AGA National
Become a Member
Become A Member

 

DC Chapter Awards

AGA Washington DC Chapter is soliciting award nominations that will be presented at the annual AGA Washington DC Chapter Awards Gala on May 30, 2026.  Please help us identify deserving professionals in each category.  We encourage nominations across federal, state, local, and private sector partners supporting government financial management. Completed nomination forms are due to the DC Chapter Awards Committee by April 15, 2026.

Contact Orinda Basha at dcchapterawards@agadc.org for nomination submissions or questions.

The nominations are for the following award categories, with Program Year (PY) 2024-2025 recipients, where applicable listed:

Washington DC Chapter Award Categories (the Chapter subsequently nominates awardees for the AGA National Awards:

DC Chapter Founder’s Awards for Enhancing the Prestige of the Government Accountability Profession recognizes superior service that enhanced the AGA DC Chapter prestige and stature.  The award is bestowed in tribute to the memory of AGA and DC Chapter founding member and first National President, Robert W. King, who led the establishment of AGA and the DC Chapter.  The recipient of this DC Chapter Award will be the DC Chapter’s nominee for the AGA National Robert W. King Memorial Award.

All AGA DC Chapter members are eligible, except for individuals serving on the National Governing Board or employees of AGA at the time the award is presented.

  • PY 24-25 National and DC Chapter recipient: David A. Lebryk, MPA, Retired Fiscal Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury

DC Chapter Founder’s Award for Advancing Government Accountability recognizes an active AGA DC Chapter member or DC-based organization that has, over a sustained period of time, made major contributions to advancing government accountability at the federal, state, and/or local level.  This award was bestowed in tribute to the memory of two AGA and DC CHapter founding leaders and Past National Presidents, Raymond Einhorn and T. Jack Gary, whose contributions to advancing government accountability spanned over five decades. The recipient of this DC Chapter Award will be the DC Chapter’s nominee for the AGA National Einhorn-Gary Leadership Award.

Nominees must have a record of active participation in activities and/or programs at the AGA DC Chapter level (and national level to be considered for the national award).

  • PY 24-25 National and DC Chapter recipient: Robert Dacey, JD, CGFM, CPA, Chief Accountant, U.S. Government Accountability Office

Achievement of the Year Award recognizes a government employee or organization who has exhibited leadership or outstanding achievement in developing, implementing, and improving financial management in government service in the past year.

Nominees must have been employed in government service at the time the work being recognized was performed.  Nominees do not have to be AGA members.

  • PY 24-25 DC Chapter recipient: United States Marine Corp

Educator Award recognizes individuals in the metro-DC area who have made significant contributions to the education and training of government financial managers.

Nominees do not have to be government employees or AGA members.

  • PY 24-25 DC Chapter recipient:  Dr. Dorothy Potter, PHD, CDFM-A, DFMC3, CICA, CBM, Professor and Department Chair, National Defense University, College of Information and Cybersecurity

International Achievement Award recognizes a government employee who has exhibited leadership or outstanding achievement in international government financial management.

Nominees must have been employed in government service at the time the work being recognized was performed.  Nominees do not have to be AGA members.

  • PY 24-25 DC Chapter recipient: Dawn Simpson, CPA, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, U.S. Government Accountability Office

Emerging Leader Award of Excellence recognizes younger government financial professionals for notable contributions toward excellence in financial management, with the desire that the recognition will encourage others to achieve early in their professional lives.

Nominees must have 5-10 years of experience within the government financial management arena.  Nominees do not have to be AGA members.  Nominees cannot receive this award more than once.

  • PY 24-25 DC Chapter recipient: Aaron Ruiz, CPA, Senior Auditor, U.S. Government Accountability Office

Excellence in Research Award recognizes individuals who throughout their careers (minimum of 15 years) have made continuous contributions to government financial management by their direct participation in research activities and/or through their encouragement and support of others engaged in government financial management research.DC Chapter nominees for this award will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration for the AGA National Cornelius E. Tierney/EY Research Award.

