On Sept. 24, the Under Secretary, Deputy Under Secretary, Administrator and Deputy Administrator presented the 2024 Under Secretary’s Awards and the Administrator's Awards for Excellence (AAFE). These are the most prestigious awards presented by FSIS, recognizing noteworthy accomplishments that contribute to advancing FSIS’ strategic goals, mission objectives and overall excellence.

Watch a congratulations video from leadership. Find out who all the winners and honorable mentions are.

Photos by OEED Audio Visual Production Specialist Jeff White.

Under Secretary’s Award Winners

Supervisor of the Year, In-Plant - Justin Crites

Pictured, from left: Under Secretary Dr. Emilio Esteban and Justin Crites (OFO-Jackson).

Supervisor of the Year, Non In-Plant - Melissa Hammar

Pictured, from left: Under Secretary Dr. Emilio Esteban and Melissa Hammar (OPPD).

Excellence in Customer Service, In-Plant - Wenatchee Mini Circuit Team

Pictured, from left: Carla Ling (OFO-Denver), Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Emilio Esteban and Kendall Kritzik (OFO-Denver).

Not pictured: Shellee Anne Imperial (OFO-Denver), Andrew Nash (OFO-Denver), David O'Brien (OFO-Denver) and Jennifer Poirier (OFO-Denver).

Excellence in Food Safety, Agency-Wide - Salmonella in Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products Team

Pictured from left:  Mary Porretta (OPPD), Under Secretary Dr. Emilio Esteban and Joshua Ayers (OPPD).

Not pictured: Maegan Almonte (OPPD), Stephanie Baiyasi (OPPD), Tye Boynton (OPHS), Sterling Brown (OPPD), Nelson Clinch (OPARM), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Stephanie Despero (OPPD), Courtney Johnson (OPHS), Bonnie Kissler (OPHS), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Maria Machuca (OPACE), Sarah Milchman (OPPD), Amber Pasko (OFO-DC), Daysena Pelham (OPHS), Robert Phillips (OPHS) and Flora Tsui (OPPD).

Excellence in Transformation and Innovation, Agency-Wide - Salmonella in Poultry Risk Assessment Team

Pictured, from left: Under Secretary Dr. Emilio Esteban and Iva Bilanovic (OPHS).

Not pictured: Natalie Baker (OPHS), Berhanu Tameru (OPHS), Eric Ebel (OPHS), Sunil Kumar (OPHS), Davi LaBarre (OPHS), Drew Posny (OPHS), Gurinder Saini (OPHS), Anant Venu (OPHS) and Mike Williams (OPHS).

Excellence in Transformation and Innovation, Agency-Wide - USDA Model Talent Management Program Team

Pictured, from left: Under Secretary Dr. Emilio Esteban and Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE).

Not pictured: Karen Anderson (OPACE), Cortney Burgess (OFO-DC), Jacob Cavegn (OM), Liz Cuttino (OFO-Atlanta), Maria Esteras (OIC), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Amanda Luell (OFO-Denver), Jeanie Mah (OPARM), Gary McCann (OM), Shonda Moore (OM), Danisha Montague Parker (CRS), Michael Munday (OCIO), Laura Palmer (OFO-DC), Thomas Reimler (OM), Liz Simmons (OIEA), Paul Soma (OM), Alexandra Tarrant (OFO-DC) and Meghan White (OPACE).

Administrator’s Awards for Excellence Winners

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety, In-Plant - Roland Ebegbe

Pictured below: Administrator Paul Kiecker and Roland Ebegbe (OFO-Philadelphia)

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety, In-Plant - Nicholas Moy

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Nicholas Moy (OFO-Raleigh) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety, Agency-Wide - Kingsland Recall and Investigation Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Roland Ebegbe (OFO-Philadelphia), Elizabeth Starrett (OIEA), Thomas Collaro (OIEA), Tammy Dulude (OIEA), Ashley Boles (USDA-OGC), Deputy Administrator Nintemann, Lauren Behar (OIEA) and Tracy McGowan (OGC).

Not pictured: Denise Amann (OIEA), Scott Benek (OFO-Philadelphia), Paul Brown (OIEA), Derek Davis (OIEA), Gabrielle Gordon (OFO-Philadelphia), Daniel Holmes (OIEA), Chia Chen Hsu (OIEA), Meihong “May” Lamm (OPARM), Nicholas Milo (OIEA) and Stacy Womack (OFO-DC).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Food Safety, Agency-Wide - Salmonella in Not-Ready-To-Eat Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Stephanie Baiyasi (OPPD), Joshua Ayers (OPPD), Maegan Almonte (OPPD), Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Sarah Milchman (OPPD) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Not pictured: Courtney Amundson (OPARM), Tye Boynton (OPHS), Sterling Brown (OPPD), Stephanie Despero (OPPD), Nelson Clinch (OPARM), Andrea Cote (OPHS), Courtney Johnson (OPHS), Bonnie Kissler (OPHS), Maria Machuca (OPACE), Amber Pasko (OFO-DC), Daysena Pelham (OPHS), Robert Phillips (OPHS), Mary Porretta (OPPD) and Flora Tsui (OPPD).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation, Agency-Wide - Salmonella in Poultry Risk Assessment Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Iva Bilanovic (OPHS) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Not pictured: Natalie Baker (OPHS), Berhanu Tameru (OPHS), Eric Ebel (OPHS), Sunil Kumar (OPHS), Davi LaBarre (OPHS), Drew Posny (OPHS), Gurinder Saini (OPHS), Anant Venu (OPHS) and Mike Williams (OPHS).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Transformation and Innovation, Agency-Wide - USDA Model Talent Management Program Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Lynda Lilyestrom (OPACE).

