THE PACE AWARD

The Pace Award is presented annually in the name of former Secretary of the Army Frank Pace, Jr. The award recipients will be honored at a ceremony in the Hall of Heroes, The Pentagon, and will receive a Pace Award Certificate mounted on a plaque and a pen set. Individuals selected as runners-up for the award for the award will receive a Certificate of Achievement signed by the Secretary of the Army.

The purpose of this award is to give special recognition to both a civilian employee and a military officer officially assigned to Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA) for a contribution of outstanding significance to the Army that occurred during the calendar year. The individual contribution must be the result of a nominee's personal efforts, rather than that of a collective effort as head of a staff unit. Any Army civilian employee, GS14 equivalent or below, or any military officer, lieutenant colonel or below, who is officially assigned to HQDA in a staff capacity at the close of calendar year 2010 is eligible for nomination. Eligible personnel will be nominated and considered in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Completion of a significant task or staff assignment during calendar year 2010 that brought benefit to the Army, such as a great improvement in service, substantial financial savings, or significant technological or military development. The accomplishments should include efforts above and beyond the routine tasks the individual performed on a daily basis.
   
   
2. General performance of assigned duties and responsibilities in such a manner as to have demonstrated outstanding executive, scientific, or technical abilities.

Principal Officials of HQOA are invited to submit nominations. Nominations must be submitted to the Human Resource Management Directorate via e-mail to civilianawards@conus.army.mil. The nominating Principal Official will personally endorse each nomination, which will consist of the following:

1. A cover sheet containing:
   
   1. The nominee's name, title, grade or rank, organizational location, and length of service;
      
      
   2. A brief description of the nominee's present duties and responsibilities, including the scope of work; and
      
      
   3. A point of contact (with telephone number) for the nomination package
2. A written statement of justification that is:
   1. no more than two pages in length (prepared in Arial 12 point); and
      
      
   2. As specific as possible and succinctly lists the nominee's significant contributions and their effect(s). Additional materials are not permitted as enclosures.
3. A proposed citation. A proposed citation consisting of up to 100 words highlighting the significant achievements of the nominee. The citation will be placed on the Pace Award Certificate to be signed by the Secretary of the Army.
   
   
4. A DA Form 1256 (Incentive Award Nomination and Approval). Nominating officials will ensure that Part I of the DA Form 1256 is completed. Block 5a (Other) should specify "PACE AWARD". PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS must sign Block 10 of the form.
   
   
5. The nomination packet must include a biography to be used in the program for the award ceremony in the event the nominee is selected.