Public service recognition week (PSRW) has been celebrated the first week of May since 1985
Honoring federal, state, country, local, and tribal government employees, the first full week of May is Public Service Recognition Week. Leaders across all governments are participating by recognizing employees, thanking their staff, and sharing stories of excellence in the public sector. US citizens are encouraged to share such stories online with the hashtag #psrw on X (formerly known as Twitter).
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REGISTER HEREPSRW honors dedicated public servants that are crucial in our nation’s education, safety, defense, healthcare, infrastructure maintenance, and countless other areas that keep the country and individual states running. From teachers to bus drivers to FDA scientists to FEMA workers, all public service employees provide invaluable contributions to America. All deserve a heartfelt thank-you from the people they serve day in and day out.
This is also the week that the finalists for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal finalists are announced. Considered the “Oscars” of the federal government landscape, the “Sammies” award outstanding federal employees. This year’s finalists include such feds as Stephen Hughes of NASA, Tara Fitzgerald from the EPA, and Darnita S. Trower at the IRS, among a handful of other exceptional public servants. See the full list here.
The finalists are all in the running for the top award, Federal Employee of the Year, which will be announced in July during the official Sammies ceremony. Previous winners include the Dept of Defense employee Laura Cooper in 2023 and Gregory Robinson in 2022 for his work at NASA on the James Webb Telescope project. In 2021, two feds received the prestigious honor for their work at NIH related to the coronavirus vaccines, Barney Graham and Kizzmekia Corbett.
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The FedLife Podcast is your in-depth, biweekly deep dive into the world of federal benefits and retirement planning. Hosted by federal benefits expert Ed Zurndorfer and Dan Sipe of Serving Those Who Serve, each 30-minute episode unpacks the complexities of FERS and CSRS retirement, FEHB and Medicare, survivor benefits, tax planning, and more. Designed for federal employees and retirees who want more than just the basics, FedLife goes beyond the headlines to explore the rules, nuances, and strategies that can make a meaningful difference in your retirement. Remember: it’s your Fed life, make it a great one.
The Fed15 Podcast is your weekly 15(ish)-minute briefing on federal benefits and financial planning, built specifically for federal employees and retirees. Hosted by Dan Sipe and Katelyn Murray of Serving Those Who Serve, each episode delivers clear, actionable guidance on topics like FERS and CSRS retirement, TSP strategies, FEHB, survivor benefits, tax planning, and more! Whether you’re five years from retirement or already there, The Fed15 helps you cut through the noise, avoid costly mistakes, and make confident decisions about your federal benefits.
