News Release Archive

Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Regional Director Don Glaser Awarded the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award at a Ceremony in Washington, DC

Media Contact: Pete Lucer, MP Region Public Affairs Officer, 916-978-5100, 03/08/2012 09:29

For Release: March 08, 2012

Mr. Donald R. Glaser, Regional Director for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region, was today awarded the Department of the Interior’s highest recognition, the Distinguished Service Award. 

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar (pictured, center) and Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes (left) presented the award to Mr. Glaser during today’s 68th Departmental Honor Awards Convocation at the Sidney Yates Auditorium of the Main Interior Building in Washington, DC.  


At a reception held this morning in Mr. Glaser’s honor, Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor (pictured below, right) presented Mr. Glaser with the Distinguished Service Medal. 

Mr. Glaser’s citation read:

“In recognition of his outstanding leadership, professionalism, and contributions to the Department of the Interior in effective water and power management for the Bureau of Reclamation.

Mr. Donald R. Glaser, Mid-Pacific Regional Director for the Bureau of Reclamation practices careful and productive stewardship of the Nation’s water resources. He is responsible for management and oversight of perhaps the most complicated and controversial water and power resource in the United States, the Central Valley Project. Managing this resource requires delicately balancing the often conflicting needs of farmers, ranchers, cities, fish, wildlife, tribal communities, and recreational users, all of whom depend upon this system to survive. Due in large part to Mr. Glaser’s skill, expertise, and ability to foster relationships, Reclamation and the Department of the Interior are able to balance these competing demands. His mastery in program planning, analysis, policy formulation, and execution enables him to represent the Department on many difficult issues within this broad range of constituent groups. Mr. Glaser’s ability to quickly understand


complex subjects, identify problems and issues, distinguish local implications of decisions, and evaluate “Big Picture” impacts across the West and nationally, allows him to successfully formulate creative and innovative solutions to otherwise intractable conflicts. Through Mr. Glaser’s vision and guidance Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region completed the statutory requirements contained in legislation such as the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, CALFED Bay-Delta, and the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act. Under Mr. Glaser’s direction, the region initiated construction of the Red Bluff Pumping Station, the Rock Slough Fish Screen, and the Delta Mendota Canal/California Aqueduct Intertie, San Joaquin River interim flows, and completion of the environmental documentation for expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir. In addition, Mr. Glaser provides guidance, direction, and leadership for the California Bay Delta Conservation Plan, where his knowledge and management skills allow him to discharge important responsibilities which reflect credit upon himself and the Department of the Interior. For these and many other outstanding accomplishments, Donald R. Glaser is granted the highest honor of the Department of the Interior, the Distinguished Service Award.” The citation was signed by Secretary Salazar. 

As Regional Director, Mr. Glaser oversees the management of Reclamation’s water projects in an area that encompasses the northern two-thirds of California, most of western Nevada, and part of southern Oregon. In addition to the Regional Office headquarters in Sacramento, California, the Region includes five Area Offices located in Klamath Falls, Oregon; Carson City, Nevada; and Redding, Folsom, and Fresno, California; and three specialized offices, the MP Construction Office in Willows, California, and the Central Valley Operations Office and the Bay Delta Office in Sacramento. 

The Department’s Honor Awards Program was begun by the 33rd Secretary of the Interior, Julius A. Krug, who held the first awards ceremony in April 1948. 

For additional information on the convocation and photos of the recipients, please visit the Department’s website at http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/68th-Department-of-the-Interior-Convocation-Ceremony-Honors-Employees-Volunteers-for-Distinguished-Service.cfm.

# # #

The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

68th Department of the Interior Convocation Ceremony Honors Employees, Volunteers for Distinguished Service