ICMA / Membership / Awards / Distinguished Service

Distinguished Service Award

The ICMA Distinguished Service Award is given to a manager who has been retired from the profession for a minimum of 3 years and has made an outstanding contribution to the management profession and local government. Nominations for 2013 are being accepted through April 22, 2013.

Nomination guidelines

The award is not given to recognize years of service in local government. Rather, it recognizes a manager whose service in his or her community or communities has been judged by peers as strong or exceptional, and who has made major contributions beyond direct service to local government. Specific career activities to be considered include:

  • A consistent pattern of leadership in regional, state, and national management associations.
  • A pattern of support to peers, colleagues, and young people entering the profession as a mentor, counselor, or "sage."
  • A history of developing and implementing innovative programs and sharing and disseminating these through writing, participation on conference sessions, or direct assistance through a one-on-one peer assistance program.
  • Teaching, lecturing, and/or supervising of interns through an undergraduate or graduate public administration program over an extended period of time.
  • Development of a special area of expertise that has been exhibited and recognized, both within the community and by peers.

In summary, the individual has to have made a lasting impact on the community and the profession.

A nomination for the Distinguished Service Award may be made by any member of ICMA, but self-nominations will not be accepted.

Nomination forms are available here. 

A maximum of two awards will be conferred each year.

Contact Felicia Littky, program manager, Membership & Professional Development, at 202/962-3656 or awards@icma.org with questions or for more information.