2009 Finalists—Environment Medal
This award will recognize a federal employee for a significant contribution to the nation in activities related to the environment. This medal is accompanied by a $3,000 award.
Allan Comp
Position: Program Analyst
Agency: Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining
Location: Washington, D.C.
Residence: Washington, D.C.
Achievement: Built a network of volunteers to revitalize communities in Appalachian coal country and the Western Hardrock mining region to repair decades of environmental degradation.
Leslie Holland-Bartels and the International Polar Bear Science Team
Position: Regional Executive
Agency: Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Residence: Anchorage, Alaska
Achievement: Determined a link between climate change and probable elimination of the polar bear in the next 45 to 75 years, and established a scientific process that will investigate other physical and societal changes.
Compton J. Tucker
Position: Senior Earth Scientist, Earth Sciences Division
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center
Location: Greenbelt, Maryland
Residence: Washington, D.C.
Achievement: Pioneered satellite-based monitoring of vegetation, applying more than 30 years of data to track human-induced climate change, provide early warning of famine, and prevent deforestation and the spread of tropical disease.
The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals are presented annually by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service.
