Congratulations to David Wald, USGS Seismologist and GP Affiliate Faculty Member, who is one of the 2023 Presidential Rank Awards recipients.
The Presidential Rank Awards are the most prestigious honor in the federal career civil service. They are given annually by the President to recognize and celebrate career Senior Executives (SES) and senior career employees — Senior Level (SL) and Scientific or Professional (ST) — for exceptional performance over an extended period of time. Recipients of this award are acknowledged as strong leaders, professionals, and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate the strength, integrity, industry, and relentless commitment that signify excellence in public service. Award winners are chosen through a rigorous selection process that focuses on leadership and results. They are nominated by their agency heads, evaluated by boards comprising private citizens, and approved by the President.
From the announcement by David Applegate, USGS director, Dr. Wald was chosen for this award because he is “a true science leader and dedicated civil servant. His more than 30-year career focusing on fundamental seismological research and applications has directly helped protect the health and safety of millions of people across the nation and around the globe. As a key contributor to the National Earthquake Information Center team, he has led the development of highly visible real-time earthquake information products that have transformed the release of earthquake information to emergency responders, facility managers, government officials, seismologists, and the public. Along the way, he has helped shape the directions of USGS science and fostered rewarding career pathways for both longtime science colleagues and the next generation of scientists.”