Marilyn Thomas selected as Presidential Distinguished Rank Award winner

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Command Information, / Published December 21, 2015

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The deputy chief management officer, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, was named the Air Force’s top Presidential Rank Award winner and recognized at the “Unlocking the Full Potential of America’s Federal Workforce” event hosted by the Office of Management and Budget Dec. 15.

Marilyn Thomas, who was selected as a Presidential Distinguished Rank Award winner, is responsible for improving effectiveness and efficiency of business operations and serves as the Director of Business Transformation, overseeing implementation of continuous process improvement initiatives.

The Presidential Distinguished Rank Award is limited each year to only 1 percent of the Air Force's senior executives and only 5 percent of SES employees may receive the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award.

“This award is really the pinnacle award for an SES career,” Thomas said. “To be recognized by the President with the distinguished award is unlike any other recognition that a civilian can get.”

Thomas said she was humbled to receive the award.

“The only reason I was able to receive this award is because all of the other SES employees, the general officers, and of course all of the workforce and people I’ve served with over the years,” Thomas said. “They taught me and helped with any success I’ve managed to have. “

She also had some advice for civilians seeking mentorship.

“Every day is a job interview,” Thomas said. “You can have a great resume, you can put together a great reference letter, a great package to submit for a position, but what people are really impressed with is your day-to-day performance”