This year's Federal 100 judges met at FCW's offices on Saturday Jan. 4. The weather which is almost always remarkable on the day of the judging was remarkably warm and sunny - a condition that increased the value of the judges' contribution of their day off.
Each panel of judges has its own personality and their choices reflect their priorities and their experiences. This year's judges followed the precedent set by all previous panels and eliminated themselves from consideration. They also decided that they would not give awards this year to individuals who essentially got the award for the same accomplishment last year. So for example Hill staff who were selected last year for their work on procurement reform were not picked again this year even though some portion of the process may have spilled over into 1996.
Other guidelines for selection have remained constant over the years:
* The award is for work done in 1996.
* This is an all-star team not a hall-of-fame award.
* It is what the person did that counts not the job occupied.
* Some selections may be controversial. This is not a popularity contest. Individuals who had a major effect on the community may not be uniformly liked. The effects can be negative and still be significant.
* Acknowledging that a person is influential is not an endorsement of behavior.
* Some of the awards may be symbolic representing other deserving people who may have done similar but unrecognized work.
Each year themes emerge from the work of those selected. The Year 2000 encryption policy and industry/government communication stood out this year as dominant concerns.
But each year as we read through the collection of accomplishments recorded here we are reminded once again that even in the midst of dramatic change it is people who make the difference in federal computing.
We thank the judges for their time and their support and we salute the 1997 Federal 100.
* * * * *
James J. FlyzikActing Deputy Assistant SecretaryInformation SystemsDepartment of the Treasury
Flyzik has been a point man for information technology in the National Performance Review. As chairman of the Government Information Technology Services Board and its predecessor the GITS Working Group he has become one of the top evangelists - and a guiding influence - for agencies seeking better ways to buy and deploy technology.
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