(Washington, D.C.) - Acting Secretary Elaine Duke and leaders throughout the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) presented the awards at a ceremony today. The Secretary Awards is an annual event for DHS leadership to recognize the service of employees in the different components of the department.
"The men and women of the Secret Service work hard every day, and the Secretary Awards are a chance for the Department of Homeland Security to showcase some of those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty," said Director Randolph Alles, United States Secret Service.
Members of the Secret Service received awards in the following categories:
Secretarys Exceptional Service Gold Medal Award is presented in recognition of exceptionally outstanding leadership or service distinguished by achievements of national or international significance. The Secret Service was recognized for the following:
Operation Sunset was led by the U.S. Secret Service Lima, Peru, Resident Office. The operation was the culmination of an intense global investigation involving six Peruvian-based criminal organizations. In late 2016, the Peruvian government, along with U.S. Secret Service Agents, executed pre-dawn search and arrest warrants in Lima. More than 1,500 Peruvian National Police officers were involved in the operation. A total of 54 search warrants were conducted and 52 people were arrested. Thirty million counterfeit U.S. dollars and 50,000 Euros were discovered and seized during the operation. Additionally six counterfeit plants were suppressed, eight counterfeit manufacturing presses seized and over 1,600 printing plates and negatives of varying denominations were found.
Secretarys Award for Valor is the highest departmental recognition for extraordinary acts of valor by an employee, occurring while on or off duty. This award is only given to those who have demonstrated exceptional courage in a highly dangerous, life-threatening situation or emergency under extreme stress and involving a specific act of valor, such as saving another persons life or property. Both civilian and military employees of the Department are eligible for this award.
A special agent, assigned to the Vice Presidential Protective Division, was recognized for saving the life of a 21-year-old West Point Cadet. While swimming at a local pool in Fairfax, Va., the agent used his training as an Emergency Medical Technician and rescued the cadet who was motionless near the bottom of the pool. The agent performed CPR until paramedics arrived and transported the cadet to the hospital where he later recovered from the drowning.
Special Agents assigned to the Presidential Protective Detail (PPD) executed an emergency life-saving evacuation of a medical officer detailed to PPD from fatal and necrotic complications related to multiple snake bites. Despite their peril conditions, limited medical resources and communication difficulties, the agents still managed to save the life and limb of the medical officer.
Secretarys Unit Award recognizes any unit within the Department with outstanding team achievements in operational areas such as law enforcement, aviation, cybersecurity, border patrol, hiring, acquisition and information technology. This award is given to those whose work results in measurable improvements in employee morale, remarkable teamwork, superior performance, significant operational improvements or notable innovation in support of DHS
The Secret Service Savannah, Ga., Resident Office, successfully investigated one of the largest financial fraud cases in agency history. The extensive investment fraud scheme identified nearly 500 victims with potential losses of more than $53 million.
Secretarys Award for Exemplary Service recognizes an exemplary DHS employee serving in administrative, technical, clerical, and general support positions. Awards were given to Secret Service employees assigned to the following divisions:
An employee assigned to Special Services Division went above and beyond his normal duties. He saved the U.S. Government over $100,000 by single-handedly dismantling the first Presidential Parade Limousine. This limousine was designed in a way that prevented traditional method of destruction and employing external contractors would have warranted significant costs.
The Talent and Employee Acquisition Management Divisions Outreach Branch successfully developed, coordinated and executed multiple Entry Level Assessment Centers nationwide to facilitate the expeditious hiring of Special Agent and Uniformed Division officer and Special Officer applications.
For a year the Performance Management and Employee Relations Division managed multiple programs and successfully researched, developed, implemented and launched new strategic initiatives that proved essential in the retention of our workforce and recruitment of the best candidates. Some programs that were implemented and revitalized included the Telework and Senior Special Agent programs, which were proven successful in increasing morale and productivity.
Secretarys Unity of Effort Award recognizes outstanding efforts in coordination and unification across the Department of Homeland Security by significantly improving efficiency and effectiveness. The award acknowledges group efforts within the Department or with external partners who assist in meeting our commitment of unity of effort.
A Secret Service employee was recognized for innovation and steadfast collaboration in support of the TSAs efforts to counter-emerging threats to aviation security.
Source: U.S. Secret Service