2005 Fed 100: Why the system works

Fed 100: Complete list

People often talk about Government, with a capital g, in anthropomorphic terms, as if agency officials and federal employees were nothing but functional nodes in a collective hive mind.

Everyone else, meanwhile, is subject to the whims of this Government, which is why it takes so long for anything to get done. Decisions are delayed or funding is held up, and we all sit around and wait. Perhaps there is some truth to that. Government work is process-oriented and for a good reason. The work must be done year in and year out, as presidential administrations come and go, and people must be protected from individuals’ capriciousness.

Still, the Federal 100 awards are an important reminder that people make a difference.

They dream up innovative uses for technology and turn those ideas into real-life solutions. They resolve political disputes that threaten to derail important programs.

And they improve government rules and regulations, so that the processes serve the interest of the people, instead of the other way around.

That is why the Federal 100 program recognizes people, not systems or programs. In the end, government works because of individuals’ efforts.

Similarly, the awards are not given to teams. Winners will often make the case for their team’s work, but experience shows that the most successful teams typically draw on individual players’ energy and inspiration.

As you flip through the next 20 pages, you will come across a handful of people who have won in previous years. The Federal 100 is not a “people’s choice” award, with sentimental favorites winning year after year, nor is it a lifetime achievement award. The fact is, success for some people is a matter of habit. But you won’t find previous Eagle award winners on this year’s Federal 100 list. They are ineligible for future Federal 100 awards.

As always, many deserving people were nominated for awards this year, but the field is limited to 100, so tough choices were made. Even so, it is always inspiring to see how much good work is being done in the federal community.


  • Workforce
    Avril Haines testifies SSCI Jan. 19, 2021

    Haines looks to restore IC workforce morale


  • Defense
    laptop cloud concept (Andrey Suslov/Shutterstock.com)

    Telework, BYOD and DEOS


Stay Connected