Not pictured: Karen Anderson (OPACE), Cortney Burgess (OFO-DC), Jacob Cavegn (OM), Liz Cuttino (OFO-Atlanta), Maria Esteras (OIC), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Amanda Luell (OFO-Denver),  Jeanie Mah (OPARM), Gary McCann (OM), Shonda Moore (OM), Danisha Montague Parker (CRS), Michael Munday (OCIO), Laura Palmer (OFO-DC), Thomas Reimler (OM), Liz Simmons (OIEA), Paul Soma (OM), Alexandra Tarrant (OFO-DC) and Meghan White (OPACE).

Administrator’s Award for Operational Excellence, In-Plant - Kenny Mundt

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Kenny Mundt (OFO-Chicago) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Operational Excellence, Agency-Wide - Budget Formulation and Presentation Branch Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Matthew Sexton (OCFO). 

Not pictured: Oswaldo Maxwell (OCFO), Philip Molle (OCFO), Michele Morgan (OCFO) and Jeffrey Thompson (OCFO).

Administrator’s Award for Operational Excellence, Agency-Wide - PHIS Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Carlos Vega (OCIO).

Not pictured: JenAlyse Arena (OPARM), Lakshmi Ballijepalle (OCIO), Teresa Carpenter (OPPD), Bryce Carson (OIC), Krutang Desai (OCIO), Janet Everhart (OPARM), Zaffrenarda King (OCIO), Kate Kjome (OEED), Gina LaSpata (OIEA), Vinh Le (OCIO), Jeanie Mah (OPARM), Derrick Mayo (OCIO), Robert Mosheyev (OCIO), Caitlin Owens (OPARM), Megan Potts (OFO-DC), Markietta Robertson (OFO-DC), Scott Seebohm (OFO-DC) and Katina Weems (OFO-DC).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Agency-Wide - FSIS Military Recruitment and Outreach Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Shonda Moore (OM).

Not pictured: Susan Bowen (OM), Cortney Burgess (OFO-DC), Corinne Calhoun (OM), Jerrell Davis (OM), William Fountas (OFO-Dallas), Jana Gunther (OM), Kyesha Lewis (OM), Chenell Malcolm (OPACE) and Jamie Mitchell (OM).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, Agency-Wide - Virtual Diversity and Inclusion Conference Committee

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Damali Carr (CRS), Tamara Bond (CRS) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Not pictured: Manuel Alba (CRS), Brian Gates (OEED), Aleesha Grady (CRS), Kimberly Kelley (OPACE), Tina McLane (CRS), Danisha Montague Parker (CRS), Thaniya Shankar (CRS), Christopher Small (CRS), Tanja Thompson (CRS) and Glenn Washington (OM).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service, In-Plant - Wenatchee Mini Circuit Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Carla Ling (OFO-Denver), Kendall Kritzik (OFO-Denver) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Not pictured: Shellee Anne Imperial (OFO-Denver), Andrew Nash (OFO-Denver), David O'Brien (OFO-Denver) and Jennifer Poirier (OFO-Denver). 

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service, Agency-Wide - Agency Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry Sampling, Inspection, Labeling Approval, New Technology Evaluations and International Equivalence Team

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Selena Kremer-Caldwell (OPPD), Nora Pihkala (OPPD), Stephanie Defibaugh-Chavez (OPPD), Joshua Ayers (OPPD), Monique Pichon (OPPD), Parrish Endy (OIC) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Not pictured: Kristina Barlow (OPHS), Tye Boynton (OPHS), Hannah Filloon (OPPD), Ethan Hobbs (OPARM), Nancy Layland (OPPD), Sarah Maruschock (OPPD), Kimberly Nguyen (OPHS), Daniel Righter (OPHS), Patrick Sisco (OPHS), Scott Updike (OPPD), Janice Watkins (OPPD), Monique Wiggins (OFO-DC) and Laine Zipperer (OPPD).

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service, Agency-Wide - Alameda District Cell-Cultured Poultry Implementation Workgroup

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Michelle Tiojanco (OFO-Alameda), Alaaeldeen Ahmed (OFO-Alameda) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Not pictured: Gregory Abreu (OFO-Alameda), Gabrial Eddings (OFO-DC), Virginia Felix (OFO-Alameda), Frank Gillis (OFO-Alameda), Heather Havens (OFO-Alameda), Eryn Judd (OFO-Alameda) and Nerisa Riedl (OFO-Alameda).

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year, In-Plant Processing - Mike Davis

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Mike Davis (OFO-Springdale).

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year, In-Plant Processing - Gary Schweitzer

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Gary Schweitzer (OFO-Alameda) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year, In-Plant Slaughter - Jessica Hardrict

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Jessica Hardrict (OFO-Raleigh) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year, In-Plant Slaughter - Heriberto Rayo

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Heriberto Rayo (OFO-Jackson).

Administrator’s Award for Employee of the Year, Non-In-Plant - Raymond Kieu

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker and Raymond Kieu (OCFO).

Administrator’s Award for Supervisor of the Year, In-Plant - Matthew Burton

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Matthew Burton (OFO-Springdale) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Supervisor of the Year, In-Plant - Justin Crites

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Justin Crites (OFO-Jackson) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Supervisor of the Year, Non-In-Plant - Melissa Hammar

Pictured below, from left: Administrator Kiecker, Melissa Hammar (OPPD) and Deputy Administrator Nintemann.

Administrator’s Award for Operational Excellence, In-Plant - Thomas Behan (OFO-Philadelphia)

Unable to attend.

Administrator’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility, In-Plant - Pablo Nieves (OFO-Jackson)

Unable to attend.