2010 Edmund S. Muskie Award Ceremony

    Printable Version

The Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award honors the late Ed Muskie (1914-1996), who chaired the CNP Board of Directors following his retirement from government service. Muskie served our nation in the Navy, as governor of Maine, as U.S. senator and as U.S. secretary of state. Following his example, the Muskie Award is presented yearly to leaders who have demonstrated a clear commitment to public service and have made a significant contribution to the country.

On November 17, the Center for National Policy proudly presented the 2010 Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award to Governor Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, Police Commissioner of New York City.

Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania’s 45th Governor, began a second term of office on January 16, 2007, following a landslide re-election victory. As Governor, Rendell serves as chief executive of the nation’s 6th-most-populous state and oversees a $28.3 billion budget. He has annually cut wasteful spending and improved efficiency to save more than $1 billion. Governor Rendell’s economic stimulus plan is investing more than $2.8 billion to create new jobs and revitalize communities. Under Governor Rendell, student achievement is on the rise at every grade level and in every subject. Governor Rendell is also making Pennsylvania a leader in pursuing energy independence – creating jobs in the emerging alternative energy economy while developing effective strategies to reduce dependence on foreign oil and save families money.

From 1992 through 1999, Governor Rendell served as the 121st Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. Among his many accomplishments as Mayor, Rendell eliminated a $250 million deficit; balanced the city's budget and generated five consecutive budget surpluses; reduced business and wage taxes for four consecutive years; implemented new revenue-generating initiatives, and dramatically improved services to the City's neighborhoods. Before serving as Mayor, Rendell was elected district attorney of the City of Philadelphia for two terms from 1978 through 1985. The Governor, who served as general chair of the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 Presidential election, has always been active in the community through a variety of memberships on boards, and also teaches government and politics courses at the University of Pennsylvania.

An Army veteran, the Governor is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. 1965) and Villanova Law School (J.D. 1968). The Governor and his wife, First Lady Marjorie O. Rendell, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, have a son, Jesse.

Raymond W. Kelly was appointed Police Commissioner of the City of New York by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, making Commissioner Kelly the first person to hold the post for a second, separate tenure. Commissioner Kelly was formerly Senior Managing Director, Global Corporate Security, at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. He served as Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, where he managed the agency's 20,000 employees and $20 billion in annual revenue and received the Alexander Hamilton Medal for Exceptional Service. From 1996-98, Commissioner Kelly was Under Secretary for Enforcement at the U.S. Treasury Department where he supervised the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and the Office of Foreign Assets Control. In addition, Mr. Kelly served on the executive committee and was elected Vice President for the Americas of Interpol from 1996-2000. As Director of the International Police Monitors in Haiti, a U.S. led force responsible for ending human rights abuses and establishing an interim police force there, Commissioner Kelly was awarded the Exceptionally Meritorious Service Commendation by the President of the United States and the Commander's Medal for Public Service by the Chairman of the Joint Chief's of Staff. Commissioner Kelly spent 31 years in the New York City Police Department, serving in 25 different commands and as Police Commissioner from 1992-1994.

A combat veteran of the Vietnam War, Commissioner Kelly retired as a Colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves after 30 years of service. He holds a BBA from Manhattan College, a JD from St. John's University School of Law, an LLM from New York University Graduate School of Law and an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has received honorary degrees from Marist College, Manhattan College, the College of St. Rose, St. John's University and the State University of New York.