EM senior leader Dae Chung has been awarded a prestigious Presidential Rank Award presented to the highest performing senior career federal executives
Office of Environmental Management
December 21, 2021
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EM senior leader Dae Chung has been awarded a prestigious Presidential Rank Award presented to the highest performing senior career federal executives.
Chung was given the Meritorious Executive award, the second-highest annual award for career members of the Senior Executive Service. Recipients are leaders, professionals or scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, industry and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service.
He was one of seven DOE executives recognized with Presidential Rank Awards this year.
Chung serves as the EM associate principal deputy assistant secretary for corporate services. He oversees budgeting, planning, acquisition, information technology, human capital, communications and other services essential to the cleanup program. He has served in various other EM posts, including principal deputy assistant secretary; deputy assistant secretary for safety, security and quality assurance; and director of special projects.
Chung championed key acquisition reforms, including improving safety, quality assurance, safeguards and security directives and contract clauses, resulting in significant cost savings, according to the award description. EM awarded tens of billions of dollars in high-profile contracts in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and has continued to maximize competition for contracts through streamlining request-for-proposal processes and successful interactions with industry conducted virtually.
His critical review of the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste Program at the Hanford Site resulted in the use of a commercially available, modular approach that includes the new Tank-Side Cesium Removal system. The review provided key recommendations that resulted in significant schedule improvements and cost avoidance of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Chung has 37 years of experience in government programs and operations and in the private sector, including senior executive vice president and head of global business operations at Samsung Construction & Trade Corporation, with a large portfolio in South Korea.
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