James W. Rice, Medical Center Director of the Oscar G. Johnson VAMC (Iron Mountain, Michigan) was recognized as one of the recipients of the FY 2021 Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award for his sustained accomplishments throughout his 32-year career. Rice began working for VHA in 1990, becoming a member of the Senior Executive Service on April 10, 2011 upon his appointment as Medical Center Director at the Oscar G. Johnson VAMC.
“Winning the prestigious Presidential Rank Award is a great honor and I have been very fortunate to have worked with many amazing teams over my 32-year career in VHA, Rice said. “I am very thankful for everything we accomplished on these teams and the positive impact we have made in the lives of our Nation’s heroes and their families.”
The Presidential Rank Awards represent the top award a civilian federal employee can receive. The awards are given by the President of the United States to exemplary federal leaders who have overseen successful federal initiatives with a sweeping impact. The award consists of two categories: Distinguished Rank Awards given to leaders who achieve sustained extraordinary accomplishments and Meritorious Rank Awards given to leaders for sustained accomplishments.
The Presidential Rank Award was established by statute in 1978 and requires the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to request nominations and administer the program for the awards. Beginning in 1980, Distinguished Executive and Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Awards were conferred upon career members of the SES. Only one percent of SES employees may earn the respective Distinguished Rank Awards, and only five percent of SES members receive the respective Meritorious Rank Awards.
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