The nominated researchers, through their individual efforts, enhanced the image and effectiveness of government accountants, auditors, and other financial managers by their efforts in one or more of the following areas:

  • Basic Research – The gathering of information on a systemic basis for a fuller knowledge or understanding of government financial management, thereby contributing to the improvement of government financial management policies, procedures, and practices.
  • Applied research – The application of knowledge leading to the development of new methods and techniques for government financial management, thereby contributing to the improvement of the image, operations, control, and accountability of government.
  • Education – Basic and applied research relating to the education of government accountants and other financial managers, thereby enhancing their technical and operational capabilities.

Nominees do not have to be members of AGA.

  • PY 24-25 National and DC Chapter Recipient: Monica Valentine, CGFM, CPA, Executive Director, Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board

Government Innovator of the Year Award recognizes outstanding innovation by a government employee or organization who over the past year has made significant contributions to government through the implementation of new technology, systems, or processes (e.g., artificial intelligence or AI, automation, machine learning, blockchain, data analytics, forensic innovations, novel software/applications, websites, dashboards, data visualization, etc.). The DC Chapter award nominee will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration for the AGA National Relmond P. Van Daniker Government Transparency Award.

  • PY 24-25 DC Chapter Recipient: The Honorable Daniel I. Werfel, Former Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Internal Revenue Service

Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes a government employee who has demonstrated sustained, outstanding leadership and made significant, long-term, and lasting contributions to the advancing government financial management.  The award honors individuals whose leadership has strengthened accountability, improved financial management practices, and promoted excellence and professionalism across the government financial management community.  The DC Chapter award nominee will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration of the AGA National Frank Greathouse Distinguished Leadership Award.

Nominees must have been employed in government service at the time the work being recognized was performed.  The award emphasizes enduring impact rather than a single-year accomplishment, recognizing leadership that has influenced organizations, programs, or the profession over time.  Nominees do not need to be members of AGA.

  • PY 24-24 DC Chapter Recipient: Tonya R. Johnson-Simmons, MBA, Macc, Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Director, Office of Financial Management, U.S. Department of the Interior

James W. Saylor Chapter Service Award recognizes an active AGA DC Chapter member who has consistently made important contributions to the development and enhancement of the chapter during the past year.  The DC Chapter award nominee will be forwarded by the chapter for consideration for the AGA National Volunteer of the Year Award.

  • PY 24-25 DC Chapter Recipient: Bo Shevchik, CGFM, PMP, Program Director, AGA DC Chapter and Outreach and Marketing Strategy, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

For more information on the AGA National awards see AGA – PDT Awards of Distinction (agacgfm.org)

Other Washington DC Chapter Award Categories:

William J. Anderson Lifetime Achievement Award is given in appreciation for significant and continuous contributions to government financial management and the DC Chapter.

  • PY 24-25 Recipient: Jeffrey C. Steinhoff, CGFM, CPA, CFE, CGMA, Retired Assistant Comptroller General of the United States and Managing Director, Financial Management Assurance, U.S. Government Accountability Office

2024-2025 AGA DC Chapter President’s Awards:

Exceptional Program Leadership – Paul Lionikis (Senior Adivisor & Assistant Director of Programs)
Exceptional Event Coordination – Alexis Alfaro Trejo, CGFM, CPA (Co-Director of the Monthly Luncheon – Virtual)
Exceptional Stewardship  –  Mona Amatie, CGFM, PMP (Chapter Treasurer)
Exceptional Collaboration – Wendy Morris, CGFM, CPA, PMP (Chapter Secretary)
Exceptional Partnership Engagement – Cherry Sancho Ung (Director of Corporate Sponsorship and Annual Awards Gala)
Exceptional Dedication – Crystal Wolf, CGFM, CPA, CGMS, CICA (Chapter President Elect)
Exceptional Technical Support and Communications– Jeff Ledford, CGFM, MBA (Director of Admin & Communications – Webmaster) and Howie Simanoff, CGFM, CPA (Assistant Director of Admin & Communications – Webmaster)