NASPE Awards Program

Recognizing outstanding leadership, innovation, communication excellence, and contributions that advance public sector human resources.

Call for Nominations Hall of Fame

About the NASPE Awards

NASPE’s awards program celebrates individuals, partners, and initiatives that strengthen public sector human resources.

Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Award — Innovative Program

Established in 1994, the Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Awards honor the legacy of a transformative leader in state human resources and recognize innovation that strengthens public service.

This award recognizes innovative state HR programs that improve service delivery and outcomes—and can be adapted by other states.

About Eugene H. Rooney, Jr.
Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. served as the state human resources administrator in Massachusetts and later as NASPE President during a period of significant growth. He was respected as a reformer and innovator—and, most importantly, for valuing individuals and their commitment to public service across a 21-year career.
2025 Recipient
Indiana Manager Central
State: Indiana • Agency: State Personnel Department
Submission Highlight Video
Past Recipients
2024
Employee Financial Wellness
State: Pennsylvania • Agency: Office of Administration
Submission Highlight Video
2024
Managing for Excellence (MFE) Certification Program
State: Tennessee
Submission Highlight Video

Eva N. Santos Communication Award

Established in 2007 and renamed in 2013 in memory of Eva N. Santos, this award recognizes excellence in state government HR communication.

It honors communication efforts that improve understanding, engagement, and effectiveness across the public-sector workforce.

About Eva N. Santos
Eva Santos was appointed HR Director for the State of Washington in 2005 by Gov. Christine Gregoire and served until her death in December 2012. She understood the role of communication in effective HR leadership and established this award to recognize outstanding achievement in state HR communication.
2025 Recipient
Toolkit for Executive Order 24-04: Increasing Employment Opportunities in Washington State Government
State: Washington • Agency: Office of Financial Management State Human Resources Division
Submission Highlight Video
Past Recipients
2024
GOAL Leadership Program Communications Campaign
State: Illinois • Agency: Department of Central Management Services
Submission Highlight Video

Advancing the HR Profession Award

This award recognizes programs and efforts within state government that advance the HR profession as the field continues to evolve from transactional work to strategic leadership.

It honors initiatives that strengthen HR through development, communication, networking, and a shared sense of community and value in HR work.

2025 Recipient
Louisiana State Civil Service Hiring Framework
State: Louisiana • Agency: State Civil Service
Submission Highlight Video
Past Recipients
2024
Managing for Excellence (MFE) Certification Program
State: West Virginia • Agency: Division of Personnel
Submission Highlight Video

Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. Award — Leadership

Established in 1994, this award honors Eugene H. Rooney, Jr. and recognizes leadership that strengthens state human resource administration.

The Rooney Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose work reflects Rooney’s character, integrity, and influence on the HR profession.

About Eugene H. Rooney, Jr.
Rooney served as Massachusetts’ state human resources administrator and later as NASPE President. He was widely respected as a reformer and champion of public service throughout his 21-year career.
2025 Recipient
Sarah Kerley
Chief Administrative Officer
Illinois Department of Central Management Services
Submission Highlight Video
Past Recipients
2024
Mary Elizabeth Bailey
Cabinet Secretary
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet
Submission Highlight Video
2023
Kelly Hardwick
State Personnel Director
Mississippi State Personnel Board
Submission Highlight Video
2022
Byron Decoteau
State Civil Services Director
Louisiana State Civil Service
Submission
2021
John Bartley
Deputy Director, Division of Human Resources
Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
Submission
2019
Tom Stephens
Cabinet Secretary
Kentucky Personnel Cabinet
2018
Joyce Oreskovich
Director of Human Resources
Maine Bureau of Human Resources
2017
Deanne Mosley
Executive Director
Mississippi State Personnel Board
2016
Neal Alexander
Director
North Carolina Office of State Human Resources
2015
Rebecca Hunter
Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Human Resources
2014
Jim Honchar
Deputy Secretary for Human Resources
Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Administration
2013
Kathy Nesbitt
State Personnel Director and Executive Director
Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
2012
Shannon Templet
Director of State Civil Service
Louisiana Department of State Civil Service
2010
Jeff Herring
Executive Director
Utah Department of Human Resources Management
2009
Eva Santos
Director
Washington State Department of Personnel
2008
Sara Redding Wilson
Director
Virginia Department of Human Resource Management
2007
Thomas Wright
State Personnel Director
North Carolina Office of State Personnel
2006
Nancy Dering Martin
Deputy Secretary For Human Resources & Management
Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Administration
2005
Samuel Wilkins
State Human Resources Director
South Carolina Office of Human Resources
2004
Marjorie Young
Commissioner
Georgia Merit System of Personnel Administration
2003
J.K. "Hoopy" Stringer
Executive Director
Mississippi State Personnel Board
2002
Jeffrey Schutt
Director
Colorado Division of Human Resources, Benefits & Risk Services
2001
Mollie Anderson
Director
Iowa Department of Personnel
2000
Donna Traywick
Director
South Carolina Office of Human Resources
1999
Robert Lavigna
Director
Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations
1998
Dennis Karras
Director
Washington State Department of Personnel
1997
Oscar B. Jackson
Administrator
Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management
1996
Linda Anselmini
Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Personnel
1996
Linda Hanson
Director
Iowa Department of Personnel
1995
Martha Bibbs
State Personnel Director
Michigan Department of Civil Services
1994
Sharon Y. Miyashiro
Director
Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development

Oscar B. Jackson, Jr. President’s Award

Since 2011, the NASPE President may select an individual (or individuals) to recognize exceptional commitment to NASPE and contributions that go above and beyond in support of the association.

About Oscar B. Jackson, Jr.
Oscar B. Jackson, Jr. was appointed Administrator of the Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management in 1991 and later served as Secretaryd was known as an ambassador to NASPE members and truly reflected the spirit of NASPE.
2025 Recipient
Glenn Davidson
Human Capital Transformation Executive
Deloitte
Past Recipients
2024
Laury Morgan
Director
Alabama State Personnel Department
2023
Mark Betchey
Director, State and Local Government Strategy
Oracle
2022
Kate Sheehan
Personnel/Labor Relations Director
Alaska Department of Administration
2021
Kelly Hardwick
State Personnel Director
Mississippi State Personnel Board
2019
Franklin Plaistowe
Director
Washington State Department of Personnel
2018
Byron Decoteau
State Civil Services Director
Louisiana State Civil Service
2017
Lucinda Meltabarger
Administrator Human Capital Management
Oklahoma Office of Management & Enterprise Services
2016
Shannon Templet
Director of State Civil Service
Louisiana Department of State Civil Service
2015
Leslie Scott
Executive Director
National Association of State Personnel Executives
2014
Deanne Mosley
Executive Director
Mississippi State Personnel Board
2013
Randy Morris
HRIS Bureau Chief
Montana Human Resources Division
2012
Eva Santos
Director
Washington State Department of Personnel
2011
Neville Kenning
Vice President, State Government Consulting
Hay Group
2011
Jim Farrell
Managing Director, Shared Services & Outstanding Advisory Services
KPMG

Neville Kenning Corporate Partner Award

Established in 2022, this award recognizes the NASPE corporate partner that state members believe added the most value to the association and to state HR management throughout the year.

About Neville Kenning
Neville Kenning was NASPE’s first and longest-serving corporate member and believed the strongest partnerships are built on relationships and trust.
2025 Recipient
Accenture
Accenture logo
Past Recipients
2024
ServiceNow
ServiceNow logo
2023
NEOGOV
NEOGOV logo
2022
Deloitte
Deloitte logo

2026 Awards Timeline

  • Call Opens: February 25, 2026
  • Call Closes: April 17, 2026
  • Judging: Late April– Early May 2026
  • Notifications: Late May 2026
  • Awards Presented: NASPE Annual Meeting

Nomination templates and the Call for Nominations packet will be linked on the Call for Nominations page.

Ready to nominate?

Submit your nomination before April 17, 2026.

Go to Call for Nominations
Questions? Contact NASPE staff at kleslie@csg.org.