FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 1999
CONTACT: Leslie Peterson
303-275-1233 peterson@wapa.gov
GOLDEN, Colo.-Howard Hirahara, an administrative officer at Western Area Power Administration in Folsom, Calif., received the agency's 1999 Exceptional Service Award today.
Administrator Mike Hacskaylo presented the award to Hirahara at a special ceremony in Folsom. Hirahara is one of five Western employees to receive the award this year.
Given annually, the Exceptional Service Award is based on outstanding overall service, improving departmental goals, accomplishing responsibilities in an exemplary manner, showing unusual initiative, demonstrating outstanding executive or technical ability and displaying unusual devotion to duty. It is the highest honor that can be granted by Western's administrator.
Hirahara began his Federal career as a cooperative education student assigned to the Economics Planning Unit of the Bureau of Reclamation. In 1990, he graduated from the University of the Pacific. He came to Western in 1992 as an administrative officer.
At Western, Hirahara is known for his creative problem-solving and his ability to maximize work place efficiency. Many of his innovations have streamlined administrative procedures, cutting time requirements by half in some cases. He resides in Woodbridge, Calif., with his wife Amy and their five-year-old daughter Melissa.
Western Area Power Administration annually markets and transmits more than 10,000 megawatts of power from hydroelectric powerplants owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 15 central and western states.
###
Serving the West with Federal Hydropower