honorary recognition an employee can receive within the Department of the Interior. We are very proud to have such a talented group of people represent the MMS at this important awards ceremony,' said MMS Acting Director Walter Cruickshank.
Cheryl Anderson, an Operations Research Analyst for the MMS Accident Investigation Board, has worked at the MMS since its inception in 1982. Anderson is widely recognized as the world's leading authority on the occurrence of offshore oil spills, and the MMS has greatly benefited from her expertise and knowledge. She has developed a comprehensive database on oil spill incidents. Anderson tracks and verifies incident reports from multiple sources, assesses the causes of each spill, and uses the data to inform environmental risk assessment. The MMS and other environmental agencies use her data extensively. MMS regulations for safety and well shut-in devices have been revised based on Anderson’s statistics and reports.
Theresa Walsh Bayani’s career with the Department of the Interior began in 1984 as a Petroleum Engineer. She is now the Program Director for Audit and Compliance Management at the Minerals Revenue Management division in Denver, CO. She is a recognized expert within the Department, the private sector, and State and Tribal governments on regulations and guidelines used to establish the value of minerals produced from Federal and American Indian leases. Throughout her career with the Department, Bayani has served as an advocate for American Indian mineral interest owners to ensure the fulfillment of MMS trust responsibilities. Significant achievements under Bayani’s direction include: enhancing existing policies and procedures for several compliance systems, guiding comprehensive Compliance Review and Audit Manuals revisions, and establishing new means to measure the effectiveness of MMS’s compliance program.
Following service with the Department of the Interior’s Office of the Secretary in the Office of Policy Analysis, Dr. Marshall Rose joined MMS when the organization was created in 1982. As MMS’s Chief Economist, Rose established a reputation as an energy economics expert with a determined quest for providing analyses and workable solutions to the many complex economic issues facing the Bureau. Rose is highly regarded for establishing strong and comprehensive economic analysis of offshore oil and gas leasing, and royalty policy. His work implementing the most significant laws affecting the Bureau over the past two decades and designing policy elements from which those laws were constructed, are examples of how his work forms and guides policy-making at the highest levels. The Department, other Federal agencies, and Capitol Hill have long relied upon the expert economic predictions and models developed by Rose.
The Distinguished Service Award is granted for an outstanding contribution to science, outstanding skill or ability in the performance of duty, outstanding contribution made during an eminent career in the Department, or any other exceptional contribution to the public service. Recipients receive a special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary along with an engraved gold Distinguished Service Medal and a gold lapel pin.
In addition, four MMS employees were honored with the Meritorious Service Award: Maureen Bornholdt, Program Director, Renewable Energy Program; Gregory J. Gould, Associate Director, Minerals Revenue Management; Jean Rumney, Chief of Staffing, Administration and Budget; and Ann M. Wiggin, a former Economist in Offshore Energy Minerals Management.
The Meritorious Service Award is the second highest honorary recognition granted to employees in the Department of the Interior. It is presented for an important contribution to science or management, a notable career, superior service in administration or in the execution of duties, or initiative in devising new and improved work methods, and procedures. A special certificate and citation signed by the Secretary, as well as an engraved silver Meritorious Service Medal and silver lapel pin are presented to recipients by their Bureau or Office head.
Contact:
Nicholas Pardi (202) 208-3985