KBS alum receives presidential honor for career in public service

James Grace

James Grace, a senior research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey—USGS—has received a President Rank Award, one of the most distinguished honors for federal civil service.

The award, given by the President of the United States, honors career senior leaders for outstanding service and contributions to the federal government, and commitment to public service.

Grace’s colleague in the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Don DeAngelis, also received an award from President Joe Biden along with civil servants from some 35 other federal agencies.

James Grace

Grace’s focus as a USGS research ecologist is science methodology, particularly the use of causal networks as a way to investigate complex, system-level questions. These methods have been applied to a variety of ecosystems and even the design of cities, and have included the effects of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and fires, and climate change.

His career in federal service, which began in 1992 when he joined the USGS, has been dedicated to developing integrative solutions to pressing natural resource needs for the U.S. Department of the Interior and other science partners around the world.

Previously, Grace held faculty positions at the universities of Arkansas and Louisiana, and at Louisiana State University. He earned a Ph.D. from Michigan State University.

Grace spent three years at KBS while completing his doctoral degree. He worked with Bob Wetzel and counts Pat and Earl Werner as major influences on his work. A limnologist by training who specialized in aquatic ecology, he worked on life history strategies in cattails during his time at KBS.

He taught a KBS summer course before leaving for the University of Arkansas and was most recently at the Station in 2014 as an invited lecturer.

About the award

Presidential Rank Awards are critical to recognizing the hard work and important contributions of dedicated civil servants in the American federal workforce. In 2021, 230 winners were recognized by the President for their exceptional leadership, accomplishments, and service over an extended length of time.

On the importance of the awards, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja said, “The federal workforce is in the business of achieving the unachievable – from curing disease, to combating climate change, to landing rovers on the surface of Mars. I am pleased to be lifting up hard-working individuals who consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, industry, and a relentless commitment to public service.”

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