DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins was honored for his public service and leadership in water sector management by GOVERNING Magazine as one of its Public Officials of the Year.

Now in its 23rd year, Governing’s Public Officials of the Year program highlights public-sector leaders who have made an indelible impact on their communities. “It is an affirmation of the power and the value of public service and of the capacity of the citizens of our states and localities to govern themselves well,” said GOVERNING Publisher Mark Funkhouser. Among the qualities recognized are leadership, courage, innovation, creativity and good management.

DC Water’s Board Chair and DC City Administrator Allen Y. Lew said, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with George for seven years and I can’t think of a more effective advocate for his workforce, the environment, and the general public interest. George’s passion and enthusiasm is contagious, and has helped raise the profile of DC Water on both the local and national stage. Congratulations on this acknowledgement and I look forward to more achievements in the future.”

“He is a game-changing general manager,” says David LaFrance, executive director of the American Water Works Association, in the profile. “He does a lot to promote the value of water and water service.”

Commenting on the announcement, Hawkins said, “My thanks to GOVERNING for considering me for this award, and for giving it to someone in a public water utility. Our field has some of the best public servants I have ever met.” He added, “I pledge not to stop moving forward, not to stop learning from those around me, and not to stop doing my best to surround myself with the best people.”

The nine honorees, all profiled in the December issue of GOVERNING, are:

- The Honorable Stacey Y. Abrams
House Minority Leader, State of Georgia

- Carrie Banahan
Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Health Benefit and Health Information Exchange

- Chris Connealy
Texas State Fire Marshal

- Billy L. Hattaway, P.E.
District Secretary, Florida Department of Transportation

- George S. Hawkins
General Manager, DC Water

- The Honorable Michael P. Hein
Ulster County Executive, New York

- The Honorable Michael A. Nutter
Mayor, City of Philadelphia

- The Honorable Rick Snyder
Governor, State of Michigan

- Wendy S. Still, MAS
Chief Adult Probation Officer, City & County of San Francisco, California

Hawkins’ profile can be viewed here:
governing.com/poy/poy-george-hawkins.html
All the honorees’ profiles can be viewed here: governing.com/poy

The awards were presented last night at a gala dinner at the historic Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The award came on the same evening that DC Water’s finance team, headed by CFO Mark Kim, was awarded The Bond Buyer’s regional “Deal of the Year” for the Authority’s green century bond issued in July.