Census Bureau Acting Director Receives Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that Acting Director Thomas L. Mesenbourg received the Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership on Monday, Oct. 22. Since 1978, American University’s School of Public Affairs has granted this prestigious award to more than 60 federal career executives in recognition of their exceptional federal service and dedication to the work and goals of government.

The Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership honored Mesenbourg for applying innovative solutions to the challenge of measuring America’s diverse and evolving population and economy. Under his leadership, the Census Bureau released its first mobile app, “America’s Economy,” which provides real-time updates for 16 key economic indicators released from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis.

“Our employees have demonstrated that they can be engines of innovation,” Mesenbourg said. “Over the past several years, they have submitted hundreds of great ideas that save money and improve products and processes.”

Mesenbourg has been the acting director of the Census Bureau since Aug. 12. Mesenbourg served as the deputy director and chief operating officer of the Census Bureau from May 2008 until August 2012. As deputy director, he was responsible for directing all of the Census Bureau's diverse programs as well as its administrative functions. Prior to becoming deputy, Mesenbourg served as associate director for economic programs. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Julius Shiskin Memorial Award for Economic Statistics. In 2004, he was the recipient of a Presidential Rank Award, the government’s highest award for career executives. He joined the Census Bureau in 1